windows

Windows Workstation Setup

Show/Hide Content

Resource	Source
Group Policy IDs, etc. 'Group Policy Settings Reference for Windows and Windows Server'	Download (source)

---

Notable Filepaths

Show/Hide Content

Resource	Source
Pinned Items Win10 Taskbar (Stock)	%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
Pinned Items Classic Shell (App)	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\ClassicShell\Pinned
Pinned Items Open Shell (App)	%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\OpenShell\Pinned
Startup Items Win10 (Current User)	%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Startup Items Win10 (All Users)	%PROGRAMDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp
Windows Sounds .wav files (for the most part)	%SYSTEMROOT%\Media

---

Productivity Tweaks (Windows)

Show/Hide Content

Taskbar (Bottom Bar)

Unpin Edge, Unpin MS-Store, Hide Cortana, Hide People, Hide Ink, Hide Task-View Button

---

Notifications (Bottom Right)

Right Click → Don't show number of new notifications

---

Put Recycle-Bin on Start-Menu, Remove from Desktop

Drag & drop the Recycle Bin from the Desktop into the Start Menu -> Right-click & rename the new shortcut from "Recycle Bin - Shortcut" to "Recycle Bin"

Start Menu -> type "desktop icon" -> Select "Themes and Related Settings" -> On the right, select "desktop icon settings" -> uncheck "Recycle Bin" -> Hit "Ok"

---

Show Hidden Files/Folders, Show File Extensions

Start Menu -> type "hidd" -> select "Show hidden files and folders"

Enable "Show hidden files and folders

Disable "Hide empty drives"

Disable "Hide extensions for known file types"

Enable "Show libraries" (bottom)

Select tab "General" (top)

Disable "Show recently used files in Quick Access" (bottom)

Disable "Show frequently used folders in Quick Access" (bottom)

---

Log-into Microsoft Account (personal) to perform ongoing syncs of settings (unless you have a GPO from Office365 Work/School account locking it down)

Start Menu -> type "sync" -> select "Sync your settings" -> turn on "Sync settings"

---

Turn off Notifications

Start Menu -> type "notif" -> select "Notifications & action settings" -> disable everything on the first page

---

Change Power Settings

Start Menu -> type "power" -> select "Power & sleep"

set "Screen" to turn off after 30 min/30 min

set "Sleep" on battery to 1 hour / Never for plugged-in

click "additional power settings" (right side) -> "change plan settings" -> "change advanced power settings"

"Hard disk" -> "Turn off hard disk after" to 0/0 (Never/Never)

"Sleep" -> "Hibernate after" -> 0/0 (Never/Never)

"Graphics" -> "Plugged in" -> "Maximum Performance"

"Power buttons and lid" -> "lid close action" -> "do nothing" -> power/sleep button -> "sleep"

"Processor power management" -> "Maximum processor state" -> 99% / 99% (note: intentionally disabling hyperthreading)

select "Ok"

---

Remove Recent Items

Start Menu -> type "recent" -> select "Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or on the taskbar" -> disable everything on the first page

---

Enable ClearType

Start Menu -> type "clear" -> select "Adjust ClearType text" -> Enable ClearType and click next through all the screens until complete

---