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Chouffy's Notes

Windows

Tips & Tricks

Explorer

  • Extract MSI archive: msiexec /a PathToMSIFile /qb TARGETDIR=DirectoryToExtractTo
  • Remove “Folders” from This PC, remove sub-folders of:
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
    • Source

CPU & Processes

  • Start a software on login with admin: create a scheduled task

Power & Battery

Media

Webcam

  • Edit webcam properties: use OBS Studio → Add a source → Video Capture Device → Properties
  • Disable Frame server mode: (source)
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform create DWORD EnableFrameServerMode with 0
    • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Media Foundation\Platform create DWORD EnableFrameServerMode with 0

Network & Connections

  • Change machine hostname with no caps lock: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ComputerName\ComputerName
  • Change network name: secpol.msc > Network List Manager Policies > Connection Name
  • A great firewall is TinyWall
  • View active network connections: TCPView by Sysinternals to know the executable, PID and service

Wi-Fi Hotspot

  • Beware that old netsh wlan start hosted network doesn’t work anymore with newer Windows 10 version! The Mobile Hotspot feature is different under the hood - Source
  • TwiDam77’s WiFi HotSpot (Soft AP) is great to start/stop hotspot even without Internet
    • Afterward, need to start sharing the Internet connection in Network Connections → Properties
  • If you have a firewall, you need to clear out svchost.exe for ports 53, 68 out and 53, 67 in.

Bluetooth

  • Connect to an A2DP client:
    1. Pair device to PC
    2. Install Bluetooth Audio Receiver from the Windows Store

Control Panel / Settings

  • Open performances options panel (System > Advanced system settings, inaccessible if admin) C:\Windows\System32\SystemPropertiesPerformance.exe.
  • Reinstall Setting app - Setting app doesn’t open: PowerShell Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"} - Source

Services

  • Manage a service: net <start/stop> servicename
  • Scheduled task: run a task on-demand - schtasks /Run /TN "task name"

Start a software

  • Start a UWP app: start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App and replace name with UWP name in .\AppData\Local\Packages\ - Source
  • Do not close automatically: Cmd /k