My Notes about how to Install and Configure Windows 11

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These are just my personal notes on how to install and configure a Windows 11 PC to take full advantage of all its power, for gaming, VR, heavy workflows...

I am not responsible for any possible damage or data loss that may occur.

Create Installation USB to install without TPM 2.0 requirement

• A Windows PC (Real or virtual) and a USB stick with at least 8GB capacity are required.
• Download the Windows 10 and Windows 11 media creators from Windows Installation Media Creator
• Use the Windows 11 Media Creator and create an installation USB.
• Copy the \sources\install.esd file from the pendrive to the computer.
• Use the Windows 10 Media Creator and create an installation USB.
• Replace the \sources\install.esd file on the pendrive with the one we previously copied to the computer.
• The pendrive is now ready to boot the computer from USB and install Windows.

Create BootCamp compatible ISO for Intel Macs

• BootCamp ISO creation utility

Install Windows

• Boot from the USB.
  • For Intel Macs, use the BoorCamp Installation Wizard with the corresponding ISO file.
• Do not enter the Windows activation key here (It is better to activate Windows once it is installed and configured, although you can leave it unactivated and everything will work without restrictions, except for the part of customizing the colors and the desktop background).
• Once installed, the initial setup wizard will run, asking for the country:
  • Press Shift + F10 to open a Terminal.
  • Run the following command (If your current keyboard layout doesn't allow you to type the \ slash, you can copy and paste one from the Terminal itself with the mouse):

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

• When the computer restarts, disconnect the network cable.
  • You can also take it offline by opening a Terminal again (Shift + F10) and running:

ipconfig /release

• Follow the steps of the wizard, indicating that you don't have an Internet connection and creating a local user account.
• In the questions at the end of the configuration, about permissions and data collection, always select the option not to send or share (the second of the two options).
• Once everything is finished, connect it to the Internet.
• Open Settings -> Windows Update -> Search for updates, and install them. And reboot, even if it doesn't ask for it.

Remove unnecessary software from Windows

(Source: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat)

• Open a Terminal as Administrator (Right-click on its icon and Run as administrator) and run:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://win11debloat.raphi.re/"))) -RunDefaults -RemoveCommApps -RemoveW11Outlook -RemoveGamingApps -DisableDVR -DisableLockscreenTips -ClearStartAllUsers -RevertContextMenu -ShowHiddenFolders -HideTaskview

• Then, run:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm "https://win11debloat.raphi.re/")))

• Select option 3.
• Check: Only show installed apps.
• Select:
  • Microsoft.Edge
  • Microsoft.GetHelp
  • Microsoft.MSPaint
  • Microsoft.Windows.DevHome
  • Microsoft.YourPhone
  • Microsoft.ZuneMusic
  • MicrosoftWindows.CrossDevice
• Press Confirm.

Enable automatic user login (Autologin)

• Open a Terminal and run:

regedit

• Go to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\Device

• Set the value to 0 (Default is 2) of:

DevicePasswordLessBuildVersion

• Close the Registry Editor.
• In the Terminal, run:

netplwiz

• Disable the option that requires users to enter a password and follow the on-screen instructions.

Disable memory integrity

• Increases the computer's performance, in exchange for having the Windows 10 security level.
• Open Settings -> Privacy and security -> Windows Security.
• Click: Open Windows Security.
• Open: Device security -> Core isolation details.
  • Disable: Memory integrity.
  • Disable: Local security authority (LSA) protection.
• Restart the computer.
• Open a Terminal and run:

msinfo32

• Select: System summary.
  • On the right, search for: Virtualization-based security.
  • If enabled or activated:
    • In Terminal, run:

bcedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

• Restart your computer.
  • Note: To revert this change, open a Terminal and run:

bcedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype on

Minimize the impact of antivirus

• Open Settings -> Privacy & security -> Windows Security.
• Click: Open Windows Security.
• Open: Device security -> Virus and threat protection.
• Under: Virus and threat protection settings, click: Manage settings.
  • Disable everything except: Real-time protection.
  • Optional: At the bottom, under Exclusions, click: Add or remove exclusions.
    • Click on + Add exclusion.
    • Folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\
    • Add any other folders that contain software that needs the full power of the system.

Disable system components from running in the background

• Open Settings -> System -> System components.
• For each of the components, click the 3 dots icon ··· on the right -> Advanced options.
  • Set the Background component permissions option to Never.

Disable some visual options

• Open Settings -> System -> Advanced system settings.
• Under Performance, click Settings.
• On the Visual Effects tab, select Customize.
  • Leave only checked:
    • Show window contents while dragging.
    • Show thumbnails instead of icons.
    • Smooth edges of screen fonts.
  • Click OK.

Show the Maximum Performance power plan in the power options

• Open a Terminal and run:

powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

Enable automatic shutdown of CPU cores to maximize turbo boost on the others

• This is known as "Core Parking." It is an option that is hidden in the processor's power options.
• Open a Terminal and run:

powercfg -attributes SUB_PROCESSOR CPMINCORES -ATTRIB_HIDE
powercfg.cpl

• The recommended plan to maximize the computer's power is: Balanced.
• Click: Change plan settings (The settings only apply to the selected plan).
  • Click: Change advanced power settings.
    • Go to: Processor power management, and configure:
      • Processor performance core parking min cores: 0%.
        • This option indicates the percentage of cores that will never be turned off.
      • Minimum processor state: 0%.
      • Maximum processor state: 100%.
    • Click: OK.

Prevent certain programs from changing the active power plan

• Some programs, such as SteamVR, change the active power plan, causing a loss of performance.
• Open a Terminal and run:

powercfg /l

• Copy the GUID of the plan to always leave active.
• Run:

gpedit.msc

• Select: Local Computer Policy -> Administrative Templates -> System -> Power Management
• On the right, double-click: Specify a custom active power plan.
• Select: Enabled.
• Paste the GUID of the plan in: Custom active power plan (GUID).
• Click: Apply.

Configure the process manager to prioritize foreground processes

(Source: https://www.xbitlabs.com/win32priorityseparation-performance/)

• Open a Terminal and run:

regedit

• Go to the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\PriorityControl

• Set the value to 1a Hexadecimal (Default is 2) of:

Win32PrioritySeparation

• Close the Registry Editor.

Disable the creation of restore points (Optional)

• Open Settings -> System -> System Protection.
  • Click Configure and select: Disable system protection.

Disable using disk as RAM when needed (Optional)

• Only disable if your computer has plenty of RAM (16GB or more, depending on the software you're running).
• Open Settings -> System -> Advanced system settings.
• Under Performance, click Settings.
• Under the Advanced tab, click Change.
  • Uncheck: Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
  • For each drive, select: No paging file, and click Set.
  • Click OK.

NVIDIA: Control Panel

• Recommended driver version: 552.44
• All by default, except:
  • CUDA - System Memory Usage Policy: Do not use system memory as backup
  • Texture Filtering - Quality: High Quality
  • Prerendered Frames for VR: Use 3D Application Settings
    • For SteamVR Native Motion Smoothing (Valve Index, Vive and Vive Pro): 4
  • Power Control Mode: Maximum Performance Preferred
  • Shader Cache Size: 100 GB

AMD: Adrenaline Software

• Tessellation: Disabled.