Windows

Disclaimer

• I absolutely hate Windows.

• I haven't switched to Linux yet, as I have a lot of other things to do, but I will.

Future

• (2025-10-18)

• Windows 10 ended support on (2025-10-14).

• I will never  update to Windows 11.

• When switching OS, I’ll go for Linux, for sure.

Symlink

• Explanation .

Hard Link pointing to a directory

• mklink /J "new_folder_created" "source_folder_to_link"

• Example :

  • cd C:\blablabla\game_server

  • mklink /J "worlds" "..\client_side\worlds"

  • This makes the game server have a link to the client_side ; a new worlds  folder is created in the game server.

Stupid Things

Installation

Minimal Installation

• ThisIsWin11 .

  • "The real PowerToys for Windows 11"

• Install Only Security Updates on Windows 10

Uninstallation / Cleaning

Drivers

• Uninstall Driver via Recovery Environment

Cleaners

• Bulk Crap Uninstaller .

  • Uninstaller.

  • Install via GitHub Releases.

• Revo Uninstaller.

  • Trash compared to the one above.

  • Closed-source, paid.

• CCleaner

  • DON'T use it. It's terrible.

Disk

• BleachBit .

  • "BleachBit cleans files to free disk space and to maintain privacy."

• MiniTool Partition Wizard .

  • Closed-source, paid.

  • "As best partition manager for Windows, MiniTool Partition Wizard aims to maximize disk performance. It helps create/resize/format partition flexibly, convert disk between MBR and GPT disks, convert partition between NTFS and FAT32, and convert dynamic disk to basic without data loss in a few clicks."

Privacy

• ChrisTitusWindowsUtil

  • ChrisTitus makes videos criticizing Windows, etc., so he created this app to remove stupid stuff from it.

• ~ WinAeroTweaker

  • Disables many things, etc.

  • Probably ChrisTitusWindowsUtil is better.

Metadata

• ExifCleaner - Clean Photo Metadata

Telemetry

• Disable Telemetry | Services, Registry, Tasks & Group Policy

• Disable UAC User Account Control Win10

Security

Require permission to delete a folder

• Can't delete a folder

• Require permissions from administrators to make changes .

• (2025-10-07)

  • Restarting the PC solved it. Kinda.

  • I tested billions of things before, didn’t work, so whatever.

• (2025-11-02)

  • Using rm <folder_name>  worked.

Viruses

• TRON Script - How to Remove Viruses From Your Computer

Windows Update

Disable

• Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) on Win10

• 15 Windows Settings You Should Change Now!

SSD

• What Is Superfetch on Windows 10? And How to Disable It .

• Windows 10 Disable And Enable Prefetch And Superfetch .

• Windows Search and Indexing .

Environment variables

• It’s not possible to find a file inside a folder that starts with .  (dot).

  • Ex:

    • .config/ .

Etc

Things to disable

• Things You Need to Disable in Win10

• Disable disk check .

  • https://www.minitool.com/data-recovery/run-or-stop-chkdsk-on-startup.html

Visual Customization

Default Image Editor

• Change default image editor app .

  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\edit\command .

  • I did this to set Aseprite as the default editor.

Folder Views

• LesFerch/WinSetView: Globally Set Explorer Folder Views

Taskbar

• Remove the 'bubbles notifications' from the taskbar:

  • .

Folders

• Windows 11/10 forgets Folder View settings

• Windows File and Folder Troubleshooter will fix Explorer problems

Visual minimalism

• Customize the "6 folders" in Windows 10 This PC

• Show desktop icons in Windows 10 .

• Remove the 3D Objects folder from File Explorer in Windows 10

• Disable Quick Access in Windows 10

• Hide the Network icon from Windows Explorer

• Remove the Network icon in Windows Explorer

Disable annoying visual stuff

• Disable SmartScreen Filter

• Disable Text Drag and Drop .

• Disable Ctrl + Shift keyboard layout option

Apps

• EverythingToolbar.

  • Fuzzy finder.

  • Goes well with FlowLauncher.

  • Impressions :

    • Very ugly on Win10, but does what it promises.

    • Good app.

• 7+ Taskbar Tweaker .

  • Useful to ungroup icons in the taskbar.

  • Must-have for improving the taskbar.

  • It must start with Windows, since it only works when open.

• Text-Grab .

• ~ Rainmeter .

  • Visual customization.

  • Skins .

  • Impressions :

    • A complete mess.

• ~ EarTrumpet .

  • Volume per app.

• ~ Volume2 .

  • Volume per app, kinda, something like that.

  • It bugged for me.

  • "advanced Windows volume control".

• ~FxSound.

• ~WinSetView

  • Tweak Windows File Explorer using WinSetView .

  • Impressions :

    • The app itself is super ugly.

    • Helps a bit.

• ~Battery Mode.

  • Power saving.

• ~FanControl.

  • Change fan speed.

• ~ TranslucentTB .

  • Makes the taskbar transparent.

• ZoomIt

  • Shortcuts to zoom.

  • Deal breaker.

    • Only included in PowerToys.

    • Didn’t find an OpenSource alternative.

• AltSnap .

  • Move windows with Alt.

  • Deal breaker:

    • Apparently triggers antivirus false positives.

• Monitorian

  • Control monitor brightness.

• Twinkle tray

  • Alternative to Monitorian.

• ShareX.

  • Screenshot and editor.

• Crop and Lock.

  • Sounds better than OnTopReplica, kinda.

  • Only included in PowerToys.

  • Didn’t find an OpenSource alternative.

  • When testing :

    • I had the app for months and never used it. Never felt any need.

    • Don’t want anything from Microsoft, no way.

• ColorPicker .

  • When testing :

    • I had the app for months and never used it. Never felt any need.

    • Downloading via GitHub makes it feel like I’m getting a trojan.

• IconViewer.

  • Save app icons as PNGs.

  • Equalize the audio you hear.

• PowerToys .

  • It’s a bundle made by Microsoft.

  • Crop and Lock.

    • Sounds better than OnTopReplica, kinda.

    • Didn’t find an OpenSource alternative.

  • Color Picker.

    • Ok.

    • ~It’s ColorPicker.

  • ~Text Extractor.

    • Kinda ok.

    • ~It’s TextGrab.

  • ~FancyZones.

    • Kinda ok.

  • Run

    • Search bar.

    • It’s FlowLauncher.

  • Keyboard Manager.

    • Useless, use AutoHotKey.

  • Mouse Utilities

    • All useless.

  • Mouse Without Borders

    • Useless.

  • QuickAccent

    • Useless.

  • Preview Pane.

    • No.

  • Thumbnail Icon Preview

    • No.

  • File Locksmith

    • Useless.

  • Image Resizer.

    • No.

  • New+

    • No.

  • Peek

    • Absurdly useless and bad.

  • PowerRename

    • Useless. Use Bulk Rename Utility.

  • CommandNotFound

    • No.

  • EnvironmentVariables

    • Hell no.

  • HostFileEditor

    • Ultra useless.

  • RegistryPreview

    • Ultra useless.

  • Workspaces

    • No.

  • ShortcutGuide

    • No.

  • ScreenRuler.

    • Useless.

  • Advanced Paste.

    • Terrible.

  • Awake.

    • No.

  • Always on Top.

    • No.

  • Impressions :

    • I hated the bundle.

    • 270MB+, for so many useless, bad, and Microsoft-looking things.

    • Awful.

    • Download apps individually.

    • The only reason I keep it installed is CropAndLock, since I didn’t find a standalone version of it.

• Nilesoft Shell .

  • Replaces the right-click menu on Win11.

  • Configuration .

  • Impressions :

    • Hated it.

    • The configuration process is a pain, with its own syntax.

    • On Windows 10:

      • .

• FlowLauncher .

  • Search bar.

  • PowerToys Run.

  • Impressions :

    • Didn’t like it, simply.

    • A terrible, bloated "fuzzy finder".

• GlazeWM .

  • Window manager.

  • Shortcuts similar to ArchLinux i3.

  • Integrates with Zebar.

  • Shortcuts .

  • Impressions :

    • Feels glitchy and requires configuration.

    • Adds a top bar, similar to Linux.

    • Overall, didn’t like it.

    • Adds nothing of great value, visually ugly and glitchy.

    • Maybe customizable to look ok, but I’m not in the mood, since it’s an override app, not a redefining one.

• Zebar .

  • "create customizable and cross-platform desktop widgets."

  • Impressions :

    • Same criticisms as GlazeWM.

    • Didn’t interest me at all.

• WinToys.

  • Configs.

  • Impressions :

    • No, never.

    • You must download it via Microsoft Store.

      • A nightmare.

    • Just a Microsoft config bundle with Microsoft design.

    • Clearly garbage.

  • TaskbarX .

    • TaskbarX .

    • Kinda paid, I think.

    • Didn’t find it relevant, 7+ Taskbar Tweaker is way more useful.

Hyper-V and VM

• Local Resources on Hyper-V Win10

• Copy-Paste Error on Local Resources Hyper-V Win10