Differences

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--- tips [2025/10/07 17:08] – created w5ged
+++ tips [2025/10/15 13:37] (current) – w5ged
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== Tips & Other Information ======
+===== Windows Hacks =====
+==== Best Practices ====
+  * Don't keep your important files on local storage devices. Use a NAS!
+  * Backup often & keep a copy offsite
+  * Use portable programs when possible
-====== Helpful internet resources ======
+==Recommended Portable Applications==
+  * [[https://www.7zip.com/|7-Zip]] for compression. Use .zip format, compression method BZip2 (uses all CPU cores)
+  * [[https://www.audacityteam.org/|Audacity]] for recording audio.
+  * [[https://joshmadison.com/convert-for-windows/|Convert]]
+  * [[https://www.gimp.org/|GIMP]] for editing images.
+  * MQTT Explorer
+  * NTP Monitor
+  * Space Sniffer
+  * VLC Player
+  * PuTTY / WinSCP
-**Texas**
+==== Batch Files ====
+Create batch files for commonly used tasks & place them in C:\Program Files (x86), then append 'C:\Program Files (x86)' to the default PATH so you can run them from anywhere:
+  SETX PATH /M "%PATH%;C:\Program Files (x86)"
+Reboot a remote computer: reboot.bat
+  @echo off
+  shutdown -m \\%1 -r -f
+See who is logged in to a remote computer: who.bat
+  @echo off
+  query user /SERVER:%1
+Reset Edge (if it is stuck on another monitor/display): fix_edge.bat
+  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" -window-position=100,100 https://google.com/
+Create/update a local copy of a network share on the drive where this batch file is run: sync.bat  (Keep it on a USB drive & use it to periodically backup a folder on the network.)
+  @echo off
+  SET SHARENAME=insertsharenamehere
+  SET FOLDERNAME=insertfoldernamehere
+  robocopy "\\%SHARENAME%\%FOLDERNAME%" "%CD:~0,3%%FOLDERNAME%" /E /MIR
+==== Registry Tweaks ====
+Make all menu items show up when you right click something (show more options by default)
+  REG ADD "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /ve /d "" /f
+Disable per-user proxy configuration
+  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxySettingsPerUser /t REG_DWORD /d 000000001 /f
+Allow Windows update to check online for updates
+  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DoNotConnectToWindowsUpdateInternetLocations /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f
+  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /v DisableWindowsUpdateAccess /t REG_DWORD /d 00000000 /f
+Enable administrative share C$
+  REG ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\system /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
+Disable the blurry background during login
+  REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System" /v DisableAcrylicBackgroundOnLogon /t REG_DWORD /d 00000001 /f
+==== Install Windows 11 without a Microsoft account ====
+On the install screen where you pick the country, press shift-F10 to open the command prompt.
+  >net user USERNAME * /add
+  >net localgroup administrators USERNAME /add
+  >net user USERNAME /active:yes
+  >net user USERNAME /expires:never
+  >net user Administrator /active:no
+  >net user defaultUser0 /delete
+  >net user
+  >regedit
+  Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE
+  Delete keys DefaultAccountAction, DefaultAccountSAMName, DefaultAccountSID
+  Change LaunchUserOOBE to SkipMachineOOBE
+  >shutdown /r /t 0
+===== Helpful internet resources =====
+== Texas ==
   * [[https://www.smartmetertexas.com/|Texas Smart Meter]]
   * [[https://texashistory.unt.edu/|University of North Texas - Portal to Texas History]]
@@ Line 12: / Line 83: @@
   * [[https://www.houstontx.gov/health/Pollen-Mold/|Houston Pollen/Mold Info]]
-**Education**
+==Education==
   * [[https://www.khanacademy.org/|Khan Academy]]
-**Maps**
+==Maps==
   * [[https://msc.fema.gov/portal/|FEMA Flood Map Service Center]]
   * [[https://www.harriscountyfws.org/|Harris County Flood Warning System]]
@@ Line 27: / Line 98: @@
   * [[https://lightbox-tx.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer|ArcGIS]]
-**Ham Radio**
+==Ham Radio==
   * [[http://www.eham.net/exams/|eHam Test Exams]]
   * [[http://aprs.fi/#!lat=29.73970&lng=-95.83020|APRS]]