windows | Chris Titus Tech

My AI Coding Workflow That Actually Works

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

My AI development workflow is not perfect, and it will keep changing. What matters is the structure: define the project, build the guardrails, work in small phases, and stop at manual gates.

This is for larger, more complex software. You still need to understand Git, testing, and the basics of software development. One giant prompt that loops until an agent declares victory may produce a demo, but it is not how I build software I plan to maintain.

The short version looks like this:

Global instructions and reusable skills
  -> repository specification and roadmap
  -> test and validation scaffolding
  -> one small implementation phase
  -> local tests and review
  -> pull request and CI
  -> independent review
  -> fix, retest, and resolve feedback
  -> manual verification
  -> merge

AI makes each step faster. It does not get to skip any of them.

Start With Plain-Text Guardrails

I keep my shared AI development setup in the titus-ai repository. It contains examples for instructions, specifications, roadmaps, tasks, and reusable skills.

Do not get distracted by the terminology. These are plain-text files:

AGENTS.md tells the coding agent how I want it to work.
SPEC.md defines what the project must do.
ROADMAP.md breaks the work into phases with exit criteria.
TASKS.md can track the small jobs inside the current phase.
Skills capture reusable knowledge for a tool or technology.

My global instructions include preferences that apply everywhere: keep changes focused, skip filler, preserve unrelated work, run the required checks, and stop before destructive actions. A repository can add its own AGENTS.md for the real architecture, commands, and boundaries of that project.

If I dislike a rule, I delete it. If an agent repeatedly makes the same mistake, I add a more precise rule. The files serve me, not the other way around.

Skills work the same way. My Quickshell skill includes its unusual QML linting requirements, so the agent does not run a generic Qt linter, misunderstand missing types, and damage working code. A Bash skill can capture shell-specific validation. That reusable knowledge then follows me into the next project.

Define What Success Means

The specification is repository-specific. Before implementation, I write down:

the problem and intended users
required behavior and user experience
architecture and major components
security and privacy requirements
supported tool and dependency versions
non-goals
acceptance criteria

Version details matter because an LLM may choose an old dependency simply because it appeared frequently in its training data. I pin the supported versions in the specification and verify current versions instead of accepting whatever the model remembers.

The acceptance criteria are the most important part. "Make it work" is not useful. The agent needs observable conditions that tell it when the phase succeeds, including the tests or manual checks that prove it.

The roadmap then turns those requirements into small phases. Every phase says what it delivers, what it depends on, and what must be true before I continue. This prevents a feature request from becoming an uncontrolled rewrite.

Build the Test Harness Before the Feature

Before serious implementation, I establish how the project will be tested. That may include unit tests, linting, a production build, smoke tests, screenshots, or a real target-environment check.

This is the scaffolding around the code. If the agent cannot tell whether a change worked, asking it to write more code only creates more uncertainty.

The exact gates belong in the repository instructions. A typical local pass includes:

git diff --check
# Run the project formatter and linter.
# Run focused tests, then the broader test suite.
# Build the production artifact.

Project-specific details matter. Quickshell needs the correct QML types available during linting. A cross-distribution Linux project may need smoke tests on Arch, Debian, and Red Hat-based environments. A web change may need both a clean production build and a mobile layout check.

Implement One Reviewable Change

Once the guardrails exist, I give the agent one focused task.

In the video, I asked Codex to add the audio percentage beside the volume icon in my DWM desktop. It found the Quickshell skill, inspected the existing code, made the QML change, updated the regression check, deployed it to my live install, restarted Quickshell, and verified the result on screen.

That looked like magic, but the code generation was the easy part. The important next question was: How did it implement it?

The change went into a pull request instead of directly disappearing into main. That gave me a manual gate where I could inspect the diff, see the screenshot, confirm the live behavior, and wait for other reviewers.

Small pull requests are critical. They are faster to understand, cheaper to review, and easier to fix or revert. If a review takes twenty minutes because the diff is enormous, the work probably needed to be split earlier.

Spend More Effort on Review Than Generation

This is where most of my AI usage goes.

For larger changes, I run a local CodeRabbit review before opening the pull request. On GitHub, I use CodeRabbit and a separate Codex, Claude, or human reviewer. The independent reviewer needs fresh context; the coding session should not simply grade its own work.

The DWM review found two real issues:

Hide the percentage when audio is unavailable.
Document the user-visible panel change in the changelog.

Those are exactly the boring edge cases I might discover only after a user opens an issue. The agent fixed the unavailable-audio state, updated the test, added the changelog entry, committed the changes, and pushed them back to the pull request.

I still make the decision. Review bots can be wrong, overly verbose, or outside the task's scope. For every comment, I either fix the root cause or explain why the current behavior is intentional. I do not blindly accept every suggestion, and I do not dismiss one because it came from AI.

The loop is:

review feedback
  -> understand the issue
  -> fix or explain
  -> update the test
  -> rerun local validation
  -> push
  -> wait for fresh CI and review
  -> resolve the thread

Repeat until there are no actionable findings left.

Put Security and Dependency Checks in CI

LLMs are useful, but they are not reliable dependency managers or security auditors. I enable GitHub's security tools early:

Dependabot for supported dependency and GitHub Actions updates
CodeQL for code scanning
dependency review for risky dependency changes
required CI checks for tests and production builds

CI must run on every pull request update. A green check from an older commit does not prove that the latest review fix is safe.

The checks should match the project. My DWM pull request ran smoke tests across multiple Linux distributions. Another project may need a locked dependency install, unit tests, type checking, a production build, and a security scan. The point is not to collect badges; it is to test the artifact in a clean environment.

Keep the Human Merge Gate

Before merging, I verify:

the diff contains only the intended change
tests and builds pass on the latest commit
independent review is complete
actionable review threads are resolved
documentation matches the behavior
the feature works in the real target environment
visible changes have been checked on screen

Automated screenshots and browser or desktop tools are useful, but I still look at the result. Tests prove only what they were written to test.

In the example, I could see the volume percentage working in my live panel. I inspected the follow-up fix for unavailable audio, checked the test and changelog, waited for CI, and only then merged and deleted the branch.

That pause is the difference between using AI as an assistant and letting it run the project.

The Cost Is Real

This workflow uses far more compute on review and validation than on writing the final lines of code. A small UI change may produce only a dozen changed lines while several agents, local checks, and CI jobs examine it.

Heavy development can consume paid AI plans quickly. Local models will handle more of this work over time, but the workflow should not depend on one model, subscription, or plugin. The same process works with cloud models, local models, or a team of humans.

The tool is replaceable. The gates are not.

Slow Is Smooth, and Smooth Is Fast

AI lets us generate code so quickly that it is easy to generate a mountain of bad software. Slow down at the places that matter:

write the acceptance criteria
build the tests
keep phases and pull requests small
wait for CI and independent review
resolve feedback
manually test the real result

This workflow is not exciting because an agent added a percentage to an icon. It is exciting because the change was specified, tested, reviewed, documented, verified live, and merged in minutes instead of hours.

Do not wait for a mythical future model to fix a bad development process. Use the tools available today, keep the parts that work, remove the parts that do not, and make the process better every time.

The Problems With AI

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

AI lets me build workflows and environments I have wanted for years. I can finish in hours what used to take days, explore an idea without sinking a month into it, and review more code than I ever could alone.

That does not mean AI has solved software development. It has moved the bottleneck. Code is becoming cheap, but good ideas, clear requirements, architecture, communication, and judgment are not.

This entire article came out of a Discord conversation after my last AI video. The discussion was better than the usual extremes of "AI will replace everyone" or "AI is useless slop." People who are actually building things with these tools are seeing both sides at the same time: this is a superpower, and it can make a mess faster than anything we have used before.

I am going to keep building with it. If some people are tired of AI content, I get it. The internet is flooded with empty demos and claims that every new model changes everything. But this technology is too useful for me to ignore, and the problems are too important to pretend they do not exist.

The Limiting Factor Is Now Us

For a long time, the cost of an idea was implementation. You could imagine a tool, but turning it into something real required weeks or months of coding. Today, AI can build a prototype in an afternoon.

That sounds amazing until you discover the uncomfortable part: some ideas just are not very good.

I love being able to expand an idea quickly. Sometimes it is magic and the project turns into exactly what I imagined. Other times I get deep enough into the weeds to understand why the idea does not work, then throw it in the trash. That is still a win. I learned the lesson in a day instead of spending three months on it.

Ideas have always been easy. Execution is what matters. AI accelerates execution, but it also exposes weak ideas much faster. It cannot make users care, create a real need, or give you taste.

Coding Was Never the Hardest Problem

The hardest problems in software are usually not typing code or finding a missing semicolon. They are:

understanding what someone actually wants
turning a vague request into concrete requirements
choosing a foundation that will survive future changes
communicating tradeoffs to other people
deciding what should not be built
maintaining the project after the demo works

Those problems existed before AI, they exist now, and they will exist after the next flagship model arrives.

This is also why building tools for yourself is so much easier. I am not trying to become a tech bro, ship another subscription, and obsess over monthly recurring revenue. When I build for myself, I know the workflow, the pain points, and what "done" looks like. AI can move incredibly fast because I can give it a clear target and immediately tell when it misses.

If the requirements are garbage, faster code just gives you a polished pile of garbage sooner.

The Junior Developer Problem

Experienced programmers can get more out of AI because they already have a mental model of how software works. We learned by reading manuals, digging through Stack Overflow, breaking things, reading other people's code, and spending hours debugging mistakes.

That process was slow and often miserable, but it built intuition.

Now a beginner can ask a model to explain a codebase, make a change, and fix the error without ever reading the code. The result might work, but the person may have no idea why it works. That creates an amplified version of the old "expert beginner" problem: someone can produce impressive-looking software without developing the experience needed to recognize bad architecture, security problems, or fragile code.

It is like higher mathematics. A calculator can produce the answer, but the person who understands the math knows when to use it, what the result means, and when the answer is obviously wrong.

This does not mean beginners are doomed. AI can also compress the old learning cycle. A good code review agent can point to a problem, suggest a solution, and let you study both in minutes instead of spending hours searching. The key is asking why and then reading the code yourself.

If you only copy the fix, you learn a ritual. If you understand the failure, you gain a tool you can use again.

Code Review Is AI's Best Feature

Everyone talks about having AI write an entire application. I think one of its best uses is reviewing code that already exists.

An AI reviewer does not get tired. It can inspect every change, compare patterns across the repository, look for missing tests, and catch the boring mistakes that humans skip after staring at a pull request for too long. I use it to challenge my changes, not blindly approve them.

There are two major catches.

First, the reviewer can confidently flag something that is not a problem. I see false positives all the time. Sometimes the correct response is simply: nope, resolve the comment, squash, and merge.

Second, even a correct review can fail to teach. "Change this line" is not enough. The useful review explains the failure mode, the tradeoff, and why the suggested approach fits this project. Otherwise, we are just creating cargo-cult programmers who obey whatever pattern the model produced.

Multiple review agents can reduce some of this. One agent writes or changes the code, another reviews it, and a third can challenge the review. That does not guarantee correctness, but disagreement is useful because it forces the issue into the open where a human can make the final call.

Foundations Matter More Than Ever

You cannot YOLO an AI-generated codebase and expect it to stay healthy. The faster the tools move, the more important the foundation becomes.

At a minimum, anyone doing serious AI-assisted development needs to understand:

Git branches, commits, diffs, merges, and rollbacks
the architecture and data flow of the project
how to run tests and verify behavior
where secrets, authentication, and permissions live
how the application is built and deployed
what the AI changed before accepting it

Git is mandatory. When an agent makes twenty changes in a few minutes, you need clean checkpoints and an easy way back. A good repository structure, written requirements, tests, and small commits give the model guardrails. They also give you evidence when the model claims everything is fixed.

The code can be generated. Accountability cannot.

The Price Will Not Stay This Low

The value in today's professional AI plans is ridiculous. Heavy users can burn through an enormous amount of compute for a flat monthly fee. That is great for us, but the financial picture does not make sense forever.

My concern is a Walmart-style cycle: make the new workflow so cheap and convenient that everyone adopts it, wait for the old skills and services to disappear, then raise the price. Whether it happens exactly that way or not, it is dangerous to build a workflow that completely depends on one company keeping today's limits and prices.

Cloud AI is also concentrated in companies with the money and hardware to run frontier models. If the best tools become heavily metered or gatekept, developers will have to pay, accept weaker access, or move part of the workflow back to hardware they control.

Enjoy the bargain, but do not confuse a subsidized price with a permanent one.

Local Models Will Be Good Enough for Most People

Local LLMs are not equal to the best cloud models for every task. Large open-weight models may look competitive in benchmarks, but most people do not have hundreds of gigabytes of VRAM and a rack full of GPUs.

That does not mean local AI has to beat the flagship model to matter.

Small models can already search documents, summarize a modest codebase, classify information, answer common questions, and handle focused tasks. As that baseline improves, most people will not need expensive multi-agent loops or the smartest model on the planet. They will need something private, available, and good enough for 90 percent of their work.

That is where old workstations, homelab servers, and small clusters get interesting. The future may not be one giant local model doing everything. It may be several focused models and disposable virtual machines handling narrow jobs on hardware you own.

The important question is not, "Can my local model beat the flagship?" It is, "Does this task need the flagship at all?"

AI Is Changing Jobs, but the Story Is Messy

Companies are laying people off, and it is popular to blame every layoff on AI. That is too simple. Many businesses were cutting costs long before these tools became useful.

The more immediate effect may be hiring that never happens. A small team using AI can absorb work that might previously have required two or three additional people. It can also handle adjacent jobs like documentation, basic design, research, and marketing that a technical person would have outsourced or ignored.

That is a real economic impact even when nobody gets a termination letter that says "replaced by AI."

At the same time, only a small percentage of people are using these tools effectively. I still see people spend hours stuck on problems that a well-formed prompt, the right context, and a few minutes of verification could solve. The gap between people who understand the fundamentals and use AI well, and people who do neither, is going to get much wider.

My Rules for Building With AI

I am not waiting for the industry to settle before using these tools. I am building now, while access is cheap and the capabilities are improving. But I follow a few rules:

Start with the problem. Define the user, workflow, constraints, and definition of done before generating code.
Choose the architecture yourself. AI can present options, but you need to understand and own the final structure.
Keep changes small. Work on a branch, inspect the diff, test it, and commit a clean checkpoint.
Use AI to review AI. A separate reviewer catches mistakes and assumptions the first agent carried through the task.
Demand the why. A fix without an explanation does not improve your judgment.
Read the code. If you cannot explain the important paths, you do not control the project.
Keep an exit plan. Preserve your repositories, documentation, and the ability to work without one specific provider.

AI is a multiplier. It multiplies good architecture, clear requirements, and experienced judgment. It also multiplies confusion, bad assumptions, and technical debt.

That is the real problem with AI: not that it is useless or that it will instantly replace everyone, but that it lets us move faster than our understanding. The people who keep learning the foundations will have a superpower. The people who surrender their judgment to the tool will build bigger failures in record time.

Walkthrough Video

In the video, I break down the Discord conversation that inspired this article, show how I use AI for code review, and explain where I think cloud and local models are headed.

What Can AI Actually Do in 2026?

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Instead of guessing what AI might become, let's look at what it can actually do today. These are the projects and workflows I have completed with AI as of July 2026.

The short version is that AI is useful, but it is not magic. It is excellent at research, documentation, code review, scaffolding, testing, and shortening long debugging sessions. It is far less reliable when someone asks it to build complex software without understanding the system underneath.

AI as a Better Search Tool

For most people, the everyday use for AI is simple: ask a direct question and get a direct answer. That is often faster than digging through five ad-covered pages to find one useful paragraph.

Today, that usually means using ChatGPT, Claude, or another cloud service. In the long run, I think local large language models (LLMs) will handle more of this work for people who care about privacy and control. A model running on your computer could search your files, summarize documentation, and answer practical questions without sending every request to another company's server.

This is not the flashiest use for AI, but it may be the one people use most often.

AI Does Not Replace Understanding

Can someone use AI to create a substantial program, game, or app from scratch? Yes, but not reliably without knowing how the underlying system works.

Writing the code is only part of the job. You still need to make decisions such as:

Which framework fits the project?
Where does the application store its state?
How does data move through the system?
How will authentication and security work?
What needs to be tested?
How will the project be deployed and maintained?

Without that knowledge, AI can generate something that looks impressive in a demo but falls apart under real use. It can burn through millions of tokens, produce thousands of lines of code, and still leave you with a fragile project that nobody wants to maintain.

AI works best when the person using it knows enough to steer the work, review the output, and recognize a bad decision. It can accelerate a solid workflow, but it does not replace judgment.

What I Have Completed with AI

I have used AI successfully on the following projects and workflows. Each one had a clear target, an existing foundation, or enough hands-on oversight to keep the work grounded.

My Hero Ultra: Built and refined an Astro website for a game my kids play.
dwm-titus: Reworked my desktop customization workflow while moving from Arch to Fedora and experimenting with Quickshell.
Automated COPR repository: Automated the build and maintenance workflow for my Fedora packages.
Website Messages: Created an admin dashboard for managing website messages.
Testing and code review: Used Git workflows, local linting, and targeted tests to catch both human and AI-generated mistakes before they shipped.
Documentation and codebase summaries: Used AI to explain unfamiliar systems and reduce the time needed to understand a project.
Project scaffolding: Generated initial layouts, boilerplate, and setup steps instead of starting from an empty directory.
Long debugging sessions: Used LLMs to narrow the search space, inspect error paths, and reach the failing component faster.

Larger Projects Still Require Engineering

AI has also helped with larger, multi-month projects, but only after the work was divided into real engineering tasks.

TitusBooks: A Quickshell-based book management system designed for self-hosted, multi-user environments.
3Plates: An Expo-based application for Android, iOS, and the web, with a hosted database, OAuth, and a self-hosted deployment option.

These are not "type one prompt and get an app" projects. They still require architecture, planning, testing, debugging, and careful review. AI can help with every stage, but it remains part of the workflow rather than the entire workflow.

Where AI Fits in 2026

The best way to use AI in 2026 is as an extremely fast assistant that still needs clear direction.

AI is especially helpful for:

research and search summaries
documentation
code review
tests and lint cleanup
project scaffolding
debugging
explaining unfamiliar code

Be more careful when using it for:

architecture decisions you do not understand
security-sensitive code
authentication and payments
database design and migrations
anything you cannot test or maintain yourself

The dividing line is simple: if you understand the system, AI can make you much faster. If you do not understand it, AI can help you make the wrong decision at a much larger scale.

Walkthrough Video

The video below covers these examples and shows how I use AI in real projects.

Zed Editor

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Zed is what happens when an editor is built for speed first. It is written in Rust, rendered with the GPU, and feels instant in a way most Electron-based editors never do.

If you want VS Code comfort without Electron drag, Zed is a sharp middle ground that still delivers LSPs, Vim mode, terminals, Git, remote development, and AI.

Quick Takeaways

Zed feels fast because it is GPU-rendered and native
You get IDE-grade features without plugin sprawl
Threads in 1.0 make parallel AI work practical instead of messy

Feature	Why it matters
Native Rust + GPU UI	Smooth scrolling, low latency, and a desktop app that feels light.
Built-in language support	LSPs, completions, diagnostics, formatting, and debugging without turning setup into a side quest.
Vim mode + clean keybindings	Great for keyboard-heavy workflows without needing a giant config.
Terminal, Git, and tasks	Keeps editing, running, and reviewing code in one place.
Remote development	SSH and dev container workflows make it easy to work on servers and larger projects.
AI that stays integrated	Edit prediction, agent workflows, and provider choice without making the editor feel bolted on.

Basic Zed Features

At a basic level, Zed covers everything most people actually need in a daily editor:

Fast file search and project-wide search
Syntax highlighting, LSP completions, diagnostics, and formatting
Built-in terminal and Git integration
Vim mode and strong keyboard-first workflows
Markdown preview, tasks, and remote development

That is really the appeal: it feels simple on the surface, but it already has the core IDE features most developers want without feeling bloated.

If you want to add Vim bindings or mode to Zed, see the Vim docs.

My Zed Customizations

My setup is based on the configs in zed-titus, and the goal is pretty straightforward: make Zed feel faster, cleaner, and more keyboard-driven.

The big changes are:

VS Code base keymap + Vim mode for a familiar foundation with modal editing on top
Maple Mono NF with Maple Dark / Maple Light for a clean, readable look
Right-side panels for Git, project tree, outline, collaboration, and AI so the layout stays consistent
Relative line numbers, inlay hints, inline blame, autosave, and edit predictions to keep coding flow smooth
Copilot-first AI setup with favorite models and permissive terminal/fetch tools for agent workflows
Custom keybindings for file finding, search, code actions, diagnostics, Git hunks, markdown preview, terminal toggling, and pane navigation
Custom tasks for content work, especially a Save clipboard image (Hugo) action that runs my Bash helper instead of relying on extra file-picker tooling

One of the most useful parts of that setup is the image task. Instead of manually pasting screenshots, converting them, moving them into the right Hugo folder, and then writing the markdown link by hand, the task does the boring part for me. It grabs an image from the clipboard, converts it to WebP, saves it into the website's yearly image directory, inserts the markdown image link into the open post, and copies that link back to the clipboard.

That makes Zed feel less like just a code editor and more like a fast writing workflow for the site itself.

So the custom setup is not about turning Zed into a totally different editor. It is more about sharpening the defaults, improving navigation, and making AI plus Vim-style editing feel natural.

Why Zed 1.0 Matters

Zed 1.0 feels like the point where the editor stopped being "interesting" and became ready for serious daily use.

The biggest 1.0 addition is Threads support. The new Threads Sidebar lets you run multiple agent threads in parallel, organize them by project, stop or archive them quickly, and keep work across repos separated without losing the bigger picture.

That lands on top of the stuff that already makes Zed compelling:

real performance
multiplayer collaboration baked into the editor
strong Git and remote workflows
cross-platform support on Linux, Windows, and macOS

Who It Is For

Zed makes the most sense if you want a fast editor with modern IDE features, but you do not want the usual Electron sluggishness or plugin sprawl.

If VS Code feels heavy and Neovim feels too DIY, Zed sits in a really good spot between the two.

If you want the DIY route instead, my Neovim setup is here: Neovim the Elite Editor.

Final Thoughts

Zed 1.0 is not just another editor release. It is one of the few tools that actually feels new: fast, polished, collaborative, and now much better at handling parallel AI work thanks to Threads.

If you want to try it, grab Zed at zed.dev and see the exact config I use in zed-titus.

Walkthrough Video

Neovim the Elite Editor

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Most editors today are bloated, slow, and pretending to be IDEs while burning your RAM. Neovim 0.12 goes the other direction: less junk, more control, better speed.

This is the no-BS breakdown of what changed in my Neovim setup, why I removed the old pieces, and what actually matters in daily use.

What Changed in the 0.12 Upgrade

The big architectural change was ripping out the old plugin flow and moving to Neovim's native package path:

Removed lazy.nvim from the stack.
Migrated plugin loading to built-in vim.pack.add(...).
Cut back external Treesitter management and used Neovim 0.12 built-in behavior first.
Kept one focused Treesitter UI addon (nvim-treesitter-context) for sticky context lines.

Why This Matters

This is not just "new syntax." It is a real maintenance win:

Fewer moving parts at startup.
Native APIs instead of plugin-specific abstractions.
Easier debugging because package flow is visible and explicit.
Cleaner upgrades for future Neovim releases.

The New Design Philosophy

This config is structured like a real project, not a spaghetti pile:

init.lua handles global options and startup behavior.
Plugin responsibilities are split by concern (lsp.lua, ui.lua, completion.lua, etc).
Keymaps are centralized and predictable.
Linux and Windows dependency scripts fix missing tools fast.

The result is opinionated, fast, and resilient.

Feature Highlights

1) Modern Navigation and Search

snacks.nvim runs project/file/symbol/grep workflows with a fast picker experience:

Smart file picking
Live grep
Project switching
Diagnostics search
Explorer tree + status column enhancements

If you bounce between repos all day, this is a massive quality-of-life upgrade.

2) LSP That Feels Native

The LSP stack uses:

nvim-lspconfig
mason.nvim
mason-tool-installer
fidget.nvim
conform.nvim

Why this stack works:

Auto-provisioning of language tools
Clean per-server config
Fast formatting workflow
Better diagnostics defaults and symbols

It behaves like a serious IDE without turning into one of those slow, opaque monsters.

3) Completion + AI That Do Not Fight Each Other

Completion is built around blink.cmp and LuaSnip, with GitHub Copilot integrated as a completion source:

blink.cmp as core engine
blink-cmp-copilot for AI suggestions in the same completion flow
CopilotChat for interactive prompts and model switching

This avoids the classic popup wars where completion systems fight each other.

4) UI That Is Clean, Not Bloated

Core UI stack includes:

bufferline.nvim for tab-like buffers
which-key.nvim for discoverability
trouble.nvim + aerial.nvim for code structure and diagnostics
oil.nvim for file-system editing inside Neovim
toggleterm.nvim for terminal workflow

Everything here has a job. No filler, no random plugin bloat.

5) Editing and Content Workflows

This setup is not only for code. It also handles writing and content production:

Markdown linting with markdownlint-cli2
Image paste pipeline with automatic WebP conversion
TODO highlighting
Multi-cursor editing
Undo tree visualization

For content creators and technical writing, these are huge time savers.

Before vs After (0.12 Direction)

Area	Before	After
Plugin Management	`lazy.nvim` lifecycle	Native `vim.pack.add(...)` flow
Treesitter Strategy	Heavier external management	Built-in Treesitter first, targeted extras only
Config Structure	More centralized complexity	Concern-based modular plugin files
Debuggability	Plugin-manager indirection	Direct, native, inspectable startup path
Upgrade Path	Plugin compatibility friction	Closer alignment with Neovim core APIs

Quick Start

git clone https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/neovim ~/.config/nvim
cd ~/.config/nvim
nvim

If dependencies are missing, run the repair script for your platform:

bash lin-depend.sh

.\win-depend.ps1

Who This Setup Is For

Use this setup if you want:

VS Code-like discoverability with terminal speed
Strong Lua customization
Native Neovim 0.12 direction instead of legacy glue
AI-assisted coding without UI clutter

Skip this if you want a forever hands-off setup. This is for people who care about control, speed, and clarity.

Final Thoughts

Neovim 0.12 is a maturity milestone. The point is not swapping one trendy plugin manager for another. The point is reducing complexity by leaning on core Neovim features and adding only plugins that pull their weight.

That is exactly what this project does now: fewer hacks, better defaults, and a tighter editing loop.

The official Project is at https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/neovim and the README has detailed installation and troubleshooting steps.

Walkthrough Video

Brave Origin: The Browser Brave Power Users Have Been Asking For

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Brave Origin is Brave stripped back to what most of us actually want: fast browsing, strong privacy, and aggressive blocking. If you have ever opened a browser and thought, "Why is there a crypto wallet button, rewards UI, and extra services I never asked for?" this is the answer.

This is not a different engine and not some weird fork from a random dev. It is an official Brave option focused on a cleaner experience.

What Brave Origin Actually Is

Brave Origin is a minimalist Brave mode that removes or disables many optional, revenue-related, or bundled features while keeping the core browser stack:

Chromium updates and security patches
Brave Shields (ad/tracker blocking)
Performance and privacy improvements in core browsing

It is offered in two ways:

Standalone Brave Origin app (desktop)
Upgrade mode inside regular Brave (desktop and mobile)

One purchase can activate up to 10 times across devices, and Linux users also get a free path.

The Big Difference: Standalone vs Upgrade

Mode	How it works	What happens to extra features
Standalone app	Separate Brave Origin install	Features are compiled out entirely
Upgrade mode	Existing Brave gets an Origin settings panel	Features are toggled off by default

If you are truly anti-bloat, standalone is the purest option.

Features Affected By Brave Origin

According to Brave, Origin targets the following features:

Leo
News
Playlist (iOS currently)
Rewards (and browser-based Brave Ads)
Speedreader
Stats and analytics items (daily ping, crash logs, P3A)
Talk
Tor integration
VPN
Wallet (and Web3 domains)
Wayback Machine integration
Web Discovery Project

My Take

For most users, this list is a win. The average person benefits more from less noise and fewer moving parts than from an overloaded browser UI. If you need one of these, enable it in upgrade mode, or stay on standard Brave.

Availability Matrix

Brave lists support as follows:

Platform	Upgrade	Standalone	One-time purchase	Free option
Android (1.91.x+)	Yes	No	Yes	No
iOS (1.91.x+)	Yes	No	Yes	No
macOS (1.91.x+)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Windows (1.91.x+)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Linux (1.91.x+)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Linux users can install and continue with Origin for free using Brave's Linux-specific prompt.

Setup Paths

Desktop Standalone (Best for "just give me clean Brave")

Download Brave Origin standalone build.
Install and launch.
Enter your purchase ID, or on Linux use the free option prompt.
Finish onboarding and browse.

Upgrade Existing Brave (Desktop)

Open Settings, then System, then Brave Origin.
Buy or log in for your code.
Refresh Origin and relaunch browser.
Reopen Settings and configure feature toggles.

Upgrade Existing Brave (Mobile)

Open Settings, then Brave Origin.
Buy now or get login code.
Restart app.
Reopen Brave Origin settings and toggle features.

Privacy Model: How Purchase Works Without Tracking You

This is where people usually get suspicious: "If I buy it, are they tying my identity to my browsing?"

Brave says Origin uses blind token flows based on Privacy Pass, so payment identity and browser usage remain decoupled. In plain English: they can verify entitlement without needing to build a personal profile around your browsing activity.

That design is exactly what you want from a privacy-first premium feature.

Managed Devices and Work Environments

If your browser is managed by organization policies (Group Policy and similar), admin rules can override local Origin toggles. So yes, your work machine may still show or hide features based on corporate policy, even if your personal Origin settings differ.

This behavior applies to upgrade mode.

Is Brave Origin Worth It?

If you want a browser with fewer distractions, fewer bundled services, and a tighter privacy posture, Brave Origin is one of the most interesting browser moves in years.

If you rely on Brave VPN, Wallet, Rewards, or other optional services, standard Brave may still fit you better.

Chris Titus Tech Verdict

Brave Origin is a solid direction. Minimal by default is the right default.

I would love to see this philosophy spread across more software: let users opt into extras, not opt out of them.

Quick FAQ

Is Brave Origin a different browser engine?

No. It is still Brave on Chromium, with the core stack intact.

Can I use one purchase on multiple devices?

Yes. Brave documents up to 10 activations.

Can Linux users run it for free?

Yes. Brave currently offers a free Linux flow for Origin.

Can I switch back after upgrade mode?

Yes. Brave documents a downgrade path using their flag toggle and relaunch.

Source Notes

Official Brave Help Center article: What is Brave Origin https://support.brave.app/hc/en-us/articles/38561489788173-What-is-Brave-Origin
Version and availability details reflect Brave documentation at publication time

Walkthrough Video

Securing Your Network: A Comprehensive Guide to Checking and Enhancing Network Security

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT

This article explains how to check to see if your network is secure, and if you have any open ports or services that could be vulnerable to attack. It covers both Windows and Linux operating systems, and provides step-by-step instructions for using various tools to scan your network for vulnerabilities.

Basic Network Scan

To check your network you can use grc.com to perform a basic network scan. It will show if you have any open ports or services that could be exposed to the internet. You can also use tools like Nmap or Wireshark to perform more in-depth scans and analysis of your network traffic.

GRC's ShieldsUP! service is a popular tool for checking the security of your network. It tests for open ports and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. You can access it at https://www.grc.com/shieldsup.

Note: You should see something like this below

Windows Scan

On Windows, you can use the built-in Command Prompt or PowerShell to check for open ports. The netstat command is commonly used for this purpose. Open Command Prompt and run the following command:

netstat -an

This will display a list of all active connections and listening ports on your system. Look for any entries that show "LISTENING" to identify open ports.

Linux Scan

On Linux, you can use the netstat command as well, or you can use ss which is a more modern tool. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo netstat -tuln

Note: netstat package is in the net-tools package, which may not be installed by default on some Linux distributions. You can install it using your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install net-tools on Debian-based systems).

Newer Systems use ss instead of netstat. You can run the following command to check for open ports:

sudo ss -tuln

This will show you all the TCP and UDP ports that are currently listening on your system. Look for any entries that indicate open ports.

Check for Outside Addresses

From your netstat or ss output, you can identify any external IP addresses that are connected to your system. This can help you detect unauthorized access or potential security threats.

Find what is Running on the Open Ports

Windows:

# PowerShell — replace 8080 with your port
netstat -ano | findstr :8080

# Then look up the PID
tasklist | findstr <PID>

# PowerShell one-liner (shows process name directly)
Get-Process -Id (Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 8080).OwningProcess

Linux:

# ss (modern, preferred)
ss -tulnp | grep :8080

# netstat (older systems)
netstat -tulnp | grep :8080

# lsof — shows process name + PID
lsof -i :8080

# fuser — just the PID
fuser 8080/tcp

Securing a Network

Routers

If you are using a router your ISP provided, I'd recommend getting something like a Ubiquiti unifi gateway or a pfSense box. These devices provide better security features and allow you to have more control over your network. You can set up firewalls, VPNs, and other security measures to protect your network from potential threats.

Ubiquiti = easy to setup and manage but expensive
pfSense = more complex to setup and manage but much cheaper with build your own hardware setups. Or buy a pre-built appliance from Netgate.

Other 3rd party routers like Asus, TP-Link, etc. can be decent but they often have security vulnerabilities and may not receive regular updates. They probably are better than the ISP provided router but I would recommend going with a more reputable brand if you want better security.

Resources for pfSense:

Firewall

DO NOT buy a firewall or internet suite... they are terrible.

Check your windows firewall with wf.msc and make sure it is enabled and properly configured. You can create rules to block incoming connections on specific ports or from specific IP addresses.

For linux I'd recommned using ufw (Uncomplicated Firewall) which is a user-friendly interface for managing iptables. You can enable it with the following commands:

sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing

or configure with a gui like gufw or firewall-config depending on your linux distribution.

3rd Party Firewall Software

App	Description	Link
simplewall	Lightweight WFP-based per-app firewall, no background service required	github.com/henrypp/simplewall
Windows Firewall Control (WFC)	GUI front-end for the built-in Windows Firewall by Malwarebytes, free tier available	binisoft.org/wfc
TinyWall	Lightweight wrapper around Windows Firewall, whitelist-based, very low resource usage	tinywall.pados.hu
OpenSnitch	Application-level outbound firewall, prompts on first connection per app	github.com/evilsocket/opensnitch
ufw / gufw	Uncomplicated Firewall with optional GUI, default on many distros	launchpad.net/ufw
firewalld	Dynamic firewall manager used on Fedora/RHEL/Arch, supports zones	firewalld.org

VPN

VPN is a bandaid and can fix some issues but it is not a replacement for proper network security. It can help protect your data from being intercepted by encrypting your internet traffic, but it does not protect you from vulnerabilities in your network or devices. If you have a VPN, make sure to use a reputable provider.

All "security" influencers pushing VPNs are just trying to make a quick buck. A VPN can be useful in certain situations, but it is not a silver bullet for network security. Focus on securing your network and devices first, and use a VPN as an additional layer of protection if needed.

Check Devices on Your Network

You need to login to your router and check the list of connected devices. This will show you all the devices that are currently connected to your network, including their IP addresses and MAC addresses. Look for any devices that you do not recognize or that should not be on your network. If you find any suspicious devices, you can block them from accessing your network through your router's settings.

ABOVE IS ACTIVE PROTECTION AND YOU MUST KEEP DOING IT TO MAINTAIN SECURITY

Other than above, you can use software like Angry IP Scanner or Advanced IP Scanner to scan your network for connected devices. These tools will show you all the devices that are currently connected to your network, along with their IP addresses and other information. You can use this information to identify any unauthorized devices and take action to secure your network.

Links:

Closing Thoughts

Security is a journey, not a destination. You need to continuously monitor and maintain your network security to protect yourself from potential threats. Regularly check for open ports, update your software and firmware, and be vigilant about any suspicious activity on your network. By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your network remains secure and protected from potential attacks.

Walkthrough Video

Restore WMI after Corruption

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

The WMI database can become corrupted, leading to various system issues. This article provides a step-by-step guide to restore WMI after corruption.

Example of my WMI corruption (System Restore not supported from powershell)

Also verify with this command:

winmgmt /verifyrepository

Note: You should see wmi repository is consistent if the WMI repository is healthy. If you see wmi repository is inconsistent, it indicates that the WMI repository is corrupted and needs to be repaired.

The Fix

First check if you can salvage the repository by running the following command in an elevated PowerShell:

winmgmt /salvagerepository

Then proceed to reset the WMI repository by running the following command in an elevated PowerShell (if above failed):

Stop-Service winmgmt -Force
Remove-Item C:\Windows\System32\wbem\Repository -Recurse -Force
winmgmt /resetrepository
Start-Service winmgmt

Then for my case to restore the System Restore part of the WMI I ran this command:

mofcomp C:\Windows\System32\wbem\sr.mof

Then I tested it via the powershell commands Get-ComputerRestorePoint to pull existing restore points from system restore.

Windows Utility in 2026 — Everything That's Changed

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

After six years, 200+ contributors, and over 30 million runs, the Windows Utility continues to be one of the most widely used Windows optimization tools available. Here's a full breakdown of what it does, what's new, and what's coming next.

How to Run It

The easiest way to launch the utility is directly from your terminal:

Right-click the Start Menu and open Terminal (Admin)
Run the following command:

irm christitus.com/win | iex

Prefer an offline or EXE option? Head over to cttstore.com to download the executable. The online version always pulls the latest release, while the offline executable is ideal for systems without internet access or for those who want a static version.

The Four Tabs

1. Install

The Install tab lets you select and install multiple programs in one go. It uses Winget (and optionally Chocolatey) under the hood to handle everything automatically — no manual downloading or clicking through installers.

Key improvements:

Collapsible categories make it easier to browse by type (browsers, utilities, media, etc.)
Get Installed button queries your current system and lists everything already installed
Uninstalling is just as easy — uncheck what you don't want and hit Uninstall

The goal has always been a curated, concise list of the most commonly used programs — not an overwhelming app store. After years of iteration, the balance feels right.

2. Tweaks

The Tweaks tab is where most of the optimization magic happens. There are four sections:

Standard Tweaks — Recommended for all users. Safe, reversible, and based on sensible Windows 7-era defaults.
Advanced Tweaks — For power users only. Includes things like blocking Razer Synapse from ever installing (useful if you're stuck with Razer hardware).

Running Tweaks

When you click Run Tweaks, the utility:

Creates a System Restore Point automatically
Applies all selected tweaks in the background
Reduces running processes to around 70–80, cutting out AI bloat and unnecessary Microsoft services

Reverting Changes

Made a mistake? Two ways to undo:

Undo Selected Tweaks — Reverts only what you selected
System Restore — Roll back to the restore point created before tweaks were applied

3. Config

The Config tab is geared toward more experienced users, but there's plenty here that's useful for anyone who's been on their machine for a few years.

Highlights:

Old-school Control Panel — The Windows 7 control panel is still superior for many tasks
Printer Panel — More options than the modern Settings app
Legacy Sound Settings — Far better than Microsoft's current audio management
Themed PowerShell — Install a custom shell theme directly from here
.NET Frameworks — Enable or install specific versions as needed
NFS Setup — For those running NFS instead of SMB network drives

Repair Tools

Tool	What It Does
Reset Network	Runs `netsh int ip reset` and `netsh winsock reset` — restores network stack to defaults
Reset Windows Update	Re-registers DLLs, restarts update services
System Corruption Scan	Runs `sfc /scannow` and `DISM /RestoreHealth`
Winget Repair	Restores Winget health if installs/uninstalls start failing

4. Updates

For Windows Pro users, this tab is essential. The recommended configuration:

Delay Feature Updates by 1 year — Avoid being a beta tester for major OS changes
Delay Security Updates by 4 days — Updates release on Tuesday; this installs them Saturday, giving Microsoft time to pull any bad patches before they hit your machine

For Home users, or when Microsoft ships a particularly bad update (like the NVMe drive issue from last year), there's an option to disable updates altogether.

A Default Updates button resets everything back to Windows defaults.

Win11 Creator

Win11 Creator takes a different approach from the old MicroWin:

Removes AI integrations, bloatware, and pre-installed apps from the Windows image
Maintains full program compatibility — nothing is stripped that would break normal software
Produces a clean, privacy-respecting Windows install without the Microsoft cruft

Other Alternatives for Creating a Custom Windows ISO

If you want a minimal or customized Windows install, here are additional tools:

Tiny11 Builder — By NTDEV (IntiDev), who has been creating Windows ISOs for 20+ years. Uses official Microsoft media.
NTLite — A veteran tool dating back to Windows XP. Highly configurable ISO modification.

Stay in the Loop

Development is ongoing and moves fast. Catch live updates every Tuesday and Thursday on:

YouTube
Twitch

Have thoughts on Win11 Creator or what you'd like to see in the new .NET app? Drop a comment — feedback directly shapes where this project goes next.

Walkthrough Video

Track Changes Word Author Macro

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This is a method for changing ALL the authors in Microsoft Word to a single author for comments and revisions.

Who is this for?

Businesses and Law Firms that need to change the author before sending changes to a client.

The Macro and How to Use

Open a New Module in Visual Basic in Word (Alt + F11)

From VB Editor, Create a new Module (Right-click Normal -> Insert -> Module)

Paste the following code into the Normal-Module1 (Code) Window Note: Big window on the right

Sub AcceptAndRecreateWorkingVersion()
    Dim doc As Document
    Dim rev As Revision
    Dim com As Comment
    Dim originalTrackChanges As Boolean
    Dim revCount As Long
    Dim response As VbMsgBoxResult
    Dim authors As Collection
    Dim author As Variant
    Dim sOldAuthor As String
    Dim sNewAuthor As String
    Dim sec As Section
    Dim hf As HeaderFooter
    Dim sWOOXML As String
    Dim sFindAuthor As String
    Dim sReplaceAuthor As String
    Dim hasChanges As Boolean
    Dim newAuthor As String
  
    'Set Author Name Here
    newAuthor = "New Author"
    
    On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
    Set doc = ActiveDocument
    revCount = doc.Revisions.Count
    
    If revCount = 0 Then
        MsgBox "No tracked changes found.", vbInformation, "No Revisions"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    
    response = MsgBox("Set all tracked changes to '" & newAuthor & "' as author?" & vbNewLine & _
                     "Processes via XML for all types.", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Confirm")
    If response = vbNo Then Exit Sub
    
    ' Store settings
    originalTrackChanges = doc.TrackRevisions
    Application.ScreenUpdating = False
    
    ' Collect unique authors excluding newAuthor
    Set authors = New Collection
    hasChanges = False
    For Each rev In doc.Revisions
        If rev.author <> newAuthor Then
            On Error Resume Next
            authors.Add rev.author, rev.author
            If Err.Number = 0 Then hasChanges = True
            On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
        End If
    Next rev
    For Each com In doc.Comments
        If com.author <> newAuthor Then
            On Error Resume Next
            authors.Add com.author, com.author
            If Err.Number = 0 Then hasChanges = True
            On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
        End If
    Next com
    
    If Not hasChanges Then
        MsgBox "No changes to process.", vbInformation, "Complete"
        GoTo CleanUp
    End If
    
    ' Turn off track revisions
    doc.TrackRevisions = False
    
    sNewAuthor = newAuthor
    
    ' Process each unique author
    For Each author In authors
        sOldAuthor = author
        sFindAuthor = "w:author=""" & sOldAuthor & """"
        sReplaceAuthor = "w:author=""" & sNewAuthor & """"
        
        ' Main content
        sWOOXML = doc.Content.WordOpenXML
        sWOOXML = Replace(sWOOXML, sFindAuthor, sReplaceAuthor)
        doc.Content.InsertXML sWOOXML
        
        ' Headers and footers
        For Each sec In doc.Sections
            For Each hf In sec.Headers
                sWOOXML = hf.Range.WordOpenXML
                sWOOXML = Replace(sWOOXML, sFindAuthor, sReplaceAuthor)
                hf.Range.InsertXML sWOOXML
            Next hf
            For Each hf In sec.Footers
                sWOOXML = hf.Range.WordOpenXML
                sWOOXML = Replace(sWOOXML, sFindAuthor, sReplaceAuthor)
                hf.Range.InsertXML sWOOXML
            Next hf
        Next sec
    Next author
    
    doc.Save  ' Save to register changes
    
CleanUp:
    doc.TrackRevisions = originalTrackChanges
    Application.ScreenUpdating = True
    Application.StatusBar = ""
    
    MsgBox "Processed all changes. Remaining revisions: " & doc.Revisions.Count, vbInformation, "Complete"
    Exit Sub

ErrorHandler:
    MsgBox "Error: " & Err.Description, vbCritical, "Error"
    Resume CleanUp
End Sub

Save and Return to Word

Open the document you want to apply this to and run the macro with Alt+F8

Note: You can also bind this to a button on your ribbon/taskbar

Just swaping authors with NO timestamp reset

This way is not as comprehensive but it does not reset the timestamp on the changes.

Sub ChangeCommentCreator()
    Dim I As Long
    Dim Novo As String
    Dim Corto As String
    If Selection.Comments.Count = 0 Then
        MsgBox "No comments in your selection!", vbInformation, "Alerta"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    Novo = InputBox("New author name?", "Alerta")
    Corto = InputBox("New author initials?", "Alerta")
    If Novo = "" Or Corto = "" Then
        MsgBox "The author name/initials can’t be empty.", vbInformation, "Alerta"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    With Selection
        For I = 1 To .Comments.Count
            .Comments(I).Author = Novo
            .Comments(I).Initial = Corto
        Next I
    End With
End Sub

How Vulnerable Windows Users Are by Update

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Here is how vulnerable Windows users are by update. When you disable updates, how long you go without updating your system determines how vulnerable you become.

Determining your Windows version

Here is how you determine the windows verison and BUILD Number.

You can also see it display in systeminfo

Checking how many vulnerabilities your version has

Source: https://www.cvedetails.com/version/1824209/Microsoft-Windows-11-24H2-10.0.26100.1742.html

Check the website https://www.cvedetails.com/product-search.php?vendor_id=0&search=Windows and look up your version of windows.

You will see that typically the older a version the more exploits it will have. Not all exploits worry me, but the notiable columns to pay attention to are Code Execution and Privilege escalation.

Conclusion

Instead of a blanket statement of "Update or you get are a security risk", you can now look at your version and determine how big or small of risk you are taking. \

Walkthrough Video

Patching Programs From Forks

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT

This article explains how to patch programs from forks using Git. It covers the steps to clone a forked repository, create a patch file, and apply it to the original repository.

Creating Patch Files

Go to the repo that is ahead of the project that you want patched.

git format-patch -1 <COMMITSHA>

Git commit sha located at:

Patching the Original Repo

Check the stats and if there will be any rejects from patching

Stats:

git apply --stat <PATCHFILE>

Check for rejects:

git apply --check <PATCHFILE>

Apply a clean patch:

git am <PATCHFILE>

Apply a patch with rejects:

git am --reject <PATCHFILE>

Note: You may need to resolve conflicts manually if there are rejects. Look in the directory for any *.rej and manually fix the lines that did NOT get applied!

The Ai Problem

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Do we really need Google Gemini, Apple Intelligence, or Microsoft CoPilot?

A Solution without a Problem

Big Tech (Google, Microsoft, and Apple) are pushing these AI assistants down our throat. They don't really solve anything that we have a problem with. It should also be noted that they understand how bad the optics of these AI assistants are, so they are very adamant at pointing out that the data gathered does NOT get uploaded to their servers. However, they are very vague on what they actually do with our data... other than it is always watching and keeping track of EVERYTHING we do on our devices. They have also never explicitly said that it doesn't create profiles of our usage, nor have they said they can NOT remotely access it.

The other issue is it ingesting all your data to "improve" AI. This has a variety of benefits for these large companies as they can use these profiles for advertising packages to sell to other companies. Companies like Roomba have even leaked the screenshots its vacuum took of a woman on the toilet back in 2020. Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/19/1065306/roomba-irobot-robot-vacuums-artificial-intelligence-training-data-privacy/ Do we really want to trust Microsoft, Apple, or Google with all our sensitive information? If the AI vacuum company did this... Think about everything you have ever done on your Phone or PC being looked at by "AI".

They also use this data to improve "AI" and that data is ours. They are taking it without asking nor are they upfront about how its able to learn by ONLY using OUR DATA!

AI can be good

Things like programming can be wonderful. GPT, Claude and many other LLMs are fantastic, but are isolated use cases. Most of what people call AI isn't AI at all. They are ways to extract more money with minimal investment out of their users. They slap "AI Powered" on the side and are able to move more software or retail boxes of that product without anything else being done. Most of the AI products like Gemini, Copilot or Apple AI are surveillance software to extract advertising information or profile users for their own means while giving very little value to the end user. Where "AI" is beneficial is when it is used like an auto-correct on steroids. Photos, Programming, Correcting mistakes, and much more, but giving access to your entire system is a bridge too far and it must remain isolated or you give up your privacy, independence, and hard work.

Walkthrough Video

Windows to Linux for Powerusers

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Windows to Linux is a hard transition for many users. I find this especially true for advanced Windows users. Here are all the things I wish I knew before trying to switch to Linux after using Windows for 20+ years.

Qualify Yourself and Expectations

Understand that Linux is NOT Windows and they work differently. Figure out the shortcomings of Linux in your current workflow and be flexible in learning alternatives or be comfortable dual booting.

Think about program alternatives and incompatibilities

Microsoft Office
Adobe Products
Gaming Titles that use Anti-Cheat (check https://protondb.com for compatibility)

Why do you want to switch? For me, I was tired of Windows and their update cycle.

Setup a Test Environment

Before you nuke your Windows and install Linux, you need to understand what you are getting yourself into. The best way is to setup a test environment using either a Virtual Machine or even another PC. I personally recommend using a raspberry pi to cut your teeth in Linux and understanding terminal.

Choosing your Distribution

There are two types of distributions in Linux, Rolling and Stable A.K.A. LTS (Long Term Service). There is a scale of bleeding edge to really stable, but old packages.

Most other tutorials will tell you to install ubuntu or mint at this point, but I want you to understand what Linux is capable of and building your own distribution is the best way to learn. There are so many distributions how do you pick one? Let me simplify this decision... Install Debian. Its the most common and easiest to find guides on. Arch Linux is a second choice as it is very friendly on installing any package. Third, would be Fedora as it is a good middle ground between Arch and Debian.

What about the 100 or so other distributions? Most of these are just the same thing with a few different options that don't matter or just look different. Once you figure out how to change Linux to your liking you won't care which one you pick.

Rolling Releases

Arch Linux is probably the most well known rolling release that has the most up to date packages, but the more of these you install, the more unstable the system will become. It is not uncommon to run into a bad update and have the system start acting up. I don't recommend this type of distribution, but understand the appeal. Honorable mentions in this space are OpenSUSE tumbleweed, but is more obscure for newbies to the Linux space.

Stable Releases

These packages can be relatively modern, but not as bleeding edge as Arch or rolling releases. There are three distributions I'd recommend.

Fedora (13-month release cycle) - Most modern packages of many stable releases
Debian (24-month release cycle) - Most common distribution out of all of Linux with most things based on it and My MAIN recommendation.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux - Rocky (10 year support) - Mostly used in business or areas where nothing will change for a long time. Very old packages and mainly used in server environments.

Understanding Linux

Distributions are just pre-packaged components making up Linux. Unlike Windows or Mac, you can choose different options for bootloader, init systems, display rendering, display managers, desktop environments or window managers. Which are the basic components every system has, once on the desktop you can pickup your own file browser, start menu, bars, configuration tools and utilities.

Linux can be changed in any way you want. Where a pre-packaged system like Windows or Mac all these decisions are made for you and can't be removed.

You don't like how the system boots? Change the bootloader from grub to systemd
Don't like the way Xorg handles displays? Change to Wayland
Want a completely different workflow from the GNOME Desktop Environment? Switch to KDE

Notable Differences from Windows

Here is a short list of things you need to know:

Drivers are baked into the Kernel and adding new "drivers" relies on a kernel module that needs to be rebuilt every time the kernel changes. These modules rely on dkms and linux-headers a lot of the time.
Control Panel and GUI system applications are generally an after thought. System configuration is done in the /etc folder and User configuration is done in the /home/user/.config folder. Windows can spread config files everywhere and Linux doesn't and puts them in these folders depending on if it is systemwide or user based.
Terminal is needed. Linux try hards always say you can do anything in the GUI and generally don't use Windows or Mac and don't know how bad the Linux GUI experience is in comparison. You will need to get comfortable with the terminal. Linux is built for the CLI experience in mind FIRST and the GUI ALWAYS is second or not at all in some cases.
EVERYTHING can be customized!
Linux will NOT protect you from yourself. You can do anything you want and break your system.
Linux FOSS applications are generally less polished, but then again they are FREE!
Browser-based app alternatives are a way to get around the limitations of FOSS offerings

How Programs are Installed

The biggest thing a specific distribution gives you is a Package Manager. How it installs programs is something that doesn't change very much.

Here are some examples so you don't go look dumb trying to install packages on a different distribution with a different package manager:

sudo apt install name - Debian, Ubuntu, and a TON of Linux distributions use apt as the package manager.
sudo pacman -Sy name - Arch-based also uses yay or paru to expand this to include almost any Linux package in existence.
sudo dnf install name - RHEL-based distros like Fedora use this package manager. It used to be yum instead, but was changed in recent years to dnf.

There are a ton of others for different distros, like zypper for OpenSUSE or swupd for Clear Linux, but these are pretty niche and you shouldn't concern yourself with them.

Packages for ALL Distributions are made using Flatpak, AppImage, Flatpak, and even installing a secondary package manager like homebrew or nix. Everything I just listed works on all distributions and are containerized for the most part.

Typical Distribution

Common alternatives in parenthesis

Bootloader = GRUB (Systemd-boot)
Init System = Systemd
Display Render = Wayland (Xorg - Common on Older Distros)
Display Manager = GDM, SDDM, or LightDM (This is the Login Manager)
Desktop Environments = KDE, Gnome, Cinnamon, XFCE, Mate, and LXQT (These have gui tool suite to help with system configuration)
Window Managers (Desktop Environment Alternative)
- Wayland Based = Sway and Hyprland (riverwm, dwl, and other are still being developed)
- Xorg = BSPWM, DWM, i3, qTile, XMonad, awesomewm, and many others.

Example Configuration

Ubuntu

Bootloader - Grub
Init System - Systemd
Display Render - Wayland
Display Manager - GDM
Desktop Environment - GNOME

First Installation

Grab a debian ISO here: https://www.debian.org/download

The basic netinst is fine for now. We just want a sample system to build up and learn on.

Second Installation

Use Arch Linux here: https://archlinux.org/download/

Instead of using a wizard included with Arch, I recommend walking through all the steps @ https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Installation_guide and learning about what goes into the setup process. Arch does a fantastic job of breaking down each step and I highly recommend their wiki as a resource even when NOT using arch.

Third Installation

Start messing around with window managers and configuring the system from a command line interface (CLI). This will make you more comfortable with Linux as a whole. After this is done, decide which way you enjoy the most.

Walkthrough Video

Enhanced Linux in Windows

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Using WSL is great for a lot of things, but often I find it limiting or quirky bugs that don't happen on HyperV.

What is a Enhanced HyperV Session in Windows?

This allows full 3D acceleration, large resolutions, audio passthrough, and shared clipboard. There are many other things that this can do, but these are main benefits. I was using WSLg and constantly found little problems about moving around or compiling taking a long time and other issues.

The biggest problem with WSL is it isn't Linux. It feels like a bolted on system that I have a hard time programming in.

Enter HyperV!

HyperV with Enhanced Session feels like Linux and it is FAST! I can go full screen and using it like a Linux desktop forgetting I am in Windows. The startup is only a few seconds and a fantastic alternative than doing a dual boot.

Enabling Enhanced Session

Arch Dependencies inside VM

yay -S xrdp xorgxrdp

Windows Configuration (PowerShell)

Set-VMhost -EnableEnhancedSessionMode $True
Set-VM -VMName "NameVM" -EnhancedSessionTransportType HvSocket

Configuration Script (install script)

#!/bin/bash

#
# This script is for Arch Linux to configure XRDP for enhanced session mode
#
# The configuration is adapted from the Ubuntu 16.04 script.
#

if [ "$(id -u)" -ne 0 ]; then
    echo 'This script must be run with root privileges' >&2
    exit 1
fi

# Use Qi to check for exact package name
if ! pacman -Qi xrdp > /dev/null ; then
    echo 'xrdp not installed. Run makepkg.sh first to install xrdp.' >&2
    exit 1
fi

# Use Qs to allow xorgxrdp-devel-git
if ! pacman -Qs xorgxrdp > /dev/null ; then
    echo 'xorgxrdp not installed. Run makepkg.sh first to install xorgxrdp.' >&2
    exit 1
fi

###############################################################################
# Configure XRDP
#
systemctl enable xrdp
systemctl enable xrdp-sesman

# Configure the installed XRDP ini files.
# use vsock transport.
sed -i_orig -e 's/port=3389/port=vsock:\/\/-1:3389/g' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
# use rdp security.
sed -i_orig -e 's/security_layer=negotiate/security_layer=rdp/g' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
# remove encryption validation.
sed -i_orig -e 's/crypt_level=high/crypt_level=none/g' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
# disable bitmap compression since its local its much faster
sed -i_orig -e 's/bitmap_compression=true/bitmap_compression=false/g' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
#
# sed -n -e 's/max_bpp=32/max_bpp=24/g' /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

# use the default lightdm x display
# sed -i_orig -e 's/X11DisplayOffset=10/X11DisplayOffset=0/g' /etc/xrdp/sesman.ini
# rename the redirected drives to 'shared-drives'
sed -i_orig -e 's/FuseMountName=thinclient_drives/FuseMountName=shared-drives/g' /etc/xrdp/sesman.ini

# Change the allowed_users
echo "allowed_users=anybody" > /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config


#Ensure hv_sock gets loaded
if [ ! -e /etc/modules-load.d/hv_sock.conf ]; then
 echo "hv_sock" > /etc/modules-load.d/hv_sock.conf
fi

# Configure the policy xrdp session
cat > /etc/polkit-1/rules.d/02-allow-colord.rules <<EOF
polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
    if ((action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-device" ||
         action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.modify-profile" ||
         action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.delete-device" ||
         action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-profile" ||
         action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.modify-profile" ||
         action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.delete-profile") &&
        subject.isInGroup("users"))
    {
        return polkit.Result.YES;
    }
});
EOF

# Adapt the xrdp pam config
cat > /etc/pam.d/xrdp-sesman <<EOF
#%PAM-1.0
auth        include     system-remote-login
account     include     system-remote-login
password    include     system-remote-login
session     include     system-remote-login
EOF


###############################################################################
# .xinitrc has to be modified manually.
#
echo "You will have to configure .xinitrc to start your windows manager, see https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xinit"
echo "Reboot your machine to begin using XRDP."
echo "Example: nano ~/.xinitrc" and launch your desktop environment or window manager. Enter "exec dwm" to launch dwm.

Audio Issues

Depending on your audio setup you may run into issues. Currently, pulseaudio-module-xrdp is not working on the AUR for Arch. I have been unsuccessful in getting pipewire working with xrdp.

Check https://github.com/neutrinolabs/pulseaudio-module-xrdp for more information.

Alternatively, you should be able to use pipewire with xrdp at https://github.com/neutrinolabs/pipewire-module-xrdp. However, at the time of this writing it has not seen an update in 9 months. So this method will probably only work with fedora or debian based systems.

The Microsoft Recall Situation

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Microsoft Recall situation is a serious issue as the feature has been spotted in all systems that are updated in 24H2. Let's go over what this feature is and how it is implemented depending on your system.

What is Recall

Microsoft Recall is a feature that takes screenshots every 5 seconds and OCR's what is on your screen so it can "recall" anything you have done on your PC. This feature is a serious privacy concern as it can capture sensitive information. Microsoft has promised that it only stores this data locally and does not send it to their servers.

Recall on 24H2

This feature was initially said to only work with ARM-based CPUs with a Copilot+ chip or NPU chip. However, it has been spotted on all systems that have been updated to 24H2. What is it doing and is it active on all these x86 systems?

How to Check or Disable Recall Feature

DISM /Online /Get-FeatureInfo /FeatureName:Recall

Disable Recall

DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Recall

Note: removing recall feature from an offline image breaks the new file explorer reverting its look to the old one.

Source files referenced in Feature located in C:\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.AIX_cw5n1h2txyewy

Recall Requirements

A Copilot+ PC
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite processors
- Intel's Core Ultra processors
- AMD's AI 300 Series processors
- Besides the Copilot+ Certification, it maybe possible with any CPU with a NPU chip.
Windows 24H2
16 GB RAM
8 logical processors
256 GB storage capacity
- To enable Recall, you need at least 50 GB of space free
- Snapshot capture automatically pauses once the device has less than 25 GB of disk space available

Explorer Recall Problems

If you remove Recall from an offline image, the new file explorer will break and revert to the old one. This is was originally thought to be from the removal of the Recall feature, but it is actually due to the removal of the AIX package which in turn removes the Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy package.

This CBS package is a library responsible for the new file explorer and removing it will revert the file explorer to the old one.

So why did this happen? The AIX package (AKA Recall) manifest references the CBS package, so when you remove the AIX package, it removes the CBS package as well. MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy (File Explorer) is dependent on the Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy package but it is not referenced in the File Explorer manifest.

This would cause the new file explorer to break and revert to the old one because that package is a library that gives the new look to explorer with tabs.

The Explorer Fix in Offline Images

To fix the new file explorer in offline images, you need to add the Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.CBS_cw5n1h2txyewy package back to the image. This can be done by adding the package back to the image using the following command:

This was done in pull request #2947 Source: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil/pull/2947/files

 # Detect Windows 11 24H2 and add dependency to FileExp to prevent Explorer look from going back - thanks @WitherOrNot and @thecatontheceiling
        if ((Test-CompatibleImage $imgVersion $([System.Version]::new(10,0,26100,1))) -eq $true)
        {
            try
            {
                if (Test-Path "$scratchDir\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy\appxmanifest.xml" -PathType Leaf)
                {
                    # Found the culprit. Do the following:

                    # 1. Take ownership of the file, from TrustedInstaller to Administrators
                    takeown /F "$scratchDir\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy\appxmanifest.xml" /A

                    # 2. Set ACLs so that we can write to it
                    icacls "$scratchDir\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy\appxmanifest.xml" /grant "$(Get-LocalizedUsers -admins $true):(M)" | Out-Host

                    # 3. Open the file and do the modification
                    $appxManifest = Get-Content -Path "$scratchDir\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy\appxmanifest.xml"
                    $originalLine = $appxManifest[13]
                    $dependency = "`n        <PackageDependency Name=`"Microsoft.WindowsAppRuntime.CBS`" MinVersion=`"1.0.0.0`" Publisher=`"CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US`" />"
                    $appxManifest[13] = "$originalLine$dependency"
                    Set-Content -Path "$scratchDir\Windows\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.FileExp_cw5n1h2txyewy\appxmanifest.xml" -Value $appxManifest -Force -Encoding utf8

Credits

Big shoutout to WitherorNot, CodingWonders, fish bazooka, and thecatontheceiling for figuring out the fix for the new file explorer in offline images and tracking down this information.

Walkthrough Video

The Most Popular Windows Utility

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This is the biggest update to WinUtil since its inception. It is now a full-fledged Windows utility suite. It has a lot of new features and improvements. It is now a must-have utility for Windows users.

The #1 Most Stared PowerShell project on GitHub!

Features

Install Programs - Install multiple programs with a single click.
Uninstall Programs - Uninstall multiple programs with a single click.
Update Programs - Update multiple programs with a single click.

Tweaks

Use standard tweaks to improve Windows performance.
I also recommend using the following advanced tweaks:
- Disable Microsoft Copilot
- Set Classic Right-Click Menu

Note: DO NOT click everything in advanced tweaks... your system may become unstable.

Updates

I still recommend Security Updates policy. It delays security updates 4 days and feature updates up to 2 years. This ensures stability and reliability.

Microwin

The 4 minute install ISO. It is a minimal Windows 10 ISO with WinUtil pre-installed. It is perfect for a fresh install.

No customizations or removals of official Microsoft products... but no added bloatware or apps. Its just like Microsoft used to Package windows during the Windows 7 era.

Official Links

GitHub - https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil
Download - https://christitus.com/downloads
Documentation - https://christitustech.github.io/winutil/

Walkthrough Video

Crowdstrike Alternatives

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

With Crowdstrike proving that it should NOT be used, here are some alternatives for MSPs and Enterprise users.

Why move from Crowdstrike

Kernel Panics on RHEL systems June 2024 https://access.redhat.com/solutions/7068083
Global Outage on Windows Systems July 2024
Failure to follow client staging options. (Many MSPs reported that Crowdstrike failed to honor N-1 update policy and pushed updates anyways)
Crowdstrike June 2024 update caused 100% CPU spikes on single core. https://www.thestack.technology/crowdstrike-bug-maxes-out-100-of-cpu-requires-windows-reboots/
CEO used to be McAfee CTO during global outage in 2010 McAfee update that deleted svchost file and caused BSODs. https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/defective-mcafee-once-caused-worldwide-meltdown-of-windows-xp-pcs/story

Residential Users

In 2024, just use Windows Defender at this point. There is no reason to pay for an antivirus or security software for a home user in a non-managed scenario.

MSP / Enterprise Users

The list of Crowdstrike Alternatives

1. Huntress

https://www.huntress.com/

Huntress is a unique managed security software in that it does NOT use its own antivirus. They use Windows Defender and have a robust reporting system. Most MSPs and technicians I talk to this is the pick for them. Pricing on this starts around $5 a seat per month and drops to about $2-3 a seat per month with 500+ users.

2. Blackpoint Security

https://blackpointcyber.com/

Blackpoint is the runner-up but also has a good track record in the MSP space. I personally have never dealt with them, but heard good things.

3. SentinelOne Security

https://www.sentinelone.com/

Probably the cheapest on this list, but also has a decent track record. I personally don't like the client because it is heavy and the reporting is too noisy. However, it does give good protection.

The Others

BitDefender, Webroot, and other popular AV name brands are NOT suitable in my opinion for use in a large environment.

Walkthrough Video

Home Theater PC

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Here are the steps and pros/cons of using a Home Theater PC (HTPC) for your home entertainment system.

The System

I'm using a Mini PC from Beelink (model SER8) with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845U processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. It has a built-in AMD 780M GPU and runs Windows 11 Pro.

No external GPU is needed for this system, as it's powerful enough to handle 4K video playback and light gaming. For some this is sufficient as a main machine, but for me, I want to use this system for some couch gaming.

The Setup

Out of the box these mini PC systems are configured in a balanced mode, which is fine for most users. However, I wanted to tweak the system to get the most out of it for my use case. I set the power plan to high performance, disabled the sleep mode, and set the display to never turn off. I also modified bios settings to always run at max power.

Other Tweaks:

Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility - Standard Tweaks applied - GitHub Guide
Tweaked resolution with Custom Resolution Utility
Resolution set to 1080p for gaming (Note: If you have performance issues, you can lower the resolution to 720p)
Installed Radeon Software for GPU settings
Steam Installed and Set to Big Picture Mode on Startup (Controller used for all gaming)

The Performance

I tested this out on stream with various games and it performed well. I was able to match the advertised FPS per the manufacturer's website.

Livestream Benchmarks

IO Ports for Beelink SER8

Pros and Cons

The pros of this type of system is portability, speed, and power consumption. The cons are the lack of upgradability and the need for an external GPU for more demanding games. Also, Don't expect above 60 FPS on modern AAA games.

Walkthrough Video

Why You NEED to Contribute to Open Source

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

There is a video called Don't Contribute to Open Source by Theo t3 and most people don't understand its purpose or didn't watch the entire video.

The Video Problem

The problem wasn't the video itself but the title. Only 30-40% of people watch a video all the way through AND an even higher percentage of those people do NOT understand GitHub.

So the takeaway most took from the video is NOT to contribute to open source projects. When the intent of the video was to NOT make needless Pull Requests to projects and bog down Open Source Maintainers.

How to contribute to Open Source

Start with Issues and capturing bugs in software. This helps you understand the issues with using the given project.
Develop a fix for the issue and submit a pull request
Wait for the project maintainer to approve and merge your PR.

Pull Request Etiquette

Do NOT make massive changes. Batching tons of fixes into one PR is a BAD idea. Fix one thing and submit it for the feature you are working on. Multiple features = Multiple Pull Requests.
Do NOT make massive formatting changes. Using an extension like prettier and changing every line in a code is a good way to get banned from the project.
If it is a complex feature pull request. Consider making multiple commits in your PR. Example: Fixing error checking commit, new function commit, etc. The idea is to make it easier to read what is happening in the Pull request. Breaking it up in to multiple commits helps the maintainer understand what your LARGE PR is doing. Again, if it starts effecting multiple features... Consider breaking it in to two or more pull requests.
Check project documentation for branch submissions. Some projects do not want you to commit to main. They might have a beta or test branch they want submissions to go to. Be careful on which branch you are using.

What if you are NOT a Developer

Learning to submit issues properly on Github is a tremendous help. As someone that maintains one of the biggest powershell scripts in the world, most issues are poorly presented or documented. Instead of making an issue that says "It don't work!", do the following:

Document the Steps you take.
Screenshot the error.
Establish what you EXPECT it to do.

Do not do a massive text dump! Instead use the attach button if you are uploading a large log file. As a general rule of thumb, if it more than 15-20 lines long... It should be an attachment so it doesn't clutter up the issue thread.

Walkthrough Video

Hastebin

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Walkthrough Video

The Ultimate Powershell Experience

Sat, 04 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This PowerShell profile script introduces a comprehensive set of functions and aliases aimed at enhancing the PowerShell experience. It includes everything from module management and profile updates to utility functions and quality of life improvements.

GitHub Project: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/powershell-profile

Key Features

Module Management: Automatically installs the Terminal-Icons module if not present and imports it along with the Chocolatey profile if available.
Profile Updates: Includes a function Update-Profile to check for and apply updates to the PowerShell profile script from a specified URL.
PowerShell Updates: A function Update-PowerShell checks for and installs the latest PowerShell version using winget.
Admin Check and Prompt Customization: Adjusts the prompt based on whether the user has administrator privileges and customizes the window title accordingly.
Utility Functions: A collection of utility functions such as Test-CommandExists, Edit-Profile, Get-PubIP, uptime, reload-profile, unzip, hb (for uploading documents), grep, df, sed, which, export, pkill, pgrep, head, and tail.
Quick File and Directory Management: Functions for creating new files (nf), and making and changing directories (mkcd).
Quality of Life Aliases: Includes shortcuts for navigation (docs, dtop), editing the profile (ep), process management (k9), enhanced listing (la, ll), Git shortcuts (gs, ga, gc, gp, g, gcom, lazyg), system information (sysinfo), networking utilities (flushdns), and clipboard utilities (cpy, pst).
Enhanced PowerShell Experience: Sets PSReadLine options for color coding and initializes oh-my-posh with a specified theme for a better visual experience.

Conclusion

This PowerShell profile script is designed to streamline and enhance the PowerShell user experience, incorporating a wide range of functions and aliases that cater to various needs from system administration to development tasks.

Walkthrough Video

Windows Utility Improved

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Chris Titus Tech WinUtil is now the #2 Most Popular Powershell utility in the World on GitHub.

What does it do?

It has 5 main tabs:

Program Installation - Check all the programs you want and click install in one go.
Tweaks - Disable Telemetry and cut down on running background services.
Config - Configure your system and launch legacy Win7 Control Panels.
Updates - Change Windows Update to only use Security Updates or Disable them altogether.
MicroWin - Create a minimal ISO to Install Windows.

How to Run it?

Launch Terminal(Admin) by right clicking Start Button

Type this command in to launch the toolbox

irm christitus.com/win | iex

Want an EXE? Help fund the project:

https://cttstore.com

NOTE: This exe is a wrapper for the command above. No purchase is needed to run the script!

Improvements in 2024

Import and Export Commands
- iex "& { $(irm christitus.com/win) } -Config [path-to-your-config] -Run"
Improved UI
Winget Installer uses 3 methods to install apps, System Scope, User Scope, and Unelevated.
Get Classic Right-Click Menu
Edge Removal
Co-Pilot Removal

Development Enhancements

Fixed Unit Tests
Modular
- Config Folder (All tweaks are in JSON format in their own file. applications.json, tweaks.json, feature.json, etc.)
- Function Folder (All functions are independent: private functions are not in GUI and public functions are in GUI)
- lint, logs, pester, releases are all github related actions and for debugging.
- scripts Folder is for the main section setting up runspaces and launching GUI.
- xaml folder is for the GUI.

Walkthrough Video

Zoxide

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Zoxide is an enhanced version of the traditional cd command, drawing inspiration from tools like z and autojump. It's designed to make navigating your filesystem faster and more intuitive by learning your habits. The more you use it, the smarter it gets, allowing you to "jump" to your most frequently used directories with minimal input.

Key Features

Smart Directory Jumping: Navigate to your most used directories with just a few keystrokes.
Cross-Shell Compatibility: Works seamlessly across all major shells.
Interactive Selection: Use zi for interactive directory selection with fzf.
Easy Installation: Simple setup process across various platforms.

Getting Started

Basic Commands

z foo: Jump to the highest-ranked directory matching foo.
z ~/foo: Works just like cd, allowing navigation to absolute paths.
z ..: Move up one directory level.
z -: Return to the previous directory.

Installation Steps

Install Zoxide: Available for Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, and Android.

All operating systems have zoxide in default repositories and can be installed by using the zoxide package

Shell Integration: Easily integrate zoxide into your preferred shell (Bash, Fish, Zsh, and more).
Optional fzf Integration: For enhanced interactive selection, install fzf (v0.33.0+).

Configuration

Customize zoxide with various flags and environment variables:

Command Prefix: Change the default z and zi commands with --cmd.
Hooks: Adjust the frequency of directory score updates with --hook.
Data Directory: Specify the database location with _ZO_DATA_DIR.
Exclude Directories: Use _ZO_EXCLUDE_DIRS to exclude directories from zoxide's database.

Integrations

Zoxide integrates with a wide range of applications, from file managers like lf and ranger to text editors like vim and emacs, enhancing your workflow across tools.

Links

Github: https://github.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide

Walkthrough Video

VPN Tier List 2024

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know most VPNs are owned by only a few companies? Those companies can even sell your data on top of charging you a subscription fee.

In this post, we'll be looking at the best VPNs for 2024.

Why Use a VPN?

If you are looking for privacy or an encrypted connection on the go, setting up a wireguard or openvpn server is a great way to do that. This established a secure connection to your home network and helps block attacks that could happen on the host network providing you internet in a hotel, coffee shop, or other public setting. Setting these up are free and the best way to protect your privacy while helping your maintain a secure connection.

The next use case for a VPN is torrenting or streaming media from another country (geo-unlock). All VPNs generally are advertised as being able to do this, but make sure the VPN does not LOG any user activities and has servers in the country you want to watch streaming from.

Corporate VPNs and the Big Tech Companies

Kape Technology

ExpressVPN
CyberGhost
Private Internet Access
Intego Privacy Protection

Ziff Davis

IPVanish
StrongVPN
Encrypt.me
SaferVPN
Perimeter 81
FastVPN
Internet Shield VPN by VIPRE
SpeedtestVPN
netDNA

Nord Security

NordVPN
NordLayer
Surfshark VPN

I could go on, but these are the heavy hitters in the market. Most other VPN conglomerates own 5-10 different VPN brands each.

The Best VPNs

These are independent VPNs that are owned by a single company and outside the 14-eyes countries. Mullvad is hosted in Sweden which doesn't have laws to intercept traffic. Likewise, ProtonVPN is hosted in Switzerland which also doesn't have these laws.

Final Tier List

Walkthrough Video

Windows 24h2

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Here is a list of all the features in Windows 24H2.

Windows 24H2 Update Highlights

Microsoft Copilot Enhancements

Positioning: Copilot button moved to the far right corner of the Taskbar for easier access.
New Commands: Users can now ask Copilot for:
- Wireless networks, system/device/battery information
- Storage cleaning, emptying recycle bin, toggling battery saver
- Startup apps, IP address, turning on accessibility features (narrator, voice access, magnifier, high-contrast, voice typing, live captions)
Animations: New animations indicate Copilot assistance for copied text or images.
Settings: A dedicated "Copilot in Windows" setting for UI customization and plugin configuration.
Interface: Copilot interface can now be undocked and resized.

File Explorer Improvements

Archiving: Support for creating 7zip and TAR files.
PNG Metadata: Enhanced viewing and editing capabilities.

Quick Settings Panel Updates

Pagination: Scroll through all quick settings.
Wi-Fi & VPN: Refresh button for Wi-Fi list and improved VPN UI.
Live Captions: Easier access with a single click.
Performance: Faster opening times.

Phone Link Enhancements

Manage Mobile Devices App: New app for basic phone-PC linking functionalities.
Phone Link App: Remains for syncing text messages and notifications.

Energy Saver Mode

Efficiency: Reduces energy consumption and system performance.
Desktop Icon: Energy-saver indicator for desktop PCs.

Sudo for Windows

Command Line: Elevated process execution with various configuration options.

Microsoft Teams Integration

Unified Client: Merges Teams for work, school, and personal use.

General Improvements

Installation Interface: Modernized offline installation interface.
Driver Installation: New button during Wi-Fi setup for driver installation.
App Removals: Cortana, Mail, Calendar, Maps, People, Movies & TV, and WordPad removed from default installation.
Taskbar and Printing Enhancements: Wi-Fi icon animation, new Task Manager icon, and Windows protected print mode.
USB80Gbps Support: For new hardware with the updated USB4 standard.

GSudo

Here is the best alternative for ANY version of Windows right now. While Sudo is nice in the future, updating to 24H2 is NOT RECOMMENDED! Use this instead:

GitHub: https://github.com/gerardog/gsudo

Direct Install:

winget install gerardog.gsudo

24H2 Livestream

Walkthrough Video

GlazeWM Tiling Window Management

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

GlazeWM is a powerful tiling window manager for Windows, designed to enhance productivity by allowing users to efficiently manage their windows and workspaces through keyboard-driven commands. This guide will walk you through the installation process and introduce you to some of the most commonly used hotkeys in GlazeWM.

Installation

There are several methods to install GlazeWM, ensuring flexibility depending on your preferences or requirements.

Direct Download

The simplest way to get GlazeWM up and running is by downloading the latest executable from the releases page. No installation is necessary; just run the .exe file.

Winget

For those who prefer package managers, GlazeWM can be installed via Winget with the following command:

winget install glazewm

Hotkeys

GlazeWM offers a variety of hotkeys to streamline your workflow. Here are some of the most essential ones:

Alt + Arrow Keys: Move focus between windows
Alt + Shift + Arrow Keys: Move the focused window in the direction of the arrow keys
Alt + Number: Switch to a specific workspace (e.g., Alt + 1 for workspace 1)
Alt + Shift + Number: Move the focused window to a specific workspace

These hotkeys are customizable, and users are encouraged to tailor them to their specific needs through the GlazeWM settings.

Official Hotkey Maps

Alt Hotkeys

Alt+Shift Hotkeys

Custom Hotkeys

I made some modifications based on the programs that I use all the time. Here are the ones I use the most:

keybindings:
  - command: "exec 'C:\\Program Files\\Thorium\\Application\\thorium.exe'"
    bindings: ["Alt+B"]
  - command: "exec wt"
    bindings: ["Alt+X"]
  - command: "exec explorer"
    bindings: ["Alt+E"]
  - command: "exec '%LOCALAPPDATA%\\Programs\\cursor\\Cursor.exe'"
    bindings: ["Alt+W"]

Personal Config

My doesn't change that much from the default but I do have a few changes to the workspace layout. Mainly I hate the massive gaps by default. Here is a link to my config file:

Raw Config File

Livestream using GlazeWM

GlazeWM work starts at 33:35

Walkthrough Video

Drivers in Windows

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In the vast ecosystem of Windows, managing device drivers can be a complex task, especially when dealing with third-party drivers. Tools like Driver Store Explorer (also known as RAPR), hosted on GitHub, offer a streamlined approach to handling drivers in the Windows driver store.

What is Driver Store Explorer?

Driver Store Explorer [RAPR] is a user-friendly application designed to simplify interactions with the Windows driver store. It supports a range of operations including:

Listing
Adding
Installing
Deleting third-party driver packages

This tool is invaluable for both casual users looking to clean up their driver store and professionals managing multiple systems.

Key Features

Driver Enumeration: Lists all third-party driver packages stored in the driver store, along with the devices associated with each driver. It also allows exporting this list as a CSV file for further analysis.
Driver Management: Facilitates adding new driver packages to the store and deleting old or unused ones, helping in maintaining an optimal system performance.
Offline and Online Store Management: Works with both online (local machine) and offline driver stores, providing flexibility in various scenarios.
Efficiency: Identifies old and potentially unused drivers for deletion, making it easier to free up space and keep the driver store tidy.
User Interface: Features a full-fledged GUI that supports grouping, sorting, and selecting specific columns for a customized view.

Getting Started

To start using Driver Store Explorer, download the latest version from the releases page on GitHub. Once downloaded, the application does not require installation and can be run directly, making it a portable tool for various uses.

Practical Applications

Driver Store Explorer is particularly useful in scenarios such as:

System Cleanup: Removing old and unused drivers to free up disk space.
Driver Updates: Adding new driver packages to the store before installation.
Troubleshooting: Identifying and managing drivers associated with problematic devices.

Alternative Driver Management Tools

I personally do NOT recommend any tools if you have internet access and download the OFFICIAL drivers from your manufactures website. I use DriverStoreExplorer to export my drivers and import them into my windows image. However, if you don't have the drivers or can't find them all for your system, use the tools below.

SDIO - Snappy Driver Installer (visit website) is a freeware tool that simplifies the process of installing drivers from the Windows driver store. Its user-friendly interface supports both online and offline driver stores, offering an efficient solution for managing drivers on Windows systems.
3DP Chip Net Downloader (visit website) use an ad-blocker and ONLY grab the NET download to get network driver bundle. This should only be used as a LAST RESORT!
DriverPack Solution (visit website) This is a popular tool that was made in Russia. I do not trust it, but in a pinch it can also do network driver installs. Only use the DriverPack Offline Network Driver Installer.

Conclusion

Driver Store Explorer is a powerful and user-friendly tool that simplifies the management of Windows drivers. Its ability to handle both online and offline driver stores, coupled with a comprehensive set of features, makes it an essential utility for anyone looking to manage drivers on Windows systems efficiently.

Whether you're a professional IT administrator or a casual user wanting to keep your system lean, Driver Store Explorer offers the functionality needed to manage your drivers effectively.

Walkthrough Video

Cursor Editor

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Cursor AI Editor is revolutionizing the way developers write code, offering an AI-powered environment that accelerates the software development process. With features like Ctrl+K, Copilot++, and AI chat, Cursor provides an unparalleled coding experience that's both efficient and intuitive.

Key Features

Ctrl+K: This feature allows you to edit and write code seamlessly with AI assistance. Whether you're tweaking existing code or generating new code from scratch, Ctrl+K simplifies the process.
Copilot++: Enhance your coding with Copilot++, a native autocomplete feature that suggests mid-line completions and entire diffs, making your coding session smoother.
AI Chat: Engage in a conversation with an AI that understands your codebase. This feature is perfect for debugging or when you need insights about your project.
Ctrl+L: This feature allows you to edit and write code seamlessly with AI assistance. Whether you're tweaking existing code or generating new code from scratch, Ctrl+ L simplifies the process.

Tips and Tricks

Utilize @ Symbols: Quickly reference files or code symbols within your project by using the "@" symbol. This can significantly speed up your coding process by allowing you to generate code with specific dependencies or ask about certain files.
Fix Lints with Ease: Cursor's AI can help you fix lint errors instantly. Just hover over any lint error and click the "Fix" button for an AI-generated solution.
Terminal Ctrl+K: Write terminal commands in plain English. This feature is incredibly useful for writing SQL commands, filling in arg parse arguments, or parsing JSONs with jq.
Vision: Use images to prompt the AI. This is especially helpful for web UI development, allowing for rapid iteration based on visual inputs.

Getting Started

To experience the full potential of Cursor AI Editor, start by exploring the Ctrl+K feature. It's the gateway to understanding how AI can assist in your coding tasks. Remember, the more you interact with the AI, the better it becomes at predicting and assisting with your coding needs.

Cursor AI Editor is not just a tool; it's a new way of approaching software development. By integrating AI into the coding process, Cursor ensures that developers are equipped with the best resources to build software faster and more efficiently.

Walkthrough Video

3CX Version 20 Update

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

3CX just released version 20 of its PBX telephone system. 3CX has been my favorite phone system that I've setup at multiple businesses. Let's explore version 20!

New Admin Console

All-in-One Admin/Client URL. Version 20 also uses a condensed URL to make it easier to remember. The entire system moves on-prem Debian 10 to 12 and is a huge change.

Changes in Administration

SIP Trunk location moved
Department Hours added no longer global
DID routing is now done at the destination (Extension, Ring Group, Digital Receptionist, etc.)
Queues, Ring Groups, and Digital Receptionists can all be assigned independent holidays and hours of operation.

New Features

Windows Softphone (Microsoft Store)
Google Transcription Update (New API)
Split DNS (Enhanced security and faster on-prem phones) - Hairpin NAT Support Required
Improved Reporting (Call logs are improved)
2FA Added
Ability to monitor quality of calls

Call Processing Scripts

You can now create custom scripts that route calls based on time, caller id, and a lot more variables. I'll leave a link below if you want to explore this, but programming specific phone numbers, or numbers with a certain country code and area codes to groups of agents can be huge for businesses.

Source: https://www.3cx.com/docs/manual/call-processing-script/

New APIs

The update also brings new API access for both the system configuration and client configuration. Each has a new set of calls they will take and you can extract user information to your app or even website.

Before You Move

Check Phone Compatibility https://www.3cx.com/sip-phones/
Allocate Downtime (Debian 10 -> 11 -> 12) will take time.
Check off the official checklist https://www.3cx.com/blog/releases/v20-upgrade-checklist-faq/

3CX Setup Videos

Walkthrough Video

The Ultimate System

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The Ulimate System will look different for everyone, but here is an outline of what you need to consider when making yours as I overview mine.

The purpose of my ultimate system is to have the most enjoyment out of my PC experience while sacrificing nothing to do everything I want to do at 100% efficiency.

Hardware

Not all hardware is created equal. While I could buy more powerful parts this was one of the most powerful systems I could build with my requirements. Here is all my requirements for Hardware and a link to my final system build.

Low Audio Footprint (No higher than 30dB)
2 GPU capable (Gaming and AV Work capable in multiple operating systems at the same time)
Large amount of FULL cores. (No efficiency cores that have lower VM performance.)
Large amount of Memory for Virtual Machines
Expandable with Large amount of PCIe Ports (6+ Ports with at least 2 16x slots)
High-end motherboard (Helps avoid IOMMU Group errors)

These requirements are to avoid past issues I've had with systems. It is not about getting the highest number, but about avoiding problems you've encountered in the past.

My Specifications

Build Link: https://superworkstations.com/configurations/titus-hp-z8-g5-fury/

Intel Xeon w5-3435X | 16 cores, 3.1 GHz base frequency
64GB (4x 16GB) of 4800MT/s DDR5 ECC Memory
2x 2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe 4.0 Solid-State Drive
AMD Sapphire Nitro+ 7800XT (Main GPU)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (2nd GPU)
Single HP Z8 G5 Fury 1125W Power Supply

Base Operating System

I always go back and forth between Debian and Arch Linux for my base. They are both wonderful options with Arch giving access to the newest hardware since it runs on a newer kernel with newer packages and Debian being more stable with older packages. In the end, I have more fun on Arch and will be my choice for my main system.

There are many guides on how to install Arch Linux, but here are some of my videos going over the various ways I've done it in the past.

-- ArchTitus in 2 Minutes --	-- Archfi Install --

The Desktop

Most people need a user friendly desktop environment like plasma that you select during the install process. While that is nice for newer users, a tiling window manager is what feels the best to me these days. After years of switching between them all, there is only one that I find the best. DWM from suckless is the one I can do anything with and have zero limitations. I want a new feature, just patch it! Otherwise, everything just works as it always has.

Official Site for DWM https://dwm.suckless.org/ My DWM Configuration https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/dwm-titus

-- DWM Walkthrough --

Removing Friction

When using the desktop think about tasks you do everyday and if they can be automated. This will save you time as you use the computer and lead to a happier computing experience.

Examples:

Launching my Windows 11 virtual machine happens everyday! Solution? Start Virtual Machine on boot! sudo virsh enable win11
Running a HUGO server to see my test website when creating pages. Solution? Create a user Systemd service that runs when the user logs in:

~/.config/systemd/user/hugo.service

[Unit]
Description=hugo website server

[Service]
Type=simple
StandardOutput=journal
WorkingDirectory=/home/titus/github/website
ExecStart=hugo server -FD

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

Then issue user command NO SUDO systemctl --user enable hugo.service

Running Programs by launching start menu. Solution? Hotkey the programs to launch them faster! In my instance, I'd edit config.h in my dwm folder.

Windows in Linux with PCI Passthrough

Linux is great, but sometimes it just isn't the right tool for what I need. That is why I have a full VM with a dedicated GPU, nvme, and usb card ready to go for anything I need.

QuickPassthrough

Github: https://github.com/HikariKnight/quickpassthrough

Made by HikariKnight it is an amazing project that makes passthrough much simpler. It will auto blocklist the PCI id's and make the needed system modifications while holding your hand through the process. If you watch my run of it, there was a bug with mkinitcpio that made a MODULES=() entry. He has fixed that and said that the latest version is even better. While there is no way to make this perfect and work on every system it has removed a LOT of the legwork.

My Setup Videos

Here are all the livestreams where I go through the ENTIRE setup.

-- Arch Install --	-- QEMU/Windows Install --	-- Looking Glass --

Walkthrough Video

Remove Youtube Shorts

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Remove YouTube shorts from your video browsing experience with the following blocklists!

Blocklist

Install ublock origin and use the following filter under "My Filters" in settings.

Sources:

https://github.com/gijsdev/ublock-hide-yt-shorts

! Title: Hide YouTube Shorts
! Description: Hide all traces of YouTube shorts videos on YouTube
! Version: 1.8.0
! Last modified: 2023-01-08 20:02
! Expires: 2 weeks (update frequency)
! Homepage: https://github.com/gijsdev/ublock-hide-yt-shorts
! License: https://github.com/gijsdev/ublock-hide-yt-shorts/blob/master/LICENSE.md

! Hide all videos containing the phrase "#shorts"
youtube.com##ytd-grid-video-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#shorts))
youtube.com##ytd-grid-video-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Shorts))
youtube.com##ytd-grid-video-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#short))
youtube.com##ytd-grid-video-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Short))

! Hide all videos with the shorts indicator on the thumbnail
youtube.com##ytd-grid-video-renderer:has([overlay-style="SHORTS"])
youtube.com##ytd-rich-item-renderer:has([overlay-style="SHORTS"])
youtube.com##ytd-video-renderer:has([overlay-style="SHORTS"])
youtube.com##ytd-item-section-renderer.ytd-section-list-renderer[page-subtype="subscriptions"]:has(ytd-video-renderer:has([overlay-style="SHORTS"]))

! Hide shorts button in sidebar
youtube.com##ytd-guide-entry-renderer:has-text(Shorts)
youtube.com##ytd-mini-guide-entry-renderer:has-text(Shorts)

! Hide shorts section on homepage
youtube.com##ytd-rich-section-renderer:has(#rich-shelf-header:has-text(Shorts))
youtube.com##ytd-reel-shelf-renderer:has(.ytd-reel-shelf-renderer:has-text(Shorts))

! Hide shorts tab on channel pages
! Old style
youtube.com##tp-yt-paper-tab:has(.tp-yt-paper-tab:has-text(Shorts))
! New style (2023-10)
youtube.com##yt-tab-shape:has-text(/^Shorts$/)

! Hide shorts in video descriptions
youtube.com##ytd-reel-shelf-renderer.ytd-structured-description-content-renderer:has-text("Shorts remixing this video")

! Remove empty spaces in grid
youtube.com##ytd-rich-grid-row,#contents.ytd-rich-grid-row:style(display: contents !important)


!!! MOBILE !!!

! Hide all videos in home feed containing the phrase "#shorts"
m.youtube.com##ytm-rich-item-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#shorts))
m.youtube.com##ytm-rich-item-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Shorts))
m.youtube.com##ytm-rich-item-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#short))
m.youtube.com##ytm-rich-item-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Short))

! Hide all videos in subscription feed containing the phrase "#shorts"
m.youtube.com##ytm-item-section-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#shorts))
m.youtube.com##ytm-item-section-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Shorts))
m.youtube.com##ytm-item-section-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#short))
m.youtube.com##ytm-item-section-renderer:has(#video-title:has-text(#Short))

! Hide shorts button in the bottom navigation bar
m.youtube.com##ytm-pivot-bar-item-renderer:has(.pivot-shorts)

! Hide all videos with the shorts indicator on the thumbnail
m.youtube.com##ytm-video-with-context-renderer:has([data-style="SHORTS"])

! Hide shorts sections
m.youtube.com##ytm-rich-section-renderer:has(ytm-reel-shelf-renderer:has(.reel-shelf-title-wrapper:has-text(Shorts)))
m.youtube.com##ytm-reel-shelf-renderer.item:has(.reel-shelf-title-wrapper:has-text(Shorts))

! Hide shorts tab on channel pages
m.youtube.com##.single-column-browse-results-tabs>a:has-text(Shorts)

Walkthrough Video

My New Editor

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

After years of switching IDE's and editors, then trying dozens of vim configurations... I HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT EDITOR! My Neovim configuration I have tweaked to perfection.

I'm not a god programmer the likes of the primeagen, but a mere mortal that has taken the time to finally come to a spot that makes my configuration the perfect one for me and possibly you.

Neovim Problems

I've done several iterations of setting up neovim from scratch, to using neovim distros like lazyvim, nvchad, and lunarvim. These "distros" just customize too much for my liking.

Starting from scratch is rough, because of all the options and customization that needs to be done. This is why people end up using vscode because it just works. However, there is a better way!

Kickstart

One of the devs of Neovim made an amazing kickstart project https://github.com/nvim-lua/kickstart.nvim that I have taken and make my own modifications to.

The entire project is meant as a jumping off point. Giving you a functional LSP and the essentials that everyone wants in Neovim, but not a bunch of customizations that you may not want. I recommend referring back to this project often and checking for updates.

My Neovim

Using the kickstart base, here are the customizations I've made for my neovim. https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/neovim

copilot.vim added
synthwave84 theme
spellcheck on startup
telescope ignores images by default
custom clipboard image addon for markdown files
windows fixes
undotree addition (F5 Hotkey)
wakatime for tracking time spent programming
autosave.vim
suda.vim to elevate to sudo and save file
Alpha Dashboard on startup for recent items and projects (Leader + a to switch to dashboard at anytime)
zoxide for project search
New Tab Hotkeys (leader + 1-5 for selecting tab, leader+t for new tab, and leader+c to closetab)
jj to quick esc

Walkthrough Video

Github Mistakes and What I Wish I Knew Sooner

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I've made a LOT of GitHub mistakes! Here is a list of things most new users do not know or do WRONG!

Raw Files

Raw Button
Raw Files only update every few minutes

Using Branches and Release Tags

list branches with git branch -a
clone a specific branch with git clone -b main https://github.com/christitustech/winutil
list tags and releases with git fetch --all --tags
checkout tag with git checkout tags/v1.0
see a log of commits and tags git log --oneline --graph

Pull Requests

Pull requests are a great way of collaboration. However, most developers joke that they just close and don't merge most public pull requests. This is mainly because there can be a lot of low quality or hap-hazard commits. I've seen this in many of projects and have made strict requirements before accepting any. The biggest rule I stole from Linus Torvalds, "Never merge a pull request that you do NOT understand."

Issues

It is easy to ignore issues, because most issues do not fill out the basic form below. However, I find about half the issues are great at testing your program and help develop it. Delete the issues that say, "IT DON'T WORK!" with no elaboration. Issues help roadmap the development of the program and fix or document any bugs.

Rolling back commits and Referencing them

GitHub is truly amazing because of the ability to go back in time revert a single commit or create a branch based on the project at the time a commit was done!

Unit Tests

Unit testing is a vital part of every project as it checks for syntax errors and keeps you from accepting a bad pull request. This is done with automated builds and tests. Check project examples and the pester folder. For the github documentation on unit tests refer to https://docs.github.com/en/actions/automating-builds-and-tests.

Walkthrough Video

Saving a Business Thousands a Year in Telecom

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past 3 years I've setup a hosted solution for a business that has saved them over $5000 per year on their telephone bill.

If you have ever dealt with porting numbers or switching telephone services it is a complete nightmare. However, you can do this all yourself and take control and save a TON of money in the process. Need to move from this solution? Install and register your numbers on something else in minutes, NOT days or even weeks in some instances.

The best part is you will own your numbers directly and have NO contracts that some sneaky companies that lock you in to their services for years at a time.

The Solution

There are many solutions that can be self hosted where you register a telephony trunk, but the easiest I've found is 3CX. It has a variety of plans from free to under 10 users to a good small business setup for around 20 users, but the best part is you pay for the SERVER... NOT the user accounts.

Installation

I've done videos on 3cx installation. Here are links to both self-hosted and using the hosted plans above. For a small business I'd recommend the SMB Plan above.

3CX Hosted Installation Video: https://youtu.be/M7dXvFDhoaI 3CX Self-Hosted Installation Video: https://youtu.be/P6CS5_CHy8s

Features

Call Forwarding

To setup Call forwarding I'd recommend adding a mobile number in User Web Client -> Settings

After that is setup, Specify My Mobile in different modes (DND, Away, Etc.). You can also specify different forwards for internal and external calls.

Office/Holiday Hours

In the System configuration panel, You can specify Office Hours and Holiday Messages.

Mobile Application

The mobile app for android and iOS is amazing. Has a ton of functionality and can substitute as an extension.

Live Chat

They also have live chat code that is really easy to add to any website. Only two lines of code and you can setup an entire call center. Here is the video I did on that.

Walkthrough Video

Install Windows the Arch Linux Way

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Installing Windows strictly through the Command Line is an important tool to have. If windows changes the installer or out of box experience, you can bypass any changes with this guide!

The Installer

Download and Launch the Windows Installer

Launch Command Prompt with Shift+F10

Partition both a Boot Partition and Data Partition

List Disks with list disk
Select desired disk with sel disk #
Check to verify there is NO partitions list partition
(Optional) Delete any existing partitions del part # NOTE: THIS ERASES ALL DATA
Check to verify DISK is GPT list disk and use convert gpt if GPT is not enabled *
Create Boot partition create partition efi size=100
Create Data partition create partition primary size=*
Select Boot sel partition 1
Format Boot format fs=FAT32 quick
Assign Boot partition assign letter=g:
Select Data sel par 2
Format Data format fs=NTFS quick
Assign Data partition assign letter=c: Note: You may need to UNASSIGN an existing C: drive

Verify the Windows Version to Install

DISM is at the heart of every Windows installation. You need to do a verification on your installation ISO to figure out the source index # that you will install.

DISM /Get-ImageInfo /imagefile:x:\sources\install.wim

Note the Index: # that you want to install

Install Main Windows Data

Now we copy over the operating system in its entirety.

DISM /apply-image /imagefile:x:\sources\install.wim /index:2 /applydir:c:

Copy Boot Files to EFI

Copy the boot files to complete the EFI partition to boot into our windows.

bcdboot c:\Windows /s G: /f ALL

Bypass OOBE

The Out of Box Experience is changing all the time. The requirement to be online or only use a Microsoft account. Bypass it with this command and using Shift+F10 to bring up the command prompt. NOTE: DISCONNECT FROM INTERNET before booting!

start ms-cxh:localonly

System will restart after executing the command. Select Continue with limited Setup and name the device and create a local account.

Walkthrough Video

Windows 11 Perfect Install

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Setting a clean Windows 11 is difficult with all the built-in bloat. This guide fixes all that to give you a clean system that is easy to manage.

The Download ISO

You can download any of the ISOs from Microsoft https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

Choose English World from initial boot screen (Credit to ThioJoe for this tip - This makes sure TikTok and other 3rd party stuff don't install)

Change Region to United States Post Install

Run intl.cpl or launch the windows toolbox and use legacy panels to launch Region Settings. Then switch it to US region.

If you are using the Microsoft Store you need to search for Region in Settings and Set it to United States

Debloat with Recommended Tweaks

Run irm christitus.com/win | iex from Administrator Terminal (Powershell)

(Optional) Browser Change from Edge

Install your browser of choice from the Install Menu on winutil. I recommend Brave, but you can choose whatever you want.

Then run Edge Removal from the winutil Tweaks Menu and it will redirect all web links to your new browser.

Walkthrough Video

Windows Utility Update

Fri, 19 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A big update with about 50 commits has made it to the May 2023 Windows Utility Update.

The Big Changes

Import/Export Command
Winget upgrades and selection of already installed programs
Tweaks checker (still early days, but improving)
Added Desktop Shortcut for running Winutil

Summary of ALL commits

Source: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil/pull/726

Update to GUI (InputXML)
Fix Dark Mode
Tweaks.json Update (Services restoring to factory)
Fix Hovertime (annoying instant pop-up is removed)
Fix IRPStackSize (minor networking tweak)
O&O Shutup shortcut fix (was failing to apply tweaks)
More runspace tweaks from Durp (better performance and faster)
Added Toggle for Calendar/Notification Center
Updated Edge Removal
Program Additions
- WinRAR
- Ubisoft Connect
- Neovim
- Node Version Manager
- Geforce NOW
Preload winget with already installed tweaks/programs
Split AllowGameDVR to make sure xbox game bar does NOT break
Removed Atom IDE from Programs due to it being sunset
Fixed OriginalType from stock Windows installs to always restore to Microsoft preset Services

Walkthrough Video

The TRUTH about Registry Cleaners

Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Registry cleaners are still everywhere in Windows utilities, but why? Microsoft itself has said NOT to use them.

They used to be good

Back in the 2000s, registry cleaners were needed as programs like AOL, Games, and other applications would make a bunch of additions to the registry on install. When uninstalling these programs they would never remove all the entries which would lead to problems. Enter... THE REGISTRY CLEANER! You could run these before reinstalling a program and have it be successful where it would otherwise fail. Contrary to popular belief these cleaners NEVER made your system run faster.

A good example: Final Fantasy XI Online configures the game and has installation directory entries in the Windows Registry even TODAY! Most applications from 20 years ago have been sunset or upgraded to NOT make registry entries.

Why they still exist

MARKETING. Cleaners always looked impressive cleaning up thousands of "bad" entries. However, the risk of something going wrong or your system becoming unstable FAR outweighs any cleanup these tools do. The best case is they might clean an old context menu entry, but at it's worst case it will make your system unstable. DO NOT USE THEM!

If you must use them, CCleaner free has the most proven track record for not messing systems up, but any other tool I've seen causes more harm than good and I do NOT recommend using CCleaner.

Walkthrough Video

You Will Watch Ads

Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

There are massive changes coming to the internet and youtube in the form of Ads and the death of the ad blocker.

This is happening in several different ways in the coming months. Let's go over what I see as inevitable and talk about workarounds.

YouTube detecting Ad Blockers

YouTube is testing blocking ad blockers like so many different news websites do right now. This will bring the rise of secondary viewers and the use of other sites likes odysee or freetube. These sites rely on YouTube's API and public sync, which will also be in the cross-hairs very soon.

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/technology/youtube-tests-blocking-videos-unless-you-disable-ad-blockers/

Chromium changes

Google's Manifest 3 is almost here in June 2023 and that will hamstring all Ad blockers. Most ad blockers and privacy plugins rely on Manifest 2 and with version 3 being activated they will sunset version 2. How will this affect Firefox users? Will they require google and youtube viewers to be compliant with version 3? Time will tell...

Here was a good writeup from adguard on manifest v3: https://adguard.com/en/blog/firefox-manifestv3-chrome-adblocking.html

TLDR; Firefox will see more adoption and regular chrome ad extensions will be limited.

API Access and 3rd Party sites

I can already see an ocean of comments that I will x, y, or z instead of youtube and google. The main issue is most alternatives rely on Google and it's VERY open API. Sites like Odysee and many youtube apps not playing ads, rely on the API to SYNC the youtube videos to their servers. These services are on borrowed time and I'm shocked they haven't already been taken down or at least restricted access for syncing YouTube content.

What About Custom DNS like pihole?

Ad block through custom dns always works, but it works too well. The reason we use ublock orgin or a browser based ad block is to keep the sites loading correctly and apps functioning properly. It would be trivial for Google to put roadblocks in the way of loading youtube if you block adsense. A good solution, but not the best when it comes to the user experience and using Google Ad supported products.

Walkthrough Video

AME Wizard - The Future of Debloat?

Sat, 06 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I recently made a review of AtlasOS and what drove it is the AME Wizard made by a different entity. This overviews it and what it is and is NOT!

Can we trust it?

Their is parts of it that are open-source and other parts are closed source and gated behind the https://ameliorated.io/ team. This is done for monetary purposes and security. They do gate the playbook process and AME Wizard verification. They can also charge for auto-updates related to the playbooks.

Personally, I don't mind this approach, but it does give me pause. When they are getting money for maintaining multiple custom windows playbooks from different teams, it will make it more secure as the incentive to remain virus-free and legitimate is more important because they make money from their reputation.

Right now to immediately get verified you can go through their patreon and for $10/Month you get verified playbook publications.

My Recommendations

It is still the early days of these custom windows installs. Right now they only have a handful of patreon donations and until they start making a considerable amount, I can't recommend it.

The documentation for making custom playbooks or using the open-source cli program is not out right now. This makes it a project I can't verify or use, because all the playbooks I've seen just strip out too many things to either recommend or use as a daily driver.

The future of the project is really bright, and I look forward to seeing the continued evolution of it.

Walkthrough Video

AtlasOS Review

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I don't review Custom ISO or Custom Windows. Anything that requires downloading ISO is an immediate red flag. AtlasOS takes a different approach using official Microsoft ISOs and modifying them using an open source tool.

What is it?

A stripped version of windows that has had a LOT of Microsoft's tools and bloat removed. It is NOT to be used lightly or by an uneducated or non-tech savvy person! However, in the right hands it can be a good tool when you have a specific need, but I would NOT daily drive it.

The Main Issues

I take issue with its main marketing being "secure", when it is anything but secure. I do not like Defender, Edge, MRT, or any numerous microsoft security projects built in to Windows, but saying you are more secure by not having them is madness.

They did make a thread about this on twitter below addressing some of the backlash since the Linus Tech Tips coverage.

AtlasOS 22H2 (Current Release) has the following security issues:

No Windows Updates (Updates are done manually using their EXE tool and this can be hit and miss)
MRT is missing. (Malicious Removal Tool)
Defender is gone. (Good performance boost, but most people need an Anti-Virus.)
Anything related to SecHealth, HealthCheck, MsMpEng, SmartScreen, and any Misc. Tools for virus or malware protection.
Some security improvements in Networking configuration were made, but they disable most logging which makes it less secure.
Automatic Elevation of Admin without Consent Ex. ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin entry 0 - Will NOT prompt user.
Virtualization Based security
Spectre and Meltdown mitigations removed

What Else was Removed?

Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer
WebView
OneDrive
MSPaint
OneNote
OfficeHub
Solitare
Many other MS Store Apps (Maps, Feedbackhub, Camera, etc.)
Error Reporting
Telemetry
Logging (Printer, Events, Etc.)
Windows Restore and Restore Points
Remote Assistance
Microsoft Sign-In (Login for PC)
Background Apps

Improvement suggestions for AtlasOS

Defrag tasks should be left alone. Windows Defrag does utilize TRIM on ssd's and should be run.
Disk Cleanup tasks are also beneficial.
Inform the public that this is a VERY INSECURE spin that is an EXTREME DEBLOAT!
Offer a Security flavor that has all the security issues addresed
Enable VBS (Virtualization based security) - In testing this netted no performance gains
Logging needs to be more robust and is too stripped down. Troubleshooting an AtlasOS system would be a nightmare.
Fill out the "what is removed section" in FAQ.
Better documentation. Example: unpacking the playbook with the password malte is hard to find.
Incorporate basic security hygiene - Check out the project https://github.com/securitywithoutborders/hardentools

Who is this for?

Its for someone with a specific purpose in mind. Playing a few games, a kiosk, or using the machine for simple tasks. It is NOT suitable for browsing the internet or using as a daily driver in it's current state. If you are aware of the security issues, and have the ability to navigate them, it might be for you. For the average user... HELL NO!

Walkthrough Video

Recovering Deleted Windows Boot Partition

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Is your Windows boot partition missing? This guide fixes it!

Requirements

Windows Boot media Download here: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
Linux Live USB for partition resizing. I recommend gparted: https://gparted.org/download.php

Partitioning the Drive

This is meant for a GPT Drive using EFI boot on a modern Windows. If you computer is less than 5 years old, this is probably how your system is setup. If you are using an old system it might be DOS/MBR based and this guide is NOT to be used!

From Gparted in Linux create a FAT32 partition at least 300 MB in size with the boot flag.

Copy Boot Files from Windows ISO

Boot into your Windows ISO you downloaded above and press Shift + F10 to pull up command prompt

Run the utility DISKPART

list vol - list volumes and make note of what they are called
select partition # - select the new EFI Partition you created in Gparted
assign letter g: - pick something that is NOT C:
exit - exit the program

Note: If you have problems your main partition with the installed windows is probably not assigned as C: and just follow the steps above to assign it letter C:

Create the Boot files on the new EFI partition with bcdboot

bcdboot c:\Windows /s g: /f ALL

Once this is done you can check to see if Windows will detect your boot partition with this command:

bootrec /scanos

Walkthrough Video

Tiny11 Has Problems

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Using any custom Windows ISO is problematic for many reasons outlined in this article.

The Main Problems

Botnets
Viruses
Keyloggers
Crypto Miners

Antivirus is just a security layer and should NEVER be relied on. More often than not, it will allow viruses through or classify legit programs as viruses.

How do they bypass Antivirus?

When you are distributing an entire operating system, like Tiny11, anything can be modified. Keyloggers can be loaded before an antivirus or have them part of edge. You could steal session tokens from your logged in accounts, or modify Windows defender to exclude the viruses at a system level.

By why would Tiny11 do this?

Redistributing any form of a modified Windows is illegal. A man was sentenced to 15 months in prison just for Redistributing restore discs preventing ewaste Source: https://www.polygon.com/windows/2018/4/25/17280178/eric-lundgren-windows-restore-disks-microsoft-prison.

Not only is the Tiny11 developer risking prison time if caught, but what motivates any custom iso maker given the risks? These are real questions that anyone with ANY common sense would come to the conclusion there has to be a payout somewhere. A small harmless program using your system to mine resources? keylogging passwords or credit cards? Spread chaos? or use you to attack others in a Botnet?

All these are strong motivators, but it's possible they are breaking the law just so you can have a clean version of Windows out of the goodness in their heart. You decide, but don't be shocked when you are compromised when using any custom ISO.

Building Yourself

Build with https://github.com/ntdevlabs/tiny11builder, but do NOT use the oscdimg.exe as the signing is missing a proper timestamp. Always use official Microsoft tools from their website. oscdimg.exe is included in the Windows ADK Package located @ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install

Why should you not trust digital signatures - Check out the latest hack from 3cx and it exploiting them in this article: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/10-year-old-windows-bug-with-opt-in-fix-exploited-in-3cx-attack/

Walkthrough Video

Microsoft Is Driving Users Away

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

What will be the end of Windows? Microsoft.

I've been a lifelong Windows user since the 90s and even MS-DOS back in the 80s, but things are changing. I've been using other operating systems more and more. MacOS and Linux are getting mixed into my workflow more and Windows less. Why? Microsoft is actively angering it power users by removing features. By trying to simplify Windows they are actively making administering it worse.

The Problem

Microsoft is in a panic from the continued loss of it's user base. They are making some improvements like the GUI and cleaning up other elements that give a more cohesive look. No more mixing Metro UI and Legacy panels like Windows 10. While this is good on the surface, they aren't fixing anything. In fact, things are about to get much worse with the removal of these panels. On Tuesday, I had a printer issue at a client site and I was going to pull up the "Devices and Printers" panel to manage the drives and printing default settings. In the most recent 22H2 Windows 11 update, they hid it!

Using old Control Panel (Start->Run->control)

Clicking on this will redirect you to the new settings printer that gives NO options to do any advanced troubleshooting and removes the ability to FIX the issue!

What about the old control printers shortcut? remapped to the new crap.

The Solution

With any Windows problem, Microsoft never really removes ANYTHING! Remember, this company is still using legacy code from the 90s in spots and just slapping in new coat of paint on top of it every 5 years when they need to extract more money from its users.

To Access the old devices and printer use the run prompt and type the following:

shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

Alternatively, you can create a new shortcut and assign the key combination to it.

Create a new shortcut on your desktop
Set the location to: explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}
Set the name to Devices and Printers
Choose the shortcut icon
Add the key combination shortcut (CTRL + ALT + D is default for this window)

This provides you an easy to access link as well as overwriting the keyboard shortcut to open the old version.

Success for now...

The Future

MacOS and Linux will keep gaining market share. Microsoft needs to stop actively sabotaging it's users. MacOS is bland and hasn't changed in years, while Linux has a technical barrier of entry with little support. Yet, both of these options are better than modern Windows unless you need Gaming. However, Steam with it's steamdeck might be changing the game...

Walkthrough Video

Replace Google Fonts With Bunny Fonts

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know Google Fonts is bloated and can cause longer load times? Bunny fonts to the rescue!

Oh, I forgot to mention, Google fonts is also NOT GDPR compliant. For legal reasons and traffic you might switch over to bunny because it IS GDPR compliant.

Installation

Wordpress Install: https://wordpress.org/plugins/replace-google-fonts-with-bunny-fonts/

Using a static site like me? or are a web designer? Great! It's even easier.

The Bunny Fonts API was designed to be fully compatible with the Google Fonts CSS v1 API, making the switch as easy as changing the hostname.

Simply swap https://fonts.bunny.net/css in place of https://fonts.googleapis.com/css on your website's source code and let your users enjoy better privacy.

Thanks to DigitalSparky for the Pull Request and updating my website for me! Here is Bunny font implementation pull request on this website: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/website/pull/108

Future Improvements

There are so many more improvements to make! Thanks to feedback from users here is the to-do list.

Use both Netlify AND Cloudflare utilizing round-robin DNS (Thanks Larry!)
Fix "Total Blocking Time" delays with either a new theme or using Partytown to debloat Javascript https://github.com/BuilderIO/partytown

Walkthrough Video

The Teamviewer Scam

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This keeps getting worse... removal of lifetime memberships, subscriptions for everything, and now predatory tactics to force it's users to keep paying by removing cancellations of the subscriptions.

Still the most used Remote Software?

Teamviewer rose to the #1 spot after logmein stopped offering a free tier. In the beginning it was a great piece of software and even offered a lifetime membership. You pay for it once and have it forever. The free tier was also really nice in a pinch you could load up their software and easily remote in to any PC. To this day, it is one of the most used remote software applications on the market.

The Downfall

On June 1st, 2021 Teamviewer stopped supporting Teamviewr 9 & 10 versions that had the last of the lifetime subscriptions. This forced anyone that bought these "lifetime" licenses to purchase a subscription or move to a different product. However, something else happened behind the scenes that has NOT been talked about. The Lock in and predatory behaviors were being escalated to force people to continue paying them far beyond their intended expiration date.

The Scam

Behind the scenes, Teamviewer has removed the ability to CANCEL any subscriptions. This used to not be the case, but you have to create a support ticket to cancel is the official text on their site.

Finding the support ticket creation is difficult and hidden through a sister site with a DIFFERENT login.

Use this website: https://support.teamviewer.com/en/support/tickets

If you do NOT cancel within 28 days of the renewal you WILL BE CHARGED for an ENTIRE YEAR!

Ticket answer time? 7-10 DAYS!

Need to talk with someone now? Call their phone number at +1-800-638-0253 Use option 4 and then Option 3 to Cancel

Walkthrough Video

Im Sorry Netlify

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

I've used Netlify for years on my website and it's a fantastic service! As I've grown it's becoming unaffordable. I submitted a support request and this is what happened...

Excess Bandwidth

The statistics on the website have grown with data usage. More Users = More Bandwidth Used. At this rate of growth I'm going to be spending well over $100 a month in bandwidth usage. Don't get me wrong for starting a website, Netlify limits won't be a problem. Heck, for the past year I had a 1TB of bandwidth per month for $19! The downside? Over 1TB it starts getting REALLY EXPENSIVE, every 100GB after that is $55! It isn't sustainable.

The Switch

There are many competitors to Netlify launching competing services, but one in particular caught my eye. Cloudflare launched it's "Pages" service that hooks in with GitHub in 2020. The free tier even gives you UNLIMITED bandwidth! Having used Cloudflare extensively for DNS and DDoS setups in business this is a no brainer. The best part? Analytics are also free!

The Experience

I setup pages and click "Connect to GitHub" then selected my existing Netlify website to see if it could build the HUGO site. FAILURE.

The stock hugo instance is v0.50 which is old (Netlify does the same thing) so I added an Environmental Variable. Fixed with the following:

The other downside? Netlify redirect rules do NOT apply. Cloudflare takes a different approach with Page Rules. This might get expensive for anyone doing a LOT of redirects, as you only get 20 rules for free or pro plan.

Overall, I'm pretty darn happy with Cloudflare.

They also have a bunch of optimization rules, DDoS prevention, and more, but its about on par with Netlify and haven't noticed any speed or optimization difference.

Walkthrough Video

Fix Windows Network and Sharing

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Fixing problems with windows file sharing using the following methods.

Note: Check ALL these methods as anyone of them can cause file sharing to fail!

Network and File Sharing

Launch old control panel with Start -> Run -> control or Windows Key + R and select Network and Sharing Center.

Follow these Steps from Network and Sharing Center

Select Advanced Sharing Settings
Turn on network discovery and check Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices.
Turn on file and printer sharing
Optional: If you don't want passwords click "All Networks and turn off Password protected sharing"

Check if Network is classified Public

If your network is classified as Public it will NOT allow you to share files or printers! Check it with powershell:

Launch Powershell (right-click start menu and select powershell with admin or terminal with admin)
Type Get-NetConnectionProfile
Verify NetworkCategory is PRIVATE!
If it is Public Type Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name "Network #" -NetworkCategory Private

Note: Change Network # to the NAME of your Network from Get-NetConnectionProfile

Share your folders

Right-click any folder and select "give access to" and select your login user. On new Windows 11/10 systems this is often your microsoft account (user@outlook.com). If you turned off password sharing and want EVERYONE to see those files then type "Everyone" and give access to them.

Another option is to right-click the folder and select properties. Then select the sharing tab and give access through there.

Walkthrough Video

Theming Windows With Rainmeter

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Rainmeter has some amazing themes, but this shows you methods to get a TRULY different look!

Removing the Taskbar

The taskbar is often in the way of a clean looking desktop and we can remove it for those minimalists out there.

Use NirCMD https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html
Download NirCMD https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd-x64.zip

This command line tool allows us to modify Windows in ways that we normally aren't able to. Launch the nircmd.exe file and it will ask to copy itself to the Windows directory.

Note: Auto-hide taskbar BEFORE removing it!

Command to "remove" the taskbar

nircmd.exe win trans class Shell_TrayWnd 256

Command to restore the taskbar

nircmd.exe win trans class Shell_TrayWnd 255

Install Rainmeter

Official Site: https://www.rainmeter.net/

Download and install from mainpage or use Winget (below).

winget install -e Rainmeter.Rainmeter

Rainmeter Skins

There are multiple download sites for Rainmeter skins, but here are some that I use.

Rainmeter DeviantArt group (downloads require an account)
Rainmeter forums
GitHub #rainmeter-skin topic

Using Rainmeter Skins

After you download the skin that includes the *.rmskin file. You install it by opening it. (Note: Some skins are inside zip files and require extraction of the rmskin file.)

Enable the components you want and edit the ini files to your needs.

Issues

Rainmeter has been around since 2001! This means a lot of skins are out of date. A common bug I see with themes is they use an old weather API which is no longer open. This means most of the weather widgets do NOT work! Keep this in mind when using old skins that haven't been updated in years.

There's a non-exhaustive list of working weather skins on the Rainmeter forum.

Walkthrough Video

How to Sync Local Files

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A guide over how to set up Syncthing for local sync only.

Things you NEED to know

Syncthing by defaults it will sync files through relays across the internet. This is useful when needing to grab a file while you are outside your network, but slow and can cause security issues. While the information is encrypted, it still poses a threat to some. Also, the slowdown is relaying that information outside the network even in a LAN transfer.

The following guide shows you how to make it sync only in a LAN environment. Note: This will make your files NOT sync when outside your own network!

Installing Syncthing

There is a cli service that you can install via syncthing. I prefer to take a GUI approach to the configuration as it helps when troubleshooting. Here are the following tools I recommend based on the operating system.

Windows and Linux

Syncthing-GTK is a proven companion I've used with syncthing for years. It is open source and you can download the latest releases here: https://github.com/kozec/syncthing-gtk/releases

During the install process choose the default selections and manage via localhost.

Installing on Steamdeck? Checkout it's flatpak: https://flathub.org/apps/details/me.kozec.syncthingtk

MacOS

Syncthing for MacOS is a great open source project @ https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing-macos

Homebrew install method:

brew install --cask syncthing

Configuration

With multiple syncthing clients you can connect one using "Connect Remote Device" this is what the server interface looks like.

On the other system it will prompt to connect the two.

I generally always have a main server that manages all the connects and hosts the share. You don't have to do this, but it's easier to manage. To start syncing -> Create a folder -> Edit Folder -> Click Sharing Options -> Check the other syncthing computers to share it to!

On the client computers click add and watch the sync happen. This is the final result of the sync:

Disable External Access

This simple configuration will set everything to LAN only. Making sure anon usage and Global Discovery are disabled will work for most.

However, for a deeper dive for those security minded and configuration junkies, here is another tidbit. (Advanced Users Only)

Sync Listen Address - This is where the incoming sync is and can be set to be IPv4 or a specific address if you want. It's a bit overkill but by default it runs on 22000. Adjusting this value isn't recommended and can cause headaches in a dynamic environment. Highly recommend using hostnames to resolve instead of IPs unless they are static!
GUI Listen Address - Syncthings web interface runs on port 8080 and typically only listens from localhost (local connections).

Syncthing Backups

Here is Syncthing's wonderful backup system. I always use this for the times I delete something or need to recover from a bad sync. The options are: simple, trash can, staggered, and external. If you want basic backups, choose simple. Trash can is good for deleted files and often you want to grab an older version of an existing file when using sync. Personally, I do the overkill option of staggered versioning. This hold all the different version in a hour, day, week, month format til the end of the retention period. This will use a TON of space where the folder is synced from, so be CAREFUL!

Walkthrough Video

Replace Windows Search

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Everything Search is faster, more efficient, and a better Windows Search. This guide shows you how to setup everything and a toolbar for quick access.

Installation

Everything Search Official Download Site: https://www.voidtools.com/downloads/

Powershell Install:

choco install Everything

winget install voidtools.Everything

Everything Toolbar

Getting the right version of everything toolbar is important. Version 0.8+ (Currently Beta ONLY) is compatible with Windows 11 and The official everything toolbar version 0.7.4 or earlier will ONLY work with Windows 10.

Download the beta at: https://github.com/stnkl/EverythingToolbar/releases

winget install stnkl.EverythingToolbar.Beta

For earlier versions (Windows 10 ONLY)

Download the stable release at: https://github.com/stnkl/EverythingToolbar/releases

choco install everythingtoolbar

winget install stnkl.EverythingToolbar

Disable Windows Indexer

Easiest way to disable indexing and the performance hog that it is. Disable the service!

Open Run command: Right-click start button and select run

Disable the Service by stopping and disabling it

Walkthrough Video

Dism++

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Dism++ enables users to modify Windows images before installing them, as well as providing tools to address and repair common issues like missing or corrupted files.

Before Using

DISM++ is an open source github project located @ https://github.com/Chuyu-Team/Dism-Multi-language/tree/master/www.chuyu.me but is a bit dated. The last activity on the project was February 2022, but the main site is down.

It is created by Chuyu, which is a Chinese developer and I'd recommend NOT using this tool for secure environments. In short, if you use TikTok or Discord, then is a giant nothing burger for you and use away.

Download

Usage and Features

Disk Cleanup

Advanced cleanup of Windows updates and misc. files.

Startup Check

See what programs are starting and what programs will get installed when a new user is created.

Appx Uninstaller

Bulk uninstall Microsoft Store Apps.

Updates

Uninstalled Built-In Updates? Use the DISM++ Updates tab to scan and install new updates.

The Rest - Toolbox, Deploy, Drivers, etc

Since this is seeing less and less updates, I wouldn't use these tools. Microsoft is constantly updating and modifying Windows, hence using the less targeted tools is NOT Recommended.

Walkthrough Video

Ext4 in Windows

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Pulling in EXT4 drives is easy now with Windows WSL2. There are a few tricks that you need to know about though!

Requirements

Any version of Windows 11
Any version of Windows 10 (Build 22000+) Note: check with winver from Run
Powershell as Admin and WSL 2 installed
ONLY Internal drives are supported. No USB Drives.

Syntax pulled from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl2-mount-disk

Determine Partition to Mount

PowerShell as Admin

List Drives

GET-CimInstance -query "SELECT * from Win32_DiskDrive"

Mount and list Drive Partitions

wsl --mount <DiskPath> --bare
wsl

Linux WSL2 Instance

List Drive Partitions from WSL Instance

lsblk

List Drive Types and IDs

sudo blkid

Mount from PowerShell as Admin

Note: By default Windows will always assume it is EXT4, unless the -t vfat option is used.

From Windows PowerShell

wsl --mount \\.\PhysicalDrive1 --partition 2

This will make it available in both Windows Explorer and WSL /mnt/wsl/PhysicalDrive1 path.

Unmount

wsl --unmount \\.\PhysicalDrive1

Walkthrough Video

Why Open Source?

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Why is open source done? The developer gives up all his code and potential for profit from the code.

The Reason

The main reason for open source is for collaboration and standardization. Without open source, you are reliant on a team of developers you hire and you are responsible for maintenance and all development. Hire less talented people? You have less development with a high cost. You also don't have the ability to learn past what skills the people on the project has. One man band? You can't learn much because you have no contributions and are reliant on your abilities.

On the flip side, you can learn and collaborate with thousands of people around the world WITH open source. What about the loss of money from sales? I remind myself that I'm not John Carmack, which was one of the first commercial open source successes with Quake and making it's engine open source. He did close source the content of the Game, but is a gifted individual. The game made millions while also being open source at its core. When I open source all my projects, I do so with the intent of learning something. The knowledge I pickup is MORE valuable to me than if I sold the project as a closed source tool.

Making Profit

Let's analyse how I make a million dollars off a project:

Closed Source - Project requires a purchase and little longer development time to put in DRM so it can't be copied or stolen. The software can only be as good as the developer. Even with a gifted developer, the chances of success are slim to even make $1000. However, if the program has a successful launch with massive adoption making a million dollars off a $50 sale price is easy. The main issue is marketing, which can be solved with social media. The downside is the programmer learns just what is needed for project completion if anything at all. The only person that should consider this option is the truly elite or companies that hire teams of people to complete the program.
Open Source - Project can develop at a rapid pace with issues coming in from users, collaboration happening with pull requests from other programmers that have different knowledge sets than you. The amount of knowledge you gain by doing this is vast. I value the knowledge gained greater than the possibilities of closed source development. Also, since there are more eyeballs on the project the program itself will be more complete and feature rich. Instead of making with profit in mind, you are programming with the end user experience at the forefront.

Open Source Myths

Crowdfunding - Doesn't work or rarely works in many instances. If you need a paycheck from a program, you need to go punch a clock somewhere. Every project I follow needs VC or private funding to see it to the finish line when time and money are priorities.
Everything should be FREE - Quake is a perfect example of a properly monetized project. Engine was open source, but the content was not. Just because something is open source doesn't mean the compiled project needs to be.
Less Secure - This is a strange belief that some subscribe to the security by obscurity line of thought. Popular open source projects have its code reviewed almost daily and security holes plugged quicker than closed source that might never even have an independent code review!
Hard to Maintain - Since more people are pushing requests and issues it becomes harder to maintain as a few have said. Any project that I stopped maintaining or it just became unwieldy was my fault. The person in charge of the open source project has to be willing to deny and refuse MANY pull requests. It is up to the project maintainer to be vigilant, clean the code, and have strict rules for contribution. Anytime I've failed to maintain a project, it was because of a poor understanding of a PR or GitHub in general.

Walkthrough Video

Thumbnails in Windows

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The thumbnail system in Windows has 4 major configuration areas dating back to 2000. From thumbs.db files, checkboxes, group policy, and registry edits, the Windows thumbnail system is, like everything in Windows, old and layered.

Where are thumbnails stored?

thumbs.db

EVERY folder has this hidden file. It is a database of small images for that given directory. Delete it and it will replicate itself if there are files in that folder and you have NOT disabled thumbnails.

How do I configure thumbnails?

Any one of the following options will cause thumbnails NOT to work. Genius design...

File Options in File explorer

Make sure this option is UNCHECKED "Always show icons, never thumbnails" to DISPLAY thumbnails.

System Performance Options

Open up this old hidden panel sysdm.cpl using run and you can configure it here as well!

Make sure this one is CHECKED! "Show Thumbnails instead of icons".

Group Policy

There are FOUR, yes, FOUR options to disable thumbnails in group policy. Launch it with gpedit.msc from Run.

Make sure these aren't configured:

Registry

With every Windows option there is a corresponding registry entry.

The main one is in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced with DWORD DisableThumbnailCache with value of 1

Screenshot of regedit

Walkthrough Video

Block Razer Bloatware

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

This script is made due to the frustration of the bloatware that gets install for all Razer devices.

The Problem

The hardware works fine without any software and just installing the BASE synapse software it runs almost 500 MB installer that has 3 services and 15 RUNNING PROCESSES! This gets worse the more software you select past Synapse. The worst part about all this? It auto-installs when you plug in ANY Razer USB product. It is classified as malware because the hardware doesn't need it AND it slow yours your computer down.

The Solution

I've developed a simplistic approach, but may need to expand when Razer learns of this project. This script, locates the installer folder and deletes it while protecting from being written to again. This prevents the hardware from running Razer installers.

GitHub Project: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/block-razer

One line Script: (Run As Administrator in Powershell)

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChrisTitusTech/block-razer/main/block.ps1 | iex

Walkthrough Video

Virtual Machine Formats

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This Guide goes over transferring and what each type of virtual machine is used for.

The Types

VDI - Virtualbox

The only time I've seen this format is in Virtualbox instances. They are always converted when moved to other hypervisors. The VDI packaging is open source and considered efficient.

VMDK - VMWare

This is the market leader and what you will see the most in virtualization environments. Virtualbox and QEMU can run them without conversion.

VHD - Microsoft

Leave it to Microsoft to make the worst container. VHD only holds a 2 TB capacity and why they created VHDX which improves this to 64 TB. Its not as performant as other containers, but gets the job done. The main benefit to these is they are read natively inside Windows without the need for extra software. You can mount and look at partition layouts with native windows tools like Disk Management.

QCOW2 - QEMU

QEMU is by far my favorite hypervisor because of the versatility it gives me. QCOW2 is the file format you will use and it fantastic. There is a conversion tool that comes with QEMU that will easily convert any image. I'd recommend first converting the image to OVA as it is the most portable and versatile. Here is a sample script to convert to qcow2.

tar -xvf original.ova
qemu-img convert -O qcow2 original.vmdk original.qcow2

OVF and OVA - The Best Way to Share VMs

This standard is widely adopted from VMWare, but you will be able to ingest these files into any hypervisor. VMWare, Virtualbox, and XenServer (XCP-ng) do this natively, where QEMU needs a little more conversion, but simple to use. Here is the official website right up on these files.

The TLDR is use OVA as it grabs all the information from the VMs (VMDK, OVF, and other information) and packages it all into one file for you. This is by far the best way to share a Virtual Machine.

Walkthrough Video

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Acronis True Image has undergone an expansion and rename in the past couple years to Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office. This is a quick breakdown of their new offering.

Backup

Acronis backup is what the company is known for as it offered block level backup over 10 years ago. Their backup services have always been some of the best and this still holds true today. The interface is simplified and intuitive. It can get a complete copy of the entire system while its online and back it up locally or to the cloud.

Transfer rates to the cloud on my connection maxed out around 95 Mbps and went as low as 50 Mbps. This is average for most cloud backup speeds in the residential realm.

Anti-Virus

One of the biggest additions is the inclusion of anti-virus. This protection is adequate and it brings the entire protection suite in-house. I'm not a fan of most AV implementations and what matters is a good backup when these inevitably fail. It makes sense that they included this, but to me it makes the software seem bloated and unnecessary.

File Sync

This addition is beneficial for those with space concerns or multiple computers. The archive feature removes the file from the local device once it uploads it to the Acronis online cloud. The sync function is like Dropbox and syncs files across devices.

Other Tools

Disk Clone - is helpful when replacing hard drives. I used to use this all the time when SDDs hit the market and I was replacing legacy hard drives.

It uses 84 FOSS programs listed on their website: https://kb.acronis.com/content/69667

Cost

The product has moved to a subscription model. The essential model is local and offers the core backup services with no cloud. The advanced function could work for those that don't need a full image of their device, but to utilise the software to its fullest capacity it will cost you $124.99 per year for the software with 1 TB of storage. Each additional TB of storage adds $40. No doubt this is on the high end of cost when compared to the competition and why they added they expanded its offerings past backup to help justify the price.

Walkthrough Video

Cleanup Docker

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

If you are running docker you will accumulate a lot of unused images and volumes as you update running containers. This makes maintenance a necessity.

Do you need this?

Check your portainer status page and look for "unused" images and containers. If you are seeing a lot of these, then you are wasting space and I'd recommend running this script to clean them up!

The Cleanup Script

Run this bash script every week to ensure the cleanup gets performed.

#!/bin/bash

docker volume rm $(docker volume ls -f dangling=true -q)
docker rmi $(docker images --quiet --filter "dangling=true")

Install Windows Update Powershell

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know you can install updates with using PowerShell? This is the Guide for doing that!

Pre-requisites

To install Windows updates via PowerShell, you need to install the module first:

Install-Module PSWindowsUpdate
Add-WUServiceManager -MicrosoftUpdate

Commands

Install all available updates

Install-WindowsUpdate -MicrosoftUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot | Out-File "C:\($env.computername-Get-Date -f yyyy-MM-dd)-MSUpdates.log" -Force

Force other computers to update

$Computers = "pc2,pc3,pc4"
Invoke-WUJob -ComputerName $Computers -Script {Import-Module PSWindowsUpdate; Install-WindowsUpdate -MicrosoftUpdate -AcceptAll -AutoReboot} -RunNow -Confirm:$false | Out-File "c:\$Computers-$(Get-Date -f yyyy-MM-dd)-MSUpdates.log" -Force

Walkthrough Video

Screensavers

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Screensavers might be the past, but they are still one of the coolest to do on your PC.

SCR File Screensavers

System47 SCR File - https://www.mewho.com/system47/
Microsoft BSOD
Screensavers Website

Website Screensavers

Load Screen Savers

Windows

Copy the *.scr file to c:\Windows\System32
Launch the Screensaver Windows Module (Start -> Run -> control desk.cpl,,@screensaver)
Select the screensaver you copied

Copy/Paste Run command:

control desk.cpl,,@screensaver

Linux

Loading scr files on Linux requires you to use WINE. You can launch this using wine.exe, but here is my article on setting it up as a systemd service: https://christitus.com/lcars-screensaver/

Walkthrough Video

Docker Guide

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This is a full walk-through and guide for Docker.

Install and Getting Started

Official Docker: https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/
Official Portainer: https://docs.portainer.io/start/install/server/docker

Quick Commands

Run a new container

New Image - docker run IMAGE
Name Container and Launch Image - docker run --name CONTAINER IMAGE
Map Container Ports and Launch Image -docker run -p HOSTPORT:CONTAINERPORT IMAGE
Map ALL Ports and Launch Image - docker run -P IMAGE
Launch Image as Background Service - docker run -d IMAGE
Map Local Directory and Launch - docker run -v HOSTDIR:TARGETDIR IMAGE

Manage Containers

List RUNNING Containers - docker ps
List ALL containers - docker ps -a
Delete container - docker rm CONTAINER
Delete a Running Container - docker rm -f CONTAINER
Stop Container - docker stop CONTAINER
Start Container - docker start CONTAINER
Copy File FROM container - docker cp CONTAINER:SOURCE TARGET
Copy File TO container - docker cp TARGET CONTAINER:SOURCE
Start Shell inside container - docker exec -it CONTAINER bash
Rename container - docker rename OLD NEW
Create new Image from Container - docker commit CONTAINER

Manage Images

Download Image - docker pull IMAGE[:TAG]
Upload Image to repository - docker push IMAGE
Delete Image - docker rmi IMAGE
List Images - docker images
Build Image from Docker file - docker build DIRECTORY
Tag Image IMAGE - docker tag IMAGE NEWIMAGE:TAG

Troubleshooting and Information

Show logs - docker logs CONTAINER
Show stats - docker stats
Show processes - docker top CONTAINER
Show modified files - docker diff CONTAINER
Show mapped ports - docker port CONTAINER

Walkthrough Video

Windows Explorer Stealing CPU

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Windows 11 has a bug effecting some systems. Out of my 3 Windows 11 systems, one of them had this happen.

Underlying Problem

Two services are interacting with Windows Explorer that are the root of this problem. Widgets and Typing experience from Windows 11. Even if you disabled these services, they will relaunch because they use the Microsoft Store. What is causing this behavior? A new pre-launch command that pushes these apps into the background on startup. This means they start up faster, but most don't even use these apps and do NOT want to use them.

Solution

Add these Registry entries to fix it!

FixRegistry.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\input]
"IsInputAppPreloadEnabled"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Dsh]
"IsPrelaunchEnabled"=dword:00000000

Delete old programs

Wallpaper Engine caused a big CPU elevation after I updated to 22H2 on Windows 11. Check your programs and if they haven't been updated in a while, they may not work that well on the new version.

To uninstall old programs run:

appwiz.cpl

Walkthrough Video

Bypass Paywalls

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Tired of ads, paywalls, and other garbage in your web browsing experience? These add-ons will improve your experience!

The Extensions

YouTube Enhancer - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/enhancer-for-youtube/ponfpcnoihfmfllpaingbgckeeldkhle
- Adds screenshots, studio, auto-settings, and much more!
Self-Destructing Cookies - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/self-destructing-cookies/igdpjhaninpfanncfifdoogibpdidddf
- This is a privacy add-on that deletes cookies when the browser or tab is closed. Note: This will cause some sites to log you out if a sign-in is required.
Cookie Remover - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/cookie-remover/kcgpggonjhmeaejebeoeomdlohicfhce/related
- This will remove the current cookies for the site you are on by clicking the cookie icon in the top right
Bypass Paywall - https://github.com/iamadamdev?tab=repositories
- Load with dev mode in chrome.
Clickbait Removal - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/clickbait-remover-for-you/omoinegiohhgbikclijaniebjpkeopip
- Remove all thumbnails and put parts of video in. Also removes CAPS from the titles

Walkthrough Video

Twitter Archive Offline

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Leaving Twitter? Why not download all your tweets from archive and store it yourself before deleting your account!

Projects

Process of Offline Twitter

Download Twitter Archive Note: This can take up to 72 hours to produce a downloadable zip
Unzip Archive to it's OWN folder

Download the Archive parser

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/timhutton/twitter-archive-parser/main/parser.py

Run python3 parser.py I recommend selecting Yes to download all messages
Open Your archive.html in your browser

Limitations

I put the other projects above to get around the limitations of using the Archive Parser.

Bookmark Tool will change the t.co links to their proper links so it doesn't use Twitter servers.
Cleaner will cleanup the archive
Photo Downloader will download the full photos in your tweets. By default it downloads the thumbnail and references twitter for the full image.

Walkthrough Video

Docker Macos

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Don't have a Mac and need MacOS? No problem, run it in a docker container.

Credit goes to this twitter user:

Requirements

Install Docker Ubuntu 22.04

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -y
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu jammy stable"
sudo apt install docker-ce -y
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Reboot or logout/login

(Optional) GUI Webpage for Managing Docker - Portainer

docker volume create portainer_data
docker run -d -p 8000:8000 -p 9443:9443 --name portainer \
--restart=always \
-v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
-v portainer_data:/data \
portainer/portainer-ce:2.9.3

Open up browser and navigate to https://localhost:9443

Click Advanced and proceed with any certificate errors

MacOS Docker Setup

Setup the MacOS Docker Container with the following docker command

docker run -it \
    --device /dev/kvm \
    -p 50922:10022 \
    -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix \
    -e "DISPLAY=${DISPLAY:-:0.0}" \
    -e GENERATE_UNIQUE=true \
    -e MASTER_PLIST_URL='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickcodes/osx-serial-generator/master/config-custom.plist' \
    sickcodes/docker-osx:monterey

# docker build -t docker-osx --build-arg SHORTNAME=monterey .

Use Disk Utility to "erase" the 270GB virtual disk: Note: This is just virtual and doesn't erase your drive

Start MacOS Docker Container

Before we start the container find the name with:

docker ps -a

Look for the NAMES column and pick the container name.

Start with the following command NAME = Name from column above

docker start NAME

Portainer Method for Starting

I love portainer because you can easily manage your containers. Start, Stop, and see resource usage... Portainer does it all! Here is what mine looks like:

Optimize the Container

Source: https://github.com/sickcodes/osx-optimizer

Run the following from Root Prompt # sudo su

defaults write com.apple.loginwindow autoLoginUser -bool true
mdutil -i off -a
nvram boot-args="serverperfmode=1 $(nvram boot-args 2>/dev/null | cut -f 2-)"
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow DesktopPicture ""
defaults write com.apple.Accessibility DifferentiateWithoutColor -int 1
defaults write com.apple.Accessibility ReduceMotionEnabled -int 1
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess reduceMotion -int 1
defaults write com.apple.universalaccess reduceTransparency -int 1
defaults write com.apple.Accessibility ReduceMotionEnabled -int 1
defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -bool false
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticCheckEnabled -bool false
defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdate -bool false
defaults write com.apple.commerce AutoUpdateRestartRequired -bool false
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ConfigDataInstall -int 0
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate CriticalUpdateInstall -int 0
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate ScheduleFrequency -int 0
defaults write com.apple.SoftwareUpdate AutomaticDownload -int 0
defaults write com.apple.loginwindow DisableScreenLock -bool true
defaults write com.apple.loginwindow TALLogoutSavesState -bool false

Final Result

Walkthrough Video

One Tool for Everything

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

A massive update has arrived for the Windows Utility! Check out all the new features.

Run Directly from PowerShell with Admin

irm christitus.com/win | iex

New Features

Tooltip addition to Tweaks
Auto Login Added
Manually Set DNS Servers
Large number of new program additions

Bug Fixes

Program installed pops up before install complete
Improved Readme on Github
Better Scaling for large monitors
Undo Tweak Fixes
Better Button Placement

Live Tracker

https://github.com/users/ChrisTitusTech/projects/1/views/1

New Tweak Options

GitHub Project

Check out the official Github page @ https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil

Donate and Get the Executable

Want to run from an exe file? Donate $10 @ https://www.cttstore.com/windows-toolbox

Walkthrough Video

Best Browser Extensions

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

These extensions make life easier when using a browser.

The List

Authenticator - 2 Factor for websites
Checker Plus - Google Calendar with 1-click
Click and Clean - History and Cache cleaning
Get RSS Feed URL - Easily grab the RSS feed for a website
GoFullPage - Full Page Screen Capture
Midnight Lizard - Dark mode everywhere
Momentum - Focused Start Screen (Great for Brave users)
Notifier for GitHub - Notification Panel for GitHub
Roboform Password Management (Bitwarden is a good alternative)
Web Highlights - Highlight parts of a webpage

Security

Authenticator is great for simple two factor, but I wouldn't use this for a bank account. These 2FA codes are synced to the cloud for convenience.

Click and Clean will clean our history, cache, and much more. The built in browser cleaning and history management isn't good. This makes it a complete solution for security, privacy, and maintenance.

Password Manager is something everyone should use. I've used RoboForm for over 10 years and my personal recommendation for automation. Bitwarden is a bit newer and some features like FIDO keys which make also makes it a strong choice. Both password manager offer easy export and import of ALL passwords, which is a vital feature when you use these services to avoid getting "locked in".

Note: Roboform is currently running a 50% off sale via the link above for Cyber Monday/Black Friday and generally provide a 30% off link after.

The one thing I caution you against is using All-In-One password managers, like McAfee, Nord, and others. The bundles you get will lock you in to their password managers that can hold you hostage if they have breaches and you want to move on.

Convenience

Checker Plus perfect heads up calendar display with easy add for incoming events.

Get RSS Feed URL will get those hidden RSS feeds for any website.

GoFullPage captures the ENTIRE webpage and can output it to a PDF or PNG for later use.

Midnight Lizard Dark mode and other color customizations.

Momentum is an essential extension for any brave browser user. Brave has one of the worst start screens with crypto ads and other BS that no one likes. This extension fixes that.

Notifier for GitHub shows GitHub notifications.

Web Highlights is a great way to highlight a page as you read, which helps your mind retain what you are reading, but also saves it into the logged in account which can be referred to later.

Walkthrough Video

Why We Don't Browse the Internet Anymore

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The problem with the modern internet is ads, sponsored posts, and pay walls. Enter RSS feeds as a solution.

Subscribe to the sites and information you want to see and not have an algorithm decide what influences you. This requires "fixing" RSS and downloading articles, but the payout is amazing. How many people use RSS? Here is poll I ran on Twitter.

How we used to browse the Internet

The era of altavista, dogpile, askjeeves, yahoo, excite, lycos, and others was an era of innovation and competition. There was a heated rivalry between Internet Exploader and Netscape, which Microsoft inevitably won with dirty business practices. That era was a time of discovery and businesses were figuring out how to make money on the internet.

Information was scattered everywhere and the web was decentralized among hundreds of companies. When we "logged on" you made decisions on what to do. Sometimes you wanted to play a game, or stumble upon a new website, or browse a news group. Almost nothing curated and uniform. This is often referred to as Web 1.0.

How we use the Internet today

We google anything we want, use our chromium browsers, and social media for everything else. Between Google, Facebook (I'm not calling it Meta), and Amazon we have everything. Facebook is dying off and for old people raging about some political garbage, Amazon we order anything want to appear on our doorstep, and Google is what powers almost every search we do.

When we find the site we are looking for, it ends up with tons of ads or paywalled. Even worse, some reputable sites sell "sponsored posts" where the advertising gets posted directly in the feed. Imagine watching a television show and then in the third episode its nothing but a giant Subway ad. This is our modern internet.

How to fix it with RSS

Really Simple Syndication or RSS for short, is used to get updates from websites whenever something is posted. You have a listing of the entire website and you can pick the article you want to read. Even better you can subscribe to YouTube Channels and other social feeds to RSS as well.

The problem? Ads, Brief Summaries, and redirects. We fix this by using a feed aggregator and never leave our RSS reader.

The other problem with RSS Readers online are expensive using feedly($8), inoreader($10), and newsblur($3) per month. This used all be free with Google Reader, but in typical Google fashion they killed Reader.

Feed Aggregation

I use docker self-hosted aggregator https://github.com/heussd/fivefilters-full-text-rss-docker or if you want to pay money you can use five filters aggregator

Here is my docker command to install and configure it on my docker server using port 50000

docker run -d \
--name=full-test-rss \
-p 50000:80 \
--restart always \
heussd/fivefilters-full-text-rss:latest

Feed Reader

There are a couple different ways to pull in these RSS feeds. For browsers there is Vivaldi, external programs like Obsidian, and for self-hosted I recommend FreshRSS

I use my docker server again to host this on port 49999

docker run -d \
  --name=freshrss \
  -e PUID=1000 \
  -e PGID=1000 \
  -e TZ=Europe/London \
  -p 49999:80 \
  -v /path/to/data:/config \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  lscr.io/linuxserver/freshrss:latest

Walkthrough Video

5 Essential Terminal Utilities

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

TLDR

Too long didn't read? The perfect solution for long man pages that we just want some quick examples and basic syntax for a command. TLDR is a vital tool to save you time when learning the terminal.

CMatrix

How can you use Linux without using CMatrix... It's hard to be cool without it.

Trash-CLI

This is a life saver after you delete a directory or files in terminal and need to get them back. I highly recommend making the following alias in your ~/.bashrc file.

alias rm='trash -v'

Delete a file and send it to the trash: trash path/to/file
List all files in the trash: trash-list
Interactively restore a file from the trash: trash-restore
Empty the trash: trash-empty
Permanently delete all files in the trash which are older than 10 days: trash-empty 10
Remove all files in the trash, which match a specific blob pattern: trash-rm "*.o"
Remove all files with a specific original location: trash-rm /path/to/file_or_directory

Autojump

This is my most used terminal utility that saves me the most amount of time. The catch to this program is you must have navigated to the directory at least once in terminal first.

Jump to a directory that contains the given pattern: j pattern
Jump to a sub-directory (child) of the current directory that contains the given pattern: jc pattern
Open a directory that contains the given pattern in the operating system file manager: jo pattern
Remove non-existing directories from the autojump database: j --purge
Show the entries in the autojump database: j -s

Progress

Tired of wondering how much longer the cp, mv, dd, tar, cat, and other Linux coreutil functions take? Progress will tell you!

Show the progress of running coreutils: progress
Launch and monitor a single long-running command: command & progress --monitor --pid $!
Include an estimate of time remaining for completion: progress --wait --command rsync

Walkthrough Video

Fix Corrupted Windows Install

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Using SFC and DISM is often done in haste and incorrectly. If you need to fix a corrupted install, then a special DISM command MUST BE issued.

The Commands

Basic Online Command

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Note: This will check it's health and cleanup basic corruption errors.

Command to Fix From Windows ISO

Use this command when the basic one fails. Follow these steps:

Download the Windows ISO from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO
Mount the ISO and note the drive letter (ex. E:)
Run DISM with sources flag

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\Sources\install.wim

Note: install.wim is known as ESD in some downloads install.esd

Verify History and Logs

Did it run correctly? Was the corruption repaired?

Check the log file at %windir%\Logs\DISM\dism.log

SFC - The Worthless Tool

System file checker is WORTHLESS! In the best scenario it might tell you about some corruption, but I have never seen it actually repair anything.

Yet every damn guide on the internet recommends you run it. Save your time, and use DISM instead.

Walkthrough Video

Shell The Essential App

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Context menus have become worse in Windows 11 and weren't good in Windows 10. This application will fix it for both modern Windows operating systems.

The App

I install this app in both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here is a breakdown of all the context menus that it adds and expands.

Access the terminal from anywhere (hold shift to run as admin)
Expanded Files (Create New, Copy Path, and Show hidden)
Developer Options (Vs code launch, build from explorer, etc.)
Goto Shortcuts (Common files and folders, System settings, etc.)
Common sense copy and paste
Create Shortcuts
Program your own command!

Build your own menu and items

Shell is extremely easy to add commands and custom menus. Launch custom commands with arguments. Here is a quick how-to:

Open C:\Program Files\Nilesoft\Shell\shell.shl

Add a custom command and pass arguments by editing the dynamic JSON section:

dynamic 
{
  item(title='Chris Titus Tech YouTube' cmd='C:\Users\Subscribe\AppData\Local\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\Application\brave.exe' args='https://youtube.com/c/ChrisTitusTech')

The basic syntax is :

Walkthrough Video

Windows 22H2 has Problems

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I've had a ton of bug reports from 22H2. DO NOT UPDATE to this first Windows 11 update.

The Nature of Updates and Security

The instinct for any Journalist, YouTuber, Media Personality, or Technical Writer to make a sensational title. This one could be "Windows 22H2 is a Nightmare and it will steal the DNA from your babies."

That would get a stupid amount of views and ad revenue, but it wouldn't teach you anything. Instead we need to understand the nature of update and with that knowledge, we will be better computer users.

Any system that updates frequently will have bugs. Fix two bugs... One more appears. This is the nature of computing.

Microsoft Known Issues and Updates

Source article: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-22h2

Issues on 10-22-2022

Issues update on 10-31-2022

Should you Update?

HELL NO!

Being on the newest release of anything can be fun and dealing with new shining features is a blast, but it comes with a cost. You will experience issues and more "known issues" will appears as more and more users adopt it. Microsoft doesn't have a good quality control department and I wait AT LEAST 1 year after feature updates hit the market before upgrading. For my Windows instances, I wait 2 years.

Is Windows Bad at Updates?

This isn't a yes or no answer, but the more complex and old a system is, the greater margin for errors to occur. The foundation of Windows hasn't drastically changed in decades and this makes updating the platform a monumental task for even the mammoth corporation that is Microsoft.

Microsoft has some talented employees, but it takes time to add polish and with new feature updates pushed out the door every 6 months... Expect this to be a trend for ALL future feature updates.

Source Articles

Walkthrough Video

Neovim Is Better

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I've never experienced a program with such power and potential than Neovim. It does so much and we are at the beginning as it isn't even to a 1.0 release yet. The best part is the program works on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

The following tweet encompasses my thoughts and feelings in my first week using Neovim.

Is this the path for you?

Neovim is rewarding after configured. The amount of automation, speed, and shear possibilities are limitless, but NOT without it's downside though. I've spent hours working on my basic configuration and I am still months away before I will be close to completion. I say this as a NOOB! That is because I had no idea what a DAP, LSP, Linter, and other coding terms were before I began this journey.

If you know any of the coding terms and a little LUA, you will have a better starting point than myself. If not, get prepared to learn because there will be a lot of new terms and functionality you will need to know to get the most out of Neovim experience.

What I use Neovim for

Writing is a difficult task that requires focus and creativity. For me, having the focus mode with a Linter that checks spelling and grammar has made a massive difference. I prefer the linting approach to writing, because it doesn't tell me about sentence structure or grammar until I've finished my thought and saved.
Configuration Files in Neovim are a dream for any system admin that doesn't have the luxury of a desktop or are using a remote server. Tab out files, read other contents into an existing file, and have a file explorer with full undo logs. I could go on, but you get the idea.
Coding is where most people's mind goes with Neovim. You have the rockstars, like primeagen, that make Neovim look like a tool of the gods and mere mortals use other editors.

Installation

With Neovim being so young in releases the latest release you can get is the best. Anything below 0.7 is too low as it won't have the features you will need for the best experience. I highly recommend downloading directly from Neovim's GitHub releases: https://github.com/Neovim/Neovim/releases/tag/stable

All dependencies and requirements are in my setup.sh for Linux and winsetup.ps1 for Windows from: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/Neovim

git clone https://github.com/christitustech/Neovim
cd Neovim
sudo ./setup.sh

Windows PowerShell Alternative

I modified PowerShell to also use Neovim. I did make a winsetup.ps1 to help aid in the setup, but there will be more manual steps to this setup.

Included cpp compiler and runtime to assist in programming, but the biggest thing to setup is nodejs. This has an automated script that will fix python and other dependencies that are problematic in Windows.

Setting PATH in Windows is your biggest priority for a functional Neovim. Type sysdm.cpl to launch into System Properties and click Advanced -> Environment Variables to set the paths. Add any missing health checks here.

Configuration

Instead of making a big modular structure that you see in most Neovim projects, mine is small for ease of learning. It will expand as times goes on, but I want to KISS it... Keep it stupid simple. There is 3 files:

init.lua - Initializes Neovim and calls any extra files. These are my main settings and special plugin configurations. _Note: some people use the old init.vim instead of lua, but that defeats the purpose of using Neovim.
lua/keymaps.lua - These are all my key bindings for Neovim
lua/plugins.lua - List of plugins to load.

Startup

USE :checkhealth FIRST!

Errors must be fixed to have a functional Neovim experience. Warnings can be ignored, but noted, because you may have failed installs for LSPs, Linters, and other tools.

Adding Tools

:Mason

Note: I recommend ONLY installing what you USE!

Shortcuts for Mason:

i = install
U = upgrade package
X = remove package

What NOT to do

Neovim is such a powerful editor that it can do anything. Before you do this, ask yourself, "Do I use this?" and if not, do NOT install it!

If you want all the plugins and have every language supported, I'd recommend Lunar vim or NvChad. These projects do a fantastic job of emulating every part of vscode, while also having an easy install and setup.

I'd recommend installing them to see what Neovim is capable of, but I did NOT like them for the long term. This is because Neovim needs a personal touch to see its true power.

I fell in love with Neovim once I started to add the features I used. Remember, you can always expand later.

Walkthrough Video

Urbackup

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Want a Universal Backup that works on EVERY operating system and is free + open source? Urbackup is the software you are looking for!

Why UrBackup

This program is absolutely amazing and free! All it's source code is on the internet which made it able to adapt to ALL operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux... hell it even has ARM support!

Universal Backup Servers

There is a ton of different supported servers and even some that are unsupported that still work. Here is the official download page: http://www.urbackup.org/download.html

One notable non-official project is for Synology NAS devices. I use a 64-bit Synology on DSM 7+, so pay attention to your current version if you want to use the project below.

Synology Project: https://github.com/josef109/spksrc

Server Dashboard

Automated Terminal Install and Linux Setup

Linux installs are a complete DREAM! Just paste the command listed under terminal when you use "Add New Client" Button. Here is an example install:

Enable Restore from Web

You need to enable restoration in client configuration to completely control everything from server web interface. Here is a sample client configuration /etc/default/urbackupclientbackend

Windows Client Setup

Windows uses a executable that is made with the "Add New Client" button. By default, windows clients will have full image backup on and no file based backups. I'd recommend changing this by adding your home directory or any other important folders, such as: My Documents

Linux Client Setup

Linux clients can be installed via terminal and what I recommend.

Note: The Linux GUI isn't good and terminal use of urbackupclientctl is used

Image Backups

Since urbackup only supports EXT4 and XFS we need LVM setup on these volumes BEFORE installing the distribution. LVM is tricky to setup correctly and will be hard as a beginner. The good thing about Linux is we don't have to worry about full image backups. All our configuration settings are in ~/.config and global settings in /etc/. On my installs I mainly backup the .config folder and any other folder where I might put important information that would be isolated to that computer.

Setting the backup directories

Here is a sample backup command to add my ~/.config directory

sudo urbackupclientctl add-backupdir -d $HOME/.config/

Then, check the status using the server web interface.

Uninstall

Uninstallation is a bit weird and needs to be done with this command:

sudo uninstall_urbackupclient

Alternatives

There are a lot of free and open source backup solutions for backup. I picked urbackup because it is the most basic and probably the easiest to setup. However, if you need more features there are more backup solutions that I'd consider better for large environments or businesses.

BorgBackup https://www.borgbackup.org/ for cloud paid offering, BorgBase https://www.borgbase.com/
Bacula https://www.bacula.org/ Enterprise solutions and fantastic dashboard

Walkthrough Video

Reagentc Windows Recovery Partition

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Don't know what ReAgentC is or how to use it? This is your guide.

Setup Recovery Partition

Create Recovery Partition at least 1GB in size.
Format the recovery partition as NTFS
DISKPART Changes
- select disk 0
- select partition 3 (last partition)
- detail partition (list partition details)
- set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac" (GPTDisk) Note: id=27 on MBR NOTE: Reset ids to normal if you did the WRONG partition (MBR set id=7 and GPT set id="ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7")
- Create Partition if Missing! cre par pri size=605 id=de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac
- format fs=ntfs quick label=WinRE
- assign letter=z
- UEFI only: gpt attributes=0x8000000000000001
reagentc /disable
Verify WinRE.wim is installed on local system ls "C:\Windows\System32\Recovery" | FindStr /I "WinRE.wim" ; ls "C:\Windows\System32\Recovery" -Hidden | FindStr /I "WinRE.wim" 5a. If Missing, Copy WinRE.wim and the uninitialized ReAgent.xml files from the installation Media (Easiest method is to use 7zip to extract WinRE.wim from install.wim) to C:\Windows\System32\Recovery
reagentc /enable (this will move WinRe.wim to the Recovery partition and set the GUID and location in ReAgent.xml)
reagentc /info (Check settings for verification)

If ReAgentC /enable does NOT work

Manually copy WinRE.wim to Z:\Recovery\WindowsRE
ReAgentC /SetREimage /Path "Z:\Recovery\WindowsRE"
ReAgentC /Enable
Verify with ReAgentC /Info

Rebooting to Recovery Partition

If you can boot in to Windows, hold shift while pressing restart. This will reboot your PC into a menu. Select Advanced Options

Another method to reach this screen is to have the boot fail 3 times. A reboot during the load screen will count as a failure.

F8 is an older method that doesn't work unless enabled, but was a great way to get to the menu. I'm adding this to my Windows Utility Tweaks section.

Startup Repair and Settings

Startup Repair almost never works, but once in a blue moon is beneficial. Startup Settings can send you to safe mode.

Command Prompt

Here are the highlights of a recovery partition:

Copy Files
Chkdsk for failing hard drives
SFC/DISM repairs corrupt system files (sfc /scannow and dism /image:c:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth)

Regedit for editing the registry

Uninstall Updates

Bad update and now it doesn't work? Click this and revert it!

UEFI Firmware Settings

Loads into BIOS. Can be useful on laptops where you don't know key combination when powering on.

System Restore and System Image Recovery

I don't use these much, but can be a good last resort option. System Restore generally brings most of the system back to last restore point and System Image is good for recovering Windows if you used the built-in Windows Backup Software to external hard drive.

Walkthrough Video

Pretty Powershell

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

PowerShell is UGLY and cumbersome by default. This Guide fixes that!

The End Result:

Fixing the Visuals

With all my guides here is the one line script to install "most" of the needed fixes. I'd recommend running it from an admin elevated prompt for installation of OhMyPosh.

One Line Install

irm "https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/powershell-profile/raw/main/setup.ps1" | iex

The first thing that needs to be fixed is installing the correct font. Here are screenshots from both Windows 11 using Terminal and Windows 10 using Conhost. After running the above script, you will unzip the cove.zip file from the directory the command above was run from and install those nerd fonts. If you want to download other nerd fonts, go to: https://www.nerdfonts.com/

Windows 11 Font Settings

Windows 10 Font Settings

In the screenshot below you will see the stock font select and the missing icons. Selecting CaskaydiaCove above Consolas and saving will fix it.

Fixing the Syntax

The defaults are clunky and take too long to type in even when using shorthand. Linux does this better, so lets bring in that syntax to fix it with Aliases in our PowerShell profile.

New Aliases

Here are the following added aliases for quality of life

cd... cd ..\..
cd.... cd ..\..\..
dirs "Recursive directory listing"
admin / su / sudo "Elevate to admin prompt"
Edit-Profile "Edit current powershell $PROFILE"
vim nvim "Neovim alias"
ll "file listing, excluding dirs"
g "cd to Documents\Github"
gcom "quick github commit"
lazyg "quick github commit and push"
Get-PubIP "Grab external IP"
uptime
reload-profile
find-file "recursive file search from current directory"
unzip
grep
touch
df "disk free"
sed
which
export
pkill "process killer"
pgrep "process finder"

Walkthrough Video

Installing Appx Without Microsoft Store

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Do you have a bare version of windows LTSC or highly stripped out ISO image that doesn't have the Microsoft Store? This is the guide to show you how to install appx and other apps without it.

Winget Installation

Using the powershell and a couple projects we can install winget. You need the Microsoft sanctioned script repository called PSGallery. It has some system admin scripts that are clutch when all you have is powershell.

What this does

It grabs the script from https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/winget-install/0.0.4 and runs it. The script itself utilizes NuGet and other tools that are in every Windows installation to install the dependancies, before retrieving the winget packages.

Why this is better

This way is far superior to other methods as most will fail in a stripped down Windows like the one made from my NTLite Build.

The package that is often missing and hard to install manually is Microsoft.UI.Xaml the typical method to install this is using NuGet Package Manager inside of Visual Studio. You can track down the exact version and appx file from Microsoft's repository here: https://store.rg-adguard.net/, but this is overly cumbersome and why I recommend the PSGallery approach.

How to Manually get ANY Appx

Using the https://store.rg-adguard.net/ site we can snatch any appx as long as we know the package name.

Get product id from https://apps.microsoft.com/store/apps

Then grab the appx from rg-adguard AND its dependancies... like this:

Direct Download with Script

Here is quick snippit that you can toss the product id in to pull it down from PowerShell.

$apiUrl = "https://store.rg-adguard.net/api/GetFiles"

$productUrl = "https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9nblggh5r558" # To Do
#$productUrl = "https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9MSPC6MP8FM4" # Whiteboard
#$productUrl = "https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRFJBB1" # Wireless Display Adapter

$downloadFolder = Join-Path $env:TEMP "StoreDownloads"
if(!(Test-Path $downloadFolder -PathType Container)) {
    New-Item $downloadFolder -ItemType Directory -Force
}

$body = @{
    type = 'url'
    url  = $productUrl
    ring = 'RP'
    lang = 'en-US'
}

$raw = Invoke-RestMethod -Method Post -Uri $apiUrl -ContentType 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded' -Body $body

$raw | Select-String '<tr style.*<a href=\"(?<url>.*)"\s.*>(?<text>.*)<\/a>' -AllMatches|
 % { $_.Matches } |
 % { 
    $url = $_.Groups[1].Value
    $text = $_.Groups[2].Value
    Write-Host $text

    if($text -match "_(x86|x64|neutral).*appx(|bundle)$") {
        $downloadFile = Join-Path $downloadFolder $text
        if(!(Test-Path $downloadFile)) {
            Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -OutFile $downloadFile
        }
    }
}

Walkthrough Video

Buying Cheap Ebay Graphics Cards

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

With GPU Market prices plummeting and about to go even further down... I picked up a used GPU from eBay.

The Deal

You can monitor these cards and get some amazing deals. The AMD 5700 XT I picked up for $170 and this was selling for OVER $1000 dollars in 2021. This card is special because its predecessor is the 6700 XT and has only 3% better performance in 1080p format. Amazing right? Well... it is not quite that simple.

Buying through eBay

This particular post intrigued me because it the pictures that came with it and the extremely high feedback with high volumes.

The picture I paid the most attention to was the backplate. Notice over the screws the warranty symbol sticker. This is still there, even through they post says they upgraded the thermal pads. This tells me either the picture isn't of the card or the person took extreme care when doing this upgrade. The other thing that stood out was the card itself looked to be in very good condition.

Red Flags

There are couple things I look at when scanning the pictures.

Stock photos - HUGE Flag and do not buy anything with a stock photo
Excessive "grease stains" - On the card zoom in and if you can see smears or what looks like the plastic is wet, then the card was run extremely hot and a lot of the thermal compound leaked and was smeared on the card itself. Most of these used mining cards will have a little bit of that, but pay close attention to it.
No Retail Packaging - This isn't a huge flag, but typically this just means they didn't put much care into keeping the packaging. What else didn't that pay attention to?

Pricing

Even though I bought this card at $170 and that is below the retail and eBay historical pricing for the past couple years, I could have waited a bit longer. Once the new generation cards come out, these cards will drop even LOWER! That is the perfect time to scoop up a deal. For 1080p gaming, you'd have to hate yourself to buy a new generation card. These older gen cards give more performance than you could ever want at that resolution.

Issues once you bought the card

The biggest issue you will run into is bad roms. Most these mining farms flash the vbios with undervolted presets. This can cause blue screens and host of other issues.

This can be fixed with downloading a new bios from https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/

Just be very careful and backup the existing bios with a program like GPUZ https://www.techpowerup.com/download/techpowerup-gpu-z/

I'd recommend using GPUz for the BIOS backup and also create a backup using the flashing program as well. I bricked my card momentarily when I tried to flash in Windows. This was fixed by booting in Linux and force flashing the vbios from command line.

The other issue is the cards were not taken care of and were run at too high of temperatures. This can cause multiple errors and generally the card is bad. HOWEVER, I have yet to run into this being the case for me. Most times just re-flashing with a factory bios fixes most the issues I've encountered.

Walkthrough Video

Setting Up the Ultimate Windows 11

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This guide shows you how to get the best performing Windows in the lightest package possible.

Before you begin

A custom ISO is a MUST! With extreme debloat we will be removing Windows Update, Security Services, and a variety of other system services that will bring Windows back to the XP era.

If your never used Windows XP, it was an extremely light OS by today's standards, but it came at a cost. The update system was web based, there was no antivirus, and security center didn't appear until SP2 came out. This is a LOT like those days, where the user was responsible for the safety of their system.

I also highly recommend buying NTLite if you want to live in this environment. Yes, it makes the ISO easier, but I absolutely love the fact it can control your Windows updates as well. Once a month, you can open NTLite and pull down the latest updates and apply them through their tool to the live install.

The Process

Make the NTLite Install Media https://christitus.com/ntlite-guide/
Install Windows
Run my Windows utility https://christitus.com/windows-tool/

Shortcut

irm christitus.com/win | iex

Issues with Minimal Install

Certain dependencies for programs will be missing. When you run my utility installation of winget will likely fail because there isn't a trace of the Microsoft store on the system.

I manually grabbed these using Invoke Rest Method. These are the commands I used in the video below:

irm "https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx"-o "./Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx"
irm "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/download/v1.2.10271/Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle"-o "./Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle"
irm "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/download/v1.2.10271/b0a0692da1034339b76dce1c298a1e42_License1.xml"-o "./b0a0692da1034339b76dce1c298a1e42_License1.xml"
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath ".\Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx" -SkipLicense
Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath ".\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle" -LicensePath ".\b0a0692da1034339b76dce1c298a1e42_License1.xml"

I'm working on expanding my tool to give an easy way to do this reliably for these types of minimal systems. If you'd like to support my work and its future development, consider grabbing the exe @ https://cttstore.com/windows-toolbox

Walkthrough Video

Why the Command Line is Overpowered

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

When I say "Overpowered", this means the command line interfaces can do things that are otherwise impossible.

All Operating Systems

When your think of command line interfaces or CLI, there are a lot of things that come to my mind, but let's go over how they are overpowered in EVERY operating system.

Windows

Both PowerShell and Command Prompt in Windows can do some amazing things. I use them extensively in both my personal and business life. I have some batch scripts that strip out and delete edge every time Microsoft reinstalls it through an unwanted update.

In Powershell my entire Windows Utility is built through a PS1 script and XAML. I can install Microsoft Store Apps, Clean and Optimize systems quickly. I can also modify Windows in a way where I only have 40 processes running.

These feats are not possible from just using fancy graphics and a mouse. Without them, you are crippled and at the mercy of Microsoft.

MacOS

Terminal on a mac is the one thing I love about the operating system. Most mac users don't even know how awesome their UNIX based terminal is. They just click around and open up their wallets to the App Store when they need something.

That all changes when you discovery terminal and a program called "Homebrew". This gives you the ability to install programs in a flash and it doesn't cost you a dime. I couldn't live without this on a Mac.

Linux

Terminal is the CLI that made command line cool. The functions you get from this in Linux is absolutely amazing. It is so good that many mundane tasks are simply easier on terminal than using a mouse and the graphic user interface. The entire system can be run from terminal with ease and why the world runs on Linux servers.

Is it faster than a GUI?

There is a debate about this among hobbyists, but any IT professional will tell you that there isn't any comparison. Installing programs, tweaking a system, copying large amounts of files, and many more tasks are not only easier, but incredibly faster. It is not to say there is no place for the GUI, but for tasks you do often, there is no equal that can come close to the efficiency of the command line.

So the question isn't if it is faster than the GUI... The question is:

I often ask myself this question when I find something cumbersome and I don't know the alternative in the command line. The thing most people miss is, ANYTHING is possible on the command line. It's just whether or not you know it.

Walkthrough Video

Neovim: The Ultimate Editor

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Neovim is one of the most powerful, but often misunderstood, editors in existence. Let's approach it from a beginner's perspective and show why it is now my editor of choice.

Why Neovim?

There is a lot to learn about Neovim, but the first question is usually: why not just use VS Code or IntelliJ?

Those editors offer an easy starting point, excellent debugging, and huge extension ecosystems. Neovim takes a different approach. It gives you the speed and keyboard-driven editing model of Vim, then adds a modern Lua configuration system, built-in language server support, and a plugin ecosystem that can turn it into a focused development environment.

An experienced Neovim user can move through a project, search files, refactor code, and operate several tools without reaching for the mouse. If you want to see that editing style pushed to its limits, watch ThePrimeagen.

The tradeoff is the learning curve. Neovim is not something you completely master in a weekend. It takes time to build the motions into muscle memory, but the payoff is worth it when editing starts to feel immediate instead of being a series of menus and mouse movements.

Learn the Vim fundamentals

Neovim uses the same modal editing model and motions that made Vim so effective. The first thing to understand is its modes:

Normal mode - The default mode. Use it for movement, commands, and editing operations.
Insert mode - Press i to enter text.
Visual mode - Press v to select text and then run an operation on the selection.

Press Esc to return to Normal mode from Insert or Visual mode. My configuration also maps jj in Insert mode as a faster escape.

The running joke is that nobody knows how to exit Vim. The same commands work in Neovim:

Save and quit with :wq, :x, or ZZ.
Quit without saving with :q! or ZQ.

The important idea is still:

Useful Vim motion cheatsheets still apply to Neovim:

Practice before you customize

Run :Tutor inside Neovim and work through it repeatedly. Treat it like a speedrun: finish it, repeat it, and try to rely less on the hints each time. That repetition is how the motions stop being individual keys and become muscle memory.

Move as much of your real workflow into Neovim as you comfortably can. At the same time, do not blindly copy every keymap from somebody else's config. A configuration should reduce friction in your own work.

My current Neovim project

My old setup was a single .vimrc in the now-retired myvim repository. The replacement is a complete Lua-based Neovim project built on kickstart.nvim.

The current setup includes:

lazy.nvim for plugin management and Mason for language tools.
LSP features, diagnostics, formatting, completion, and snippets.
Snacks and Oil for project search, file navigation, and an explorer.
WhichKey for discovering shortcuts as you learn the configuration.
Bufferline, Trouble, Aerial, Undotree, and an integrated terminal.
Markdown image pasting, linting, and distraction-free writing tools.
Optional GitHub Copilot completion and Copilot Chat integration.

The leader key is Space. Press it in Normal mode and wait for WhichKey to show the available commands. A few shortcuts I use constantly are:

Shortcut	Action
`<leader>ff`	Find files
`<leader>fg`	Search text across the project
`<leader>fe`	Open the file explorer
`<leader><leader>`	Switch between open buffers
`<leader>f`	Format the current buffer
`<leader>xx`	Open project diagnostics
`F5`	Open the persistent undo history

The complete keymap, plugin, dependency, and troubleshooting reference lives in the project's configuration guide.

Install my Neovim configuration

The project supports Neovim 0.10 or newer and expects Git, a Nerd Font, and a few command-line dependencies. Clone the repository to a normal project directory so its dependency script can link the actual configuration into place.

On Linux:

git clone https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/neovim ~/neovim
cd ~/neovim
bash lin-depend.sh
nvim

On Windows, run the equivalent repair script from PowerShell:

git clone https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/neovim "$HOME\neovim"
Set-Location "$HOME\neovim"
.\win-depend.ps1
nvim

The repair scripts install or check the supporting tools and point Neovim at the titus-kickstart configuration. They leave an existing non-symlink config directory untouched, so rename your current Neovim config first if you want to switch to this setup.

On first launch, lazy.nvim installs the plugins. After startup, use these commands to verify the environment:

:checkhealth checks Neovim and provider health.
:Lazy opens the plugin manager.
:Mason opens the language server and tool manager.
:LspInfo shows the language servers attached to the current buffer.

Make it your own

Use my project as a starting point, not a configuration you are never allowed to touch. Options and core startup behavior live in titus-kickstart/init.lua, while the plugin configuration is split into files under titus-kickstart/plugin/.

Change the mappings, theme, formatters, and language servers around the work you actually do. That is the real advantage of Neovim: the editor can grow with your workflow without forcing you into somebody else's idea of an IDE.

For the most recent overview of where I have taken the project, read Neovim the Elite Editor.

Walkthrough video

Pros Use Bleachbit

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

I still see far too many comments with people that still use CCLeaner. Bleachbit is a FAR superior product and it's also free and open source. It won't try to upsell you a bunch of garbage and has a great track record, unlike CCleaner which was hacked and literally installed malware on thousands of PCs.

CCleaner History

I made a whole article on the CCleaner malware issue, but the main issue today is the program adds to much bloat. From the monitoring service, to the "Optimization Service" that adds multiple processes to your system. If you want to know more about this here is my past on CCleaner.

BleachBit Overview

As a free and open source tool you simply run Bleachbit when you want to. No extra process run when you aren't using it and it does a fantastic job on ANY system.

There is a TON of features and it deletes not only system temporary files, but also program specific temporary files like those stored from Discord or your web browser.

Is a program missing that you want cleaned? Chances are the community made a special XML file to clean it @ https://github.com/bleachbit/cleanerml

Walkthrough Video

How I Setup My Website

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This shows you have I automate my workflows and setup my website for maximum productivity and search

The best part is this is FREE and will produce a website faster than anything on the web. Netlify, my host, didn't charge anything until I was breaking 100GB of bandwidth and 100,000 active users PER MONTH! Now with double those numbers I pay only $19 a month and have 1 TB (Terabyte) of data per month.

The Workflow and Overview

Typically before I start recording any video, I write an outline and publish it on my website. It's almost like a video script, but also a copy paste guide for either a viewer or just someone searching google.

This is done by using a static site generator. There are bunch on the market, but the one that suited my needs the best is Hugo. It has a bunch of themes ready to use out of the box @ https://themes.gohugo.io/ and is extremely modular.

Then there are the annoyances of other website platforms like WordPress. You need to go on the web and use some terrible web based editor that just is slow and takes a long time. Hugo fixes this by using both GitHub and Netlify for deployment. Netlify will "host, build, and distribute" the content automatically and GitHub will be where you publish when it's ready for the publish stage that Netlify controls.

What this looks like in practice is I issue a hugo new posts/new-post.md, edit it with vim posts/new-post.md, and post it with git commit and push. This allows me to create a page in seconds if I wanted.

The Setup

Install Hugo (I recommend NIX Package Manager)

nix-env -iA nixpkgs.hugo

Do a quick setup that creates the website folder and the needed HUGO framework files with:

hugo new site website

Then we will initialize it with a HUGO theme like so:

cd website
git init
git submodule add https://github.com/zzossig/hugo-theme-zzo.git themes/zzo

I absolutely love the ZZO theme as a beginner. It has some of the best instructions and documentation you will find! https://zzo-docs.vercel.app/zzo/gettingstarted/installation/

Usage and First Steps

The first thing you want to do is look over the sample post in /themes under /themes/examplesite. Under here you will see the structure that HUGO uses and how most of the content ends up in the content directory off of root.

The second thing to note is the /content/posts/ and seeing the examples here. This will show you the sample markdown file and how it's laid out. Change these and make your first post. Once you figure out a good structure for your posts, you can then edit the default template.

For previewing the changes you can open up a new terminal and just type hugo server from the root website directory.

Now I have three different windows that I'm using for the bulk of my workflow:

Chrome Window with https://localhost:1313
IDE for editing my markdown files (vs code, vim, etc.)
Extra terminal window running hugo server for real time updates for the chrome window

Note: You can use terminal inside vs code and with the auto save feature you can see the code get updated on the webpage for every change you make!

Your First Modifications

Remember the big thing with HUGO is everything is modular and everything can be changed, because at the end it is simply outputting a static html file.

Once you figure out how you want your posts structured, change the /archtypes/default.md. This template is what each new post will use. This is where you really increase your efficiency as we often find ourselves writing the same few things on each new post we make.

The next modification will probably comes from adding widgets or sidebar components. Instead of directly modifying the /theme/zzo files you can actually look through the partials directory and create your own /layouts/partials in your root that will take precedence over the ones in the theme directory. More in-depth explanation from the official site https://gohugo.io/functions/partials/include/.

Complex Theme Modifications

In my past Hugo Guide I went into some pretty big theme modifications (adding search, tags, etc.) Read more about that @ https://christitus.com/hugo-guide/

Also if you see something you want to copy from my website, everything is on my public GitHub @ https://github.com/christitustech/website

Adding comments can be done in a multitude of ways, but my absolute favorite instead of using Disqus or commento.io is simply using GitHub to host the comments directly on your website repository! There is an amazing "plugin" that you can add called https://github.com/utterance/utterances which does all the spam filtering and integrates comments BETTER!

Walkthrough Video

NTLite Guide

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This Guide shows you the easiest way to configure Windows and make an ISO with NTLite.

Overview

NTLite is the best program for making an ISO for a Windows Environment. You have every option you could need, but is often overwhelming for new users. It's why when you pull up NTLite Guide on YouTube you get 30+ Minute long videos.

These options are great for IT Professionals, but for a normal user it is too much and most normal users just end up with a broken Windows install ISO.

That is where import existing profiles that have already been tested by the NTLite community comes into play. You simply unpack the official ISO, apply the profile, and make your custom ISO!

Prerequisites

NTLite costs $40 for a home user and is worth every penny in my opinion. Download and buy from their website https://ntlite.com
Download the presets to import from my GitHub Repository https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/ntlite-configs - Credit for it's creation goes to Txmmy from NTLite forums. I'm using GitHub to maintain and update it based on user requests.
Install 7zip to extract files from Windows ISO - Windows Terminal install with winget install --id=7zip.7zip -e
Download the official Windows ISO https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Note: In windows it will default to "Media Creation Tool" to make the iso (see above) You can use Mac/Linux to direct download ISO or User Agent Switch Browser Extension to trick Microsoft

The Setup

These are the following steps for the NTLite to make a proper ISO. Extract the Official ISO, Add ISO Files, Load Files, Apply Imported XML Profile, Save New ISO!

Extract Windows ISO File

Right click your windows.iso file and select the "extract files". If you don't see the extract files in the context menu then you did NOT install 7zip OR in Windows 11 you need to select "show more options"

Preparing NTLite

Look at the image below and add the files you extracted above. Follow these steps in order:

Select Folder from Add Menu
Delete unneeded Windows versions Ex. Windows Pro N or Windows Educational

Select the Version you DO NEED after before move to Apply
Import the Presets XML File

Apply to load the files Note: This will take a LONG time 5-10 minutes on fast systems

Customize Image

There are a TON of customizations you can do here, but DO NOT OVER DO IT! Past the imported presets that automatically set the services you need and a few other quality of life settings, you should also import the drivers for the system you are installing it on. This speeds up the post-install time.

Once you have everything the way you want it, simply apply the settings.

Note: This is the longest of all the stages and took almost 15 minutes on a good system

Dummy Keys for Windows 10

Here is the list of generic keys for various Windows 10 Editions.

Windows 10 Edition	Generic Keys
Windows 10 Home	YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
Windows 10 Home N	4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
Windows 10 Pro	VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Windows 10 Pro N	2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
Windows 10 Pro for Workstations	DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77
Windows 10 Pro N for Workstations	WYPNQ-8C467-V2W6J-TX4WX-WT2RQ
Windows 10 Pro Education	8PTT6-RNW4C-6V7J2-C2D3X-MHBPB
Windows 10 Pro Education N	GJTYN-HDMQY-FRR76-HVGC7-QPF8P
Windows 10 Education	YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBY
Windows 10 Education N	84NGF-MHBT6-FXBX8-QWJK7-DRR8H
Windows 10 Enterprise	XGVPP-NMH47-7TTHJ-W3FW7-8HV2C
Windows 10 Enterprise N	WGGHN-J84D6-QYCPR-T7PJ7-X766F
Windows 10 Enterprise S	NK96Y-D9CD8-W44CQ-R8YTK-DYJWX
Windows 10 S	3NF4D-GF9GY-63VKH-QRC3V-7QW8P

Create the ISO

Finally, we are ready to make the ISO. Just Click "Create ISO" and select the location to save it.

Next Steps

After you have made your ISO file you are now ready to install and finish your configuration

Check out my Windows Utility script and set the Security Updates, Install Extra Programs, and more @ https://christitus.com/windows-tool/

Be a Better Programmer

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Many people want to be a programmer, but often find themselves flailing around in the dark. These are the things I've done to help aid myself in coding more, learning new things, and just becoming a better programmer.

Use GitHub DAILY

Ok, maybe you don't have to use GitHub specifically but choose a platform or host your own git and use it as much as you can. Finish a feature or part of a project... COMMIT IT! This makes it very easy when you leave and come back to the project.

Collaborators can find your project and contribute or even fix errors you have made, which helps you improve quickly.

Track Your Progress

I'm constantly bouncing around and when I started I was getting discouraged. I'd start a project, move on or get busy, and not look at it again or even code for weeks!

To fix this, I ended up using a free tool called wakatime. This showed me what projects I was spending time on, editors I used, languages, and spit it all out on a dashboard.

Check out my GitHub page @ https://github.com/christitustech for all my stats and share yours down below in the comments! I am extremely competitive and I code more knowing I have people watching my progress.

Note: As a bonus, check out my hidden profile readme @ https://github.com/christitustech/christitustech and steal my auto generated setup!

Setup Your Ideal Workflow

You have to like your work or at least enjoy parts of it. I follow this phrase and make sure I find something I do daily that I enjoy.

It's not to say that you will enjoy everything, because on the flip side of that phrase I made my own.

The point being is there will be things you will hate, but just make sure it's not all bad. For example, I love VIM as it makes me just feel cool even though sometimes I am slower than if I just used VSCODE with the proper extension. The reason I do this is because of two reasons:

Eventually I will optimize VIM enough that I'm faster than VSCODE
I just feel awesome typing and coding in VIM

This isn't a advertisement for you to use VIM! In fact, I'd recommend you NOT use VIM unless these things interest you and you want to go down that rabbit hole. It depends on you!

Focus on what works for you and what you enjoy as far as an environment. This is more about how you FEEL than practical application. The better you feel in your workflow, the better your work product!

Set Goals

If you are going to improve in anything you need to have a goal. For me it is all about putting in the time consistently. That is true with everything in life that you go to learn. MORE TIME = BETTER RESULTS

Example Goals:

3 hours of coding per day
500 Git Contributions in 2022

Once you set these goals look at how you are doing. I recommend both short term and long term goals like I listed above.

Now, go code!

ClickPaste the Best Program You Never Heard Of

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

This program is free and open source, while being absolutely a life saver. I use it for VNC sessions and when dealing with VMs through my host computer.

GitHub Link: https://github.com/Collective-Software/ClickPaste

Install

Simply extract the zip file from https://github.com/Collective-Software/ClickPaste/releases and run ClickPaste.exe

Running at Startup

The best way I've found is to create a shortcut to ClickPaste.exe then drag&drop that into shell:startup

Usage

First of course, you need to have some text in your clipboard. Then:

Click the target notification icon to begin:

Click to choose a location you want to paste the text:

Your clipboard contents should be typed as keystrokes onto the window you selected:

Walkthrough Video

Setting up Windows inside Linux

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Running Windows inside of Linux is essential for those that are trying to convert to Linux. There will always be a transition period and need to fallback to Windows. It is also nice to have for many Windows only programs that you may need while inside Linux.

If you haven't ever installed QEMU before, here is an article to get that setup @ https://christitus.com/vm-setup-in-linux/

Optimizing Windows VM

First you need to install the VirtIO tools, which can be difficult to track down. My favorite way is to run the exe file from https://github.com/virtio-win/virtio-win-pkg-scripts but many guides use the iso file also provided at this link.

Another good resource for obtaining VirtIO drivers is from the proxmox wiki https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Windows_VirtIO_Drivers

Enable QEMU Guest Agent

Now you need to modify the VM to make use of the guest agent drivers. We need to add the qemu agent channel. Add Hardware -> Channel and copy these settings

Passing Devices Through

There are two main devices that you may want to pass through to a Windows VM. Hard Drives and Graphics Cards. Passing through a hard drive will give a good uplift in processing power and general VM response. The graphics card is very technical and frankly not recommended, but can be doable on some systems.

Dedicated Hard Drive

Simply select Add Hardware -> Storage and copy these settings

Dedicated Graphics Card

This is referred to as PCI Passthrough and can be dicey on some systems. I've had some motherboards that can't do this and others that can. The best guide and scripts I've found are from HikariKnight and his GitHub @ https://github.com/HikariKnight/quickpassthrough

Walkthrough Video

You are using GitHub WRONG!

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

GitHub is an incredible powerful tool, but using it in command line can be frustrating. So instead of doing something dumb like using SSH agent workarounds or Token exporting shenanigans to make git work in command line. We are going to use an amazing utility called gh to authenticate.

Now before we continue, you might be thinking, I can just use password authentication. Well, Here is the error you get if you try that non-sense.

Support for password authentication was removed on August 13, 2021. 
Please use a personal access token instead.

GH Overview

This utility was created by GitHub directly to manage authentication and has a lot of fantastic features. So lets dive in...

Install GH

Debian Linux

sudo apt install gh

Windows

winget install -e GitHub.cli

Mac

brew install gh

First Time Setup

gh auth login

Follow all the prompts and I'd recommend setting SSH as auth method.

Set CLI to use SSH

If you forgot to set the protocol during the setup in gh auth login use this command to set it.

gh config set -h github.com git_protocol ssh

Set the Repo to use GH auth

Set the project repository for SSH auth

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:ChrisTitusTech/project.git

Using GitHub Desktop

There is nothing wrong with GitHub desktop and sometimes I use it when I'm reviewing my commits or pushes. It is a great graphical representation of how fetch/pull or commit/push work on GitHub. However, it is considerably slower, than just typing it in via terminal with a simple git push or git pull. This also blurs the lines between git add ., git commit -a -m "message", and git push when adding to a project.

Using GitHub properly

If you are anything like me, when I started using GitHub I did so many things incorrectly and still do today! However, I'm slowly seeing the error of my ways and these are the big things I missed.

Not combining git add, commit, and push

When I first started these three commands seemed like they all pretty much did the same thing. I JUST WANT TO ADD TO MY PROJECT! Why is it like this?

Then I started doing some collaborative work and realized I'm terrible and most other people are too on GitHub, because we are all doing it WRONG!

So how should we be using git?

COMMIT OFTEN and after every change in code

This should be everyone mantra, including me, but often I get caught up in my work and don't do it. So what is the big deal? Well, if you bundle a ton of different changes into one commit... you have to revert ALL those changes if you had one bad one. Breaking those up into different commits, you could just revert the bad code. That can literally save a project! I learned this when I bundled a ton of changes into my ArchTitus project and basically turned it into a spaghetti string of code that I hate looking at and debugging. To continue that project, I'd have to rebase and wipe out a ton of progress I've made and other people have contributed. This makes everyone mad and is simply not fun.

So follow that golden rule and realize you will fail at it, but realize your failures and do better the next time is how we elevate ourselves to the next level.

Quick Aliases

These are some quality of life improvements that will make using git from command line so much better.

I use bashrc these days and these are some aliases I added to my ~/.bashrc file.

gcom() {
 git add .
 git commit -m "$1"
 }
lazyg() {
 git add .
 git commit -m "$1"
 git push
}

Now in a perfect world I would be using gcom "commit message" several times a day and then finally using lazyg "last commit of the day" to push my changes public after I'm done. However, the world and myself are far from perfect, but understanding what perfection would look like will help you know when you aren't.

Helping Projects

A poorly documented issue is pointless and just gets closed in every project. Don't be that person! Document what you can and if you noticed a recent commit messed something up reference it by doing a copy paste of the Pull Request # like so. First, get to this screen by clicking "## commits" in top right of the project main page. Then copy the SHA from the "bad" commit.

From here, you simply make your issue and paste that long sha hash in where you want to reference it. Don't worry the numbers will be truncated and it will look awesome in the issue page.

Also make sure you don't just put a WALL OF TEXT! Try to make your issue readable by breaking up your issue if it is more than several sentences long. This just makes it more readable and make it as concise as possible.

Walkthrough Video

Should you switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The question isn't if you should switch, but if you CAN switch. Windows 11 does a lot of things right as most of it's systems are identical to 10. However, there are some drawbacks which we need to dive into.

Windows 11 Requirements

There are two issues with Windows 11 that will catch some older computers.

CPU Requirement: Intel 8th Generation and AMD 2nd Generation
UEFI Secure Boot with TPM 2.0 Chip

However, these requirements are artificial and can easily be bypassed. With these Steps:

Launch Command Prompt with Shift + F10
Type regedit and launch Reg Editor
Add the following KEY (folder) HKEY_Local_Machine -> System -> Setup --- Name the key MoSetup
Add the following Value (DWORD) Name = AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU Value = 1
Close Regedit and continue install

Why Upgrade

Here are the main reason to upgade to Windows 11. The Look

We can go round and round about the marketing of Microsoft and all the bullshit they like to say. However, at the end of the day if you want a new look and a cleaner looking OS... Windows 11 is it. The better sounds, rounded aesthetic, auto-hdr for games, and overall more cohesive visual experience is what Windows 11 does well.

What about all the other features Microsoft shills say are important and are NOT?

Performance - I have seen negligible performance gains and even worse performance in some instances
Widgets - This just reminds of Vista sidebar all over again. They are all sizzle and no steak.
Security - Another marketing ploy that promotes it being more secure. While technically true, it mainly applies to the startup of your pc with TPM and Secureboot. Which frankly, doesn't matter as I can easily crack your Windows security with it's terrible SAM file exploits that are well documented and present in Windows 11.
Teams colloboration - Just more pre-installed crap that you probably won't use.

These are all just meh points that I view the exact same as Windows 10.

Why NOT to Upgrade

Windows 11 may look objectively better, but there are also some downsides. Here are the big ones I hate.

Taskbar - It is just plain awful as it is based on a new UWP platform that isn't nearly as good as 10's taskbar. Also you can't move it to the left, right, or top like you can in 10.
Context Menu - The new look might look cleaner, but is far less functional. I'm working on a tweak to revert this back to the windows 10 menu
Changing Default Apps is awful in Windows 11. Everything is extension based now, where it is program based in Windows 10.
Windows 10 still has support until 2025, so don't be in a rush to switch.

Walkthrough Video

Laptop Power Management

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Power management is a critical thing to understand in laptops. It's possible to buy an expensive laptop and end up not using it because of bad power management practices.

Also, not taking care of the thermals on a laptop will lead to less laptop life, shorter battery, and unpleasant heat generation.

Cooling Pad

Get any cheap amazon cooling pad from amazon. Here is a decent $30 one with lots of reviews. https://amzn.to/3SV0Y0l

Redo Thermal Paste

By default, almost any and every laptop has excessive thermal compound which leads to higher temperatures. Simply removing the excess compound and apply just a drop of "good" thermal paste will drop temps by about 10 Celsius.

Here is an example of excess factory thermal compound application:

Adjust Max CPU Frequency

Set your CPU governor to the maximum power it can use. I NEVER use a 100% of the CPU and in most instances rarely break above 50% of its total power. Typically, around 2 GHz is perfect for my day-to-day work. When working on battery, I put this down to 25% on a beefy laptop to conserve most of its power. On weaker laptops, you'd probably double these numbers. 100% on AC Power and 50% on Battery.

Linux - cpupower

Required Dependencies

Install the following packages

cpupower
acpi-support
acpid
acpi

Example Install:

apt-get install acpi-support acpid acpi linux-cpupower cpufrequtils

Setting Min/Max Power Example

cpupower frequency-set -g powersave -d 0.8G -u 1.2G

Check Frequency

cpufreq-info

Disable Turbo

Turbo will draw more power and reduce battery life while increasing CPU temperature.

Run the following from a root user:

echo 1 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/intel_pstate/no_turbo

Turn off CPU Cores

The more CPU cores that your laptop uses, the power it will draw. On higher end laptops you can see as big as a 75% savings and extend the battery life x3.

Taking a CPU core offline (Note: you can't offline cpu0)

echo 0 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu#/online

To disable cores above 4 threads, run the following in a bash script:

for ((i=4;i<$(nproc);i++)); do echo 0 > /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu$i/online; done

Use CPULIMIT to Constrain Apps

Install

sudo apt install cpulimit

Adjust EXEC commands in .desktop

cpulimit --limit 70 /usr/bin/google-chrome-bin

Note: This would limit CPU usage for Google Chrome to 70%

Linux - adjust GPU power

There are two methods for adjusting the power usage your GPU uses. I personally use both depending on the laptop, but eGPU's will eat up a battery laptop in no time.

Manually adjust MHz of GPU

Set the following variables:

/sys/class/drm/card0/gt_max_freq_mhz
/sys/class/drm/card0/gt_boost_freq_mhz

Using cat to display current MHz and then simply echo the new lower value to these variables.

Example:

echo "1000" > /sys/class/drm/card0/gt_max_freq_mhz

Turning off GPU with Prime-select

While there are technically 3 options, I recommend only using NVIDIA and intel, as on-demand doesn't work very well.

Turning off GPU with Envycontrol

Cool python project that rebuilds the init system to exclude nvidia.

https://github.com/geminis3/EnvyControl

Windows - GUI Power Management

Launch the GUI power panel with Start ⇾ Run powercfg.cpl

Then change the Min / Max CPU Power. I typically set these to 5% Min and 50% Max, but on weaker laptops you can set these higher.

Windows - AutoHotkey Script

This script sets the max CPU state when plugged in to the wall (AC Power) and when it runs on battery (DC Power).

PowerWriteProcessorStateValueIndex(50, "AC")
PowerWriteProcessorStateValueIndex(25, "DC")
ExitApp

;---------------------
PowerWriteProcessorStateValueIndex(Max := "", Mode := "") {
 l:=PowerEnumeratePlans(ActivePlan), VarSetCapacity(GUID_ACTIVE_POWER_SAVING, 16, 0), VarSetCapacity(GUID_PROCESSOR_SETTINGS_SUBGROUP, 16, 0)
 , DllCall("Ole32.dll\CLSIDFromString", "WStr", "{" ActivePlan.GUID "}", "Ptr", &GUID_ACTIVE_POWER_SAVING), VarSetCapacity(GUID_PROCESSOR_THROTTLE_MAXIMUM, 16, 0)
 , DllCall("Ole32.dll\CLSIDFromString", "WStr", "{54533251-82be-4824-96c1-47b60b740d00}", "Ptr", &GUID_PROCESSOR_SETTINGS_SUBGROUP)
 , DllCall("Ole32.dll\CLSIDFromString", "WStr", "{BC5038F7-23E0-4960-96DA-33ABAF5935EC}", "Ptr", &GUID_PROCESSOR_THROTTLE_MAXIMUM)
 , DllCall("PowrProf.dll\PowerWrite" Mode "ValueIndex", "Ptr", 0, "Ptr", &GUID_ACTIVE_POWER_SAVING
 , "Ptr", &GUID_PROCESSOR_SETTINGS_SUBGROUP, "Ptr", &GUID_PROCESSOR_THROTTLE_MAXIMUM, "UInt", Max, "UInt")
 for k, v in l
  if !(v.Default) {
   RunWait, % ComSpec " /c powercfg /s " v.GUID,, Hide
   break
  } RunWait, % ComSpec " /c powercfg /s " ActivePlan.GUID,, Hide
}

;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

;enumerates all power plans
;for k, v in PowerEnumeratePlans()
; MsgBox % "#" k "`nGUID: " v.GUID "`Name: " v.Name "`nDefault?: " v.Default
PowerEnumeratePlans(ByRef ActivePlan := "") {
 List := {}
 for k, v in StrSplit(CMD("powercfg /l"), ":", A_Space A_Tab)
  if (A_Index>1) {
   Info := {}, Info.GUID := SubStr(Trim(v), 1, 36), Info.Default := !!InStr(v, "*")
   , Info.Name := Trim(StrSplit(SubStr(v, InStr(v, "(")+1), ")")[1]), List.Push(Info)
   if (Info.Default)
    ActivePlan := Info
  } return List
}

;executes cmd command and return the result
CMD(CMD := "", Encoding := "UTF-8", ByRef ExitCode := "") {
 DllCall("Kernel32.dll\CreatePipe", "PtrP", hReadPipe, "PtrP", hWritePipe, "Ptr", 0, "UInt", 0)
 , DllCall("Kernel32.dll\SetHandleInformation", "Ptr", hWritePipe, "UInt", 1, "UInt", 1)
 , Size := VarSetCapacity(STARTUPINFO, A_PtrSize=4?68:104, 0), NumPut(Size, STARTUPINFO, 0, "UInt")
    , NumPut(0x100, STARTUPINFO, A_PtrSize=4?44:60, "UInt"), NumPut(hStdInRd, STARTUPINFO, A_PtrSize=4?56:80, "Ptr")
    , NumPut(hWritePipe, STARTUPINFO, A_PtrSize=4?60:88, "Ptr"), NumPut(hWritePipe, STARTUPINFO, A_PtrSize=4?64:96, "Ptr")
 , pi := CreateProcess(, ComSpec " /c " CMD,,,, 0x08000000,,, &STARTUPINFO)
 , DllCall("Kernel32.dll\CloseHandle", "Ptr", hWritePipe), Size := VarSetCapacity(Buff, 4095)
 while DllCall("Kernel32.dll\ReadFile", "Ptr", hReadPipe, "Ptr", &Buff, "UInt", Size, "PtrP", Bytes, "Ptr", 0)
        OutputVar .= StrGet(&Buff, Bytes, Encoding)
 DllCall("Kernel32.dll\CloseHandle", "Ptr", pi.handle), DllCall("Kernel32.dll\CloseHandle", "Ptr", hReadPipe)
 return OutputVar, DllCall("Kernel32.dll\GetExitCodeProcess", "Ptr", pi.handle, "UIntP", ExitCode)
} CreateProcess(ApplicationName := "", ByRef CommandLine := "", ProcessAttributes := 0, ThreadAttributes := 0, InheritHandles := true, CreationFlags := 0x08000000, Environment := 0, CurrentDirectory := "", StartupInfo := 0) {
 VarSetCapacity(PROCESS_INFORMATION, A_PtrSize=4?16:24, 0)
 , r := DllCall("Kernel32.dll\CreateProcess", "Ptr", ApplicationName=""?0:&ApplicationName, "Ptr", CommandLine=""?0:&CommandLine
 , "Ptr", ProcessAttributes, "Ptr", ThreadAttributes, "Int", !!InheritHandles, "UInt", CreationFlags, "Ptr", Environment, "Ptr", CurrentDirectory=""?0:&CurrentDirectory
 , "Ptr", StartupInfo, "Ptr", &PROCESS_INFORMATION)
 return r?{HANDLE: NumGet(PROCESS_INFORMATION, 0, "Ptr"), hThread: NumGet(PROCESS_INFORMATION, A_PtrSize, "Ptr")
 , ID: NumGet(PROCESS_INFORMATION, A_PtrSize=4?8:16, "Ptr"), ThreadID: NumGet(PROCESS_INFORMATION, A_PtrSize=4?12:24, "Ptr")}:0, ErrorLevel := !r
}

Walkthrough Video

Is Windows Bad

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

It's what we know. Windows is a tool and has evolved over the years while dominating the PC Market since the 90s. So it begs the question, is it bad?

What it does well

There are certain things Windows does better than any other OS. The operating system itself has an amazing assortment of compatibility and gaming.

If you want to play the most software and games that works with all your hardware, Windows is your best bet and that isn't changing anytime soon.

Why use something else?

Let's say you don't mind some software or hardware not working or you want to pick out specific hardware to use on another operating system. What do you gain?

Better Security - Windows is know to be easily hackable, from the NSA tool leak in 2017, Ransomware, and out dated kernel design. Windows is an absolute security nightmare. Both Mac and Linux offer proper elevation support with a NIX design, while windows does not and relies on the tacked on UAC system.
Better Privacy - Windows has extremely egregious telemetry, but what information does Windows collect?

Type	Description
Hardware information	CPU speed, memory capacity, battery, HDD size.
Network Data	Adapter speed, WiFi Data, and Mobile data if SIM exists
Event Metrics	Basic pc events
State Changes	App uptime, CPU allocation to what app, and crashes
Accessory data	What you have connected to the PC
Microsoft Store Logs	Purchases, installs, updates, viewed, launched, etc.
In-depth system specs	Greater detail on hardware capabilities
App logs	How often you use what and how quick they are
Browser activity logs	Shows what sites you visit and what you searched for
Enhanced Error Reporting	Dumps entire memory and submits anything running.
Keylogging	provided by "Improve Inking and typing recognition"

More Consistency - One of the biggest issues Windows has is the rolling update cycle that tends to mess up computers. There are ways businesses tame this process and I've even shown how to have sane windows update settings, but the default configuration will typically land users in an undesirable place more often than not. Mac and Linux typically have much better update cycles and far fewer issues with system updates, and need fewer reboots.

The Microsoft HATE

This all doesn't sound too bad, most people don't care about privacy or security as they freely give it away on social media. See this image if you want a good laugh at how bad people are at these practices.

So why do people hate Microsoft and try to get away from Windows? The monopoly and absolute ruthless business model it has built over the past 30 years is something to marvel at.

Government Cooperation

It has grown so influential from its massive government lobby and has even an entire wing dedicated to working with governments. While some of this is bad, not all of it is. Their monitoring has helped stop some cyberattacks, like Ukraine cyber attacks in 2022 and this close partnership even had the NSA and FBI remotely hack into Microsoft exchange servers and patch the system. (source: https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2021/04/14/nsa-and-fbi-move-to-help-microsoft-with-its-exchange-server-vulnerabilities/)

The downside to this is when the NSA tools leaked in 2017 with blatant backdoors that spawned a massive ransomware attack around the world with EternalBlue exploit that then spawned a host of WannaCry ransomware payloads delivered to millions of computers. (source: https://www.wired.com/story/eternalblue-leaked-nsa-spy-tool-hacked-world/)

The Companies Microsoft Killed

"Embrace, extend, and extinguish" (EEE), also known as "embrace, extend, and exterminate", is a phrase that the U.S. Department of Justice found that was used internally by Microsoft... (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish)

They have successfully murdered companies and ruined countless lives while stifling innovation to get to where they are. Examples:

Browser incompatibilities: Netscape killed off and why we were plagued by the hellscape of Internet Exploader and ActiveX controls for almost a decade before Chrome came along.
Office: They purposely held back the API to make other competitors, like WordPerfect, able to succeed when they launched in Windows 98. With no documentation this ensured Microsoft Office had to be purchased and used by the world killing many competitors. They also did this by making Office documents render improperly in other browsers that weren't Internet Explorer.
Purposely breaking Java programs on other systems so they weren't cross-platform. They've settled with Sun for over 2 billion dollars in a lawsuit they lost back in 2002 and 20 million in 2001.
Why email sucks? Microsoft implemented MAPI protocol instead of using many common forms like SMTP, POP, or IMAP. On October 1st of 2022, they disabled the following protocols from Exchange Online: Outlook, EWS, RPS, POP, IMAP, and EAS and even SMTP gets disabled if not used.

So the hate comes from the world that never happened because of Microsoft's greed. The missed innovations, the companies that were forced to shutdown, and the lives that it destroyed, all to make the Microsoft monopoly.

Walkthrough Video

Disable Win Defender

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Windows Defender can be a massive drain on system performance and often can have a lot of false positives. While I recommend Anti-virus for most, I don't like having it enabled on my systems that aren't used for web browsing.

How Secure is Windows Defender

I often hear the phrase and have used the phrase "Windows Defender is good enough", but often get mistaken in to thinking Defender is a good Anti-Virus. For detection rates it is good, but for protection it is NOT! Why? Anyone with a little bit of knowledge knows how to disable it without the user even knowing it. The services, registry entries, and built-in windows policies are designed to make it easy for an administrator to disable it. Why does Microsoft make it so easy to disable it? Simple, Windows in business environments never use Defender and administrators need to disable it.

What are the methods to disable defender?

There are a multitude of ways to disable defender or render it useless. Most properly programmed viruses will utilize one or more of these methods below.

Windows Settings

Turn off Tamper Protection and Real-Time monitoring.

Registry

There are so many registry settings, but the main ones to focus on are below:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Features]
"MpPlatformKillbitsFromEngine"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"TamperProtectionSource"=dword:00000000
"MpCapability"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"TamperProtection"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender]
"PUAProtection"=dword:00000000
"DisableRoutinelyTakingAction"=dword:00000001
"ServiceKeepAlive"=dword:00000000
"AllowFastServiceStartup"=dword:00000000
"DisableLocalAdminMerge"=dword:00000001
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000001
"RandomizeScheduleTaskTimes"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Microsoft Antimalware]
"ServiceKeepAlive"=dword:00000000
"AllowFastServiceStartup"=dword:00000000
"DisableRoutinelyTakingAction"=dword:00000001
"DisableAntiSpyware"=dword:00000001
"DisableAntiVirus"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection]
"DisableRealtimeMonitoring"=dword:00000001
"DisableBehaviorMonitoring"=dword:00000001
"DisableOnAccessProtection"=dword:00000001
"DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable"=dword:00000001
"DisableIOAVProtection"=dword:00000001
"LocalSettingOverrideDisableOnAccessProtection"=dword:00000000
"LocalSettingOverrideRealtimeScanDirection"=dword:00000000
"LocalSettingOverrideDisableIOAVProtection"=dword:00000000
"LocalSettingOverrideDisableBehaviorMonitoring"=dword:00000000
"LocalSettingOverrideDisableIntrusionPreventionSystem"=dword:00000000
"LocalSettingOverrideDisableRealtimeMonitoring"=dword:00000000
"RealtimeScanDirection"=dword:00000002
"IOAVMaxSize"=dword:00000512
"DisableInformationProtectionControl"=dword:00000001
"DisableIntrusionPreventionSystem"=dword:00000001
"DisableRawWriteNotification"=dword:00000001

For a more comprehensive list check out: https://christitus.com/files/windefender_disable.reg

Services

List of Services Windows Defender uses and relies upon.

WdNisSvc
WdNisDrv
WdFilter
WdBoot
wcncsvc

Files

There are a ton of program files and logs for Windows Defender located at C:\Program Files\Windows Defender

Powershell

This can be used to do temporary disable parts or all of Defender as well. Here is some basic command I used and shared on Twitter:

GitHub Projects - CAUTION

Here are a couple GitHub projects that will completely destroy defender and when used improperly can even be used to deliver virus payloads onto systems

Walkthrough Video

Save HOURS of work with Regex

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

RegEx is a formidable tool that many just don't understand, but can save literally thousands of hours of work.

However, for many years I just couldn't be bothered to learn anything beside the basics .* or [a-z]. I just had a project pop up where I'd have to spend hours finding and replacing a complex markdown line I was using to pull images and a video link. The solution was painfully obvious... either I get better with RegEx or spend hours finding and replacing text in hundreds of posts.

Understanding RegEx

Learning all the syntax for RegEx is not happening for me and probably many others. There is a solution for this and you don't need to... https://regexr.com/

Now that you have an explainer of all the syntax and cheat sheet. We just need to know a few basic features of RegEx, so you can perfect the pattern that you need. Also, the need to understand groups and variables will make the find and replace much more powerful.

Making the Perfect Pattern

With our test example on regexr.com we can test our pattern to make sure we match exactly what we need. Now normally a guide would start talking about .* and other match characters, but frankly any site like regexr or regex101.com, will have those laid out for you.

Instead, let's talk about escaping characters and how to match weird expressions that have syntax like [,(,+,? and more. All these can really mess up matching your pattern. So you need to escape the with a \ before the symbol, so it would look something like this \[blah\] this is regex speak for [blah] the escaping character makes it actually register the bracket or parenthesis. Without it, it will probably just give you some syntax error.

The websites I gave above are perfect for pointing out flaws in your pattern or maybe you missed escaping that + sign or question mark. It's why having these syntax sites available is vital.

Selection Groups

Now that you understand how to match things with RegEx you can wipe out things with ease, but what about saving that bit of the match you need?

Example (I want to save youtube video id):

img.youtube.com/vi/0q3rGKIMZg

Using this Regex will clean it up and save the id using the selection group.

.*vi\/(.*)

This will match and SELECT everything after vi/ with (.*) in the string, where .*vi\/ matches img.youtube.com/vi/. The value 0q3rGKIMZg will be stored in $1 which is the first selection group. If you do multiple () selections the second one would be $2 and so on.

Example new format from old {{ youtube 0q3rGKIMZg }}

The replace field would simply be {{ youtube $1 }}

Walkthrough Video

Shrink VMWare VMDK File

Sat, 30 Jul 2022 18:40:50 GMT

This goes over reducing the size of a VMDK file using open-vm-tools and is used often in VMWare environments.

Tools Needed

I'd recommend VMWare Workstation Pro, but you can get away with just using player if you don't have a license.

Inside the Guest (Virtual Machine) you need to install open-vm-tools on Linux which should be in the base repository for most main distributions.

Shrinking VMDK

On Guest

These are done on the GUEST (Inside Virtual Machine)

vmware-toolbox-cmd disk shrink /

If you are want to shrink a Windows Guest you need to install VMWare-Tools inside the VM. After the tools are installed, simply click the following in VMWare Workstation VM Tab -> Manage -> Clean up Disks (Windows ONLY)

On Host

From inside your VMWare Workstation install you will find the following program vmware-vdiskmanager this is where we finalize the vmdk by defragmenting it and doing the final shrink.

Defrag

vmware-vdiskmanager.exe -d /path/to/shrink.vmdk

Final Shrink

vmware-vdiskmanager.exe -k /path/to/shrink.vmdk

Example

Still Too Big?

If it is still too large, you can simply export the VM to OVF format inside VMWare Workstation. This will create a new vmdk file that will be considerably smaller. OVF is pretty easy to move to VirtualBox and other VM platforms as well.

export to ovf

You are NOT safe in Windows

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 18:14:39 GMT

Thank you to all the Microsoft Windows users from all the Technicians that work on this operating system. Without your continued use, we wouldn't have jobs.

Why is Windows NOT secure?

Legacy systems and a fundamental flaw in system design. It is far to easy to get system level access through a variety of methods. Let's go over the systems that you can use to exploit a traditional Windows user, so you know what NOT to do.

PowerShell

Powershell is one of the most powerful tools in Windows, but it is at a cost. While it makes it incredibly easy to administrator and make modifications to massive amounts of systems quickly, it can be abused. Pretty much anything you want to do can be accomplished with Powershell. This is most evident in business systems where it is required to administer systems and even Office 365 in the cloud.

Task Scheduler

So many processes end up running at a system level in Task scheduler and something the core system relied heavily on. This can not be disabled and is always one of the biggest Achilles heels for Windows. I am often disabling tasks to debloat systems such as auto-submission tools Microsoft uses like Telemetry and even Defender bug reports.

Visual Basic - .vbs scripts

VBS scripts often provide a level of scripting that isn't possible with many other methods. While this is good in business, it is very bad for the end user. I designed a vbs script to migrate on-premises outlook mailboxes to O365 mailboxes so a thousand users wouldn't have to redownload all their emails. However this can easily be abused for those malicious actors out there. Be cautious of this loophole and any vbs script that runs on your system.

Group Policy

Again this is used in many pro+ systems and even if you aren't part of a domain can be abused by using gpedit.msc to create a local policy that can run scripts, lock user features, and much more. Home users typically don't have this functionally unless a hack is done.

If you want Group Polcy as a home user type the following in an elevated to Administrator prompt:

dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%servicingPackages{{PackageFileName}}**

Registry

So many things can be accomplished with the registry, such as auto login, and various hooks that can happen by just launching your web browser or windows explorer. Registry is basically the brain of windows and can be exploited easily to do pretty much anything.

How to protect yourself

I highly recommend hardening your system with just basic tools that do NOT run in the background, but disable many of the tools above. These tools are wonderful in the right hands, but world ending the wrong ones.

A simple free hardening tool on Github will disable many of these attack surfaces and do FAR more than any antivirus or internet security suite can, while also not adding ANY overhead or extra processes to your system.

HardenTools to disable services: https://github.com/securitywithoutborders/hardentools

Walkthrough Video

Why I Hate Windows Defender

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:36:33 GMT

Windows Defender is often seen as a good antivirus, but I want to inform you of a cost noone sees but developers because of Defender.

Is Windows Defender Good?

Yes. It does detect a ton of viruses and have good detection rates as long as you are online, since it relies heavily on its online connection. However, there is a dark side to having Microsoft control this entire part of your PC that we need to go over. The false positives are excessive and I believe it is by design.

The Mafia for Software Developers

Smartscreen is powered by Windows Defender and you have to buy a $300 A YEAR code signing license with Extended Validation to bypass it. The EV cert is close to the mafia extorting business users for "protection". If you don't use Defender, you don't need to worry about smartscreen. Using standard code signing with an external anti-virus will work close to the same as Defender is disabled when you use a 3rd party av.

Code Signing Cost

Cost for 1 year - prices as of 7/11/2022

Site	Extended Validation	Regular Validation
Comodo	$319	$85
Instant SSL	$299	$166
Sectigo	$399	$179
DigiCert	$566	$404

The big question is "Why does extended validation cost so much more?" and it is simply gatekeeping at its best. Many SSL companies will tell you it is because the "vetting process is harder", but I smell bullshit on that. It costs usually double and sometimes more. The only difference is it requires a hardware cryptographic key and Microsoft smartscreen immediately gives it a pass on all scans.

Extended Validation	Regular Validation
Hardware Key	Software Key
Smartscreen Bypassed	Smartscreen Error

I can't find anything in regards to who is really profiting the most of the Extended Validation code signing and if Microsoft is getting a cut since it is basically the only reason to have one. However, the entire situation is a bit suspect and any development person I know loath the process that Extended Validation is.

Free Anti-Virus Alternatives

Is there something better than windows defender that is free? I'd say BitDefender Free offers superior protection.

This is a drastic shift in recommendation for me, because I used to say "All Free AV is worthless", but now I see this from a different angle. Don't get me wrong most FREE antivirus is glorified advertising for a paid product that essentially does the same thing. After looking at all the free offerings, I'd say BitDefender Free is better than using Defender.

Paid Anti-Virus

For those that want good detection rates, better privacy, and low overhead. The antivirus I have recommend has stayed the same for years. I recommend ESET for this because it is a proven antivirus that isn't as intrusive as the others.

Walkthrough Video

Is Antivirus Worthless?

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 21:44:33 GMT

To many advanced users, Antivirus IS worthless. That is because it uses system resources and provides more annoyances than benefits. However, for many users it is required as they will not know what is a virus or not.

How to Scan

The biggest issue with antivirus is some show false positives and others show nothing when it is a virus. So what is the best way to scan?

https://virustotal.com is my recommendation. It will help you determine if that exe or zip file you just downloaded from a shady source is infected. This will do a far better job than an individual antivirus scans, since virustotal is an aggregate and uses antivirus engines for EVERY major antivirus.

What not to do

Downloading free antivirus is terrible and typically you will be giving away your privacy as they will be submitting the URLs you visit in many free packages, like Kasperky Cloud Free. Avast and AVG on the other hand you will be inidated with popups and upsells to a bloated internet security suite that does nothing but slow your computer down. I've also seen people install multiple AntiVirus programs, which just slows down a PC considerably while providing little to no extra protection.

So Never do any of these things!

Download FREE AntiVirus
Install, Buy, or Download ANY Internet Security Suite
Installing multiple AntiVirus programs

False Positives

I've been giving out an exe file for my Debloat Utility to anyone that pays $5 on cttstore.com to help fund its future development. However, since it is a free and open source project that is a PowerShell script that gets converted to EXE it has caused MANY false positives. The reason is many Antivirus companies are lazy and block EVERY powershell script that is converted to EXE. Microsoft, AVG, Avast, etc. which you can see below.

PowerShell to EXE Disclaimer

VirusTotal Result from PowerShell Script to EXE

Obviously with false positives there are times where AntiVirus programs completely miss viruses. How does this happen and how I changed the exe to bypass antivirus programs. There are two methods I've used to reduce or even completely remove antivirus scans.

Code Signed EXEs have less false positives

Code Signing is the practice of using cryptographic keys to sign EXE files like below.

Good antivirus programs will NOT flag my EXE when I used a code signing key. However, if I don't sign the EXE it will flag it as a virus. So, why doesn't everyone use a code signing key? It's expensive. Roughly it is $100 a year for the "basic" code signing and to bypass Microsoft SmartScreen for "enhanced" code signing it will set you back almost $275 a year. Feels kinda like extortion, but I can appreciate that I now have a digital signature for my exe so folks know it came from me.

Let's move on to the easiest way to obscure your exe to bypass Antivirus.

Encrypted Files can not be scanned for viruses

Simply created an encrypted file will bypass any scans. I find the easiest way to do this is using 7-zip with SHA256 encryptioon and a password. This is how I distribute my EXE now so I don't have to worry about antiviruses. So, be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when opening files with passwords, as your antivirus can not scan it. If you do not trust the source you downloaded it... DO NOT OPEN IT!

Here is an example of a encrypted file:

Recommended AntiVirus

If you don't want to spend any money then simply use Microsoft's Defender. Its decent with it's cloud protection and is already baked into Windows. Its detection rates are passable and has a small system impact.

The biggest factors to look at when considering antivirus is System Impact and History/Detection Rates.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus is the best I've found. They were one of the original antivirus programs with NOD32's creation in 1987 and ESET being founded by the developers of NOD32 in 1992. The basic antivirus is fast has very little passive performance loss and fantastic detection rates. I recommend just doing the basic NOD32 Antivirus

Walkthrough Video

Future Internet

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 20:07:10 GMT

Renewing website domains, paying for web hosting, and having them expire are all going to be a thing of the past. Using IPFS (Inter-planetary File System) is a way to store websites decentralized and without any money. How fast or how slow it will be, is determined by how popular it is with IPFS nodes. This guide shows how to host a website, owning a web domain forever, and redirecting these domains to traditional website hosts.

IPFS - A Better Storage System

IPFS is absolutely amazing as you can run a node on anything and share your files. If they are used by other people then they will populate to their nodes and I've shared and used video files over 1 GB in size! The main issue is there isn't many browsers that support IPFS and it is slower than normal storage right now. However, you never have to worry about hosting costs and as long as the content is accessed by others on a regular basis it will live forever!

Improving IPFS in Brave Browser

I highly recommend using IPFS Companion if you plan on doing this regularly. You don't have to run your own node, but can that is up to you. Using this add-on will help resolve IPFS addresses much faster even in Gateway only mode.

Enable IPFS Companion Extension

https://docs.ipfs.io/install/ipfs-companion/

After installing IPFS Companion change the following brave settings under Settings -> IPFS

Enable IPFS Public Gateway Fallback (Not Required, but recommended)
Enable IPFS Companion

Enable Blockchain domains - The Unstoppable Domains extension (In the future, this should be baked into many browsers. Brave natively supports .crypto)

https://unstoppabledomains.com/extension

Blockchains - Not all created equal

The technology powering blockchains are amazing, but most just care about the monetary gain. I'm more interested in actually using the blockchain and where all the meta data lives for decentralized web or Web3. So what blockchains have I used for this? Lets review:

Ethereum was one of the original ones that is incredible slow and expensive. I feel like this has turned from a usable blockchain into something only millionaires can use. Maybe this will change in the future, but right now it isn't usable because of the cost to submit transactions. ENS Domains uses ethereum.
Polygon is a bridge blockchain that drastically improves upon what ethereum started. Fees are non-existent and is very functional. Transfer times are generally about a minute. This is currently what unstoppable domains uses.
Solana is not something I recommend, but is considered the fastest blockchain out there. However, It has crashed multiple times and halted completely. I am also skeptical that is even decentralized with the problems it has had. It is very easy to work on and something to watch.
Cardano is probably my favorite out of all these blockchains for the future. It is very decentralized, transactions can be as fast as 20 seconds and up to a couple minutes. Its roadmap is probably the most promising blockchain with future transactions hitting upwards of 10,000+ transactions per second in a decentralized format. Another possible chain that can be used in the future.

Buying Websites Forever

Currently ens domains requires renewing websites, while unstoppable domains provides them forever. This entire space is exploding, so getting a good name is becoming more and more difficult just like the traditional web. There is a very healthy resale market on Opensea.io that folks are using to squat or resell domains purchased through unstoppable domains. If adoption keeps moving this direction, we will soon see some pretty ridiculous prices on domain names. Buying direct from unstoppable domains ranges from $10 to $100 per domain name, depending on domain ending.

Here is discount link for unstoppable if you are interested in picking up a domain: https://unstoppabledomains.pxf.io/MX3zVM

Uploading Static Sites

Hosting your website through unstoppable domains is pretty easy, but just know you are limited on size if using their uploader. They have a 20 MB Limit!

So for large static sites, simply put them all on a IPFS node local or remote and copy the IPFS hash into unstoppable domains to host ANY size of website.

I personally build my entire static site using hugo because its free / open source. You can then simply upload to IPFS the entire /public folder once you do this. If you are going to go this route, I'd recommend hosting an IPFS node so you can avoid the upload process entirely!

Redirect to Traditional Website

The simplist way to do this is with a meta redirect using a standard index.html (PLAIN TEXT ONLY!)

index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>HTML Meta Tag</title>
    <meta http-equiv = "refresh" content = "1; url = YOUR WEBSITE URL HERE" />
  </head>
  <body>
      <p>YOUR WEBSITE DESCRIPTION HERE </p>
  </body>
</html>

Walkthrough Video

The Ultimate Windows Utility

Fri, 13 May 2022 18:07:19 GMT

Refined over years, this utility goes beyond debloating Windows:

Install and update hundreds of apps via WinGet with a single click
Apply safe, practical tweaks for performance and privacy
Use proven Windows Update presets used in business environments
Build a custom debloated Windows 11 ISO with Win11 Creator
Automate your setup across multiple PCs

One Command - Download and Usage

Run in an elevated PowerShell (Run as Administrator):

irm christitus.com/win | iex

Want the Offline EXE? Get It at cttstore.com

The online command always pulls the latest release straight from GitHub — but if you need more flexibility, the offline EXE from cttstore.com is the better option:

No internet required — run it on air-gapped machines, work environments, or anywhere without reliable connectivity
Works online too — fully functional on internet-connected machines just like the PowerShell command
No PowerShell execution policy headaches — just double-click and run as Administrator
Portable — copy it to a USB drive and carry your Windows setup toolkit everywhere
Supports the project — purchasing the EXE directly funds continued development and new features

If you find yourself setting up Windows machines regularly, the EXE pays for itself in convenience alone.

Full documentation is available at winutil.christitus.com.

Utility Tabs

Install
Tweaks
Config (Features & Legacy Panels)
Updates
Win11 Creator

Install

Uses WinGet to install, upgrade, or uninstall hundreds of popular applications without hunting for download links or dealing with installer bloat.

Key features:

Install/Upgrade Selected — installs programs not yet on your system; upgrades those that are
Upgrade All — updates every installed app in one click
Uninstall — removes selected apps cleanly
Get Installed — queries your system and shows what's already installed
Clear Selection — resets your checkboxes
Search — press Ctrl+F to filter the app list as you type

Tweaks

The heart of the utility. All tweaks are reversible — a System Restore Point is created automatically before anything is applied.

Essential Tweaks

Safe optimizations recommended for most users. These improve performance, reduce telemetry, and trim unnecessary background activity without risking stability. Start here before touching anything else.

Advanced Tweaks (CAUTION)

For power users who understand the implications. These make deeper OS-level changes and carry a higher risk of side effects. Do not apply them blindly.

O&O ShutUp10++

Launch O&O ShutUp10++ directly from Winutil — a free privacy tool that lets you fine-tune telemetry, update behavior, and app permission settings with a detailed GUI.

DNS

Switch your DNS provider from within Winutil. Available options include:

Default / DHCP
Google, Cloudflare, Cloudflare (malware blocking), Cloudflare (malware + adult content)
OpenDNS, Quad9
AdGuard (ads + trackers), AdGuard (ads + trackers + malware + adult content)

Both IPv4 and IPv6 are configured automatically.

Customize Preferences

Toggle visual and functional Windows settings to match your preferences.

Performance Plans

Add and activate the Ultimate Performance power plan to minimize latency and maximize efficiency, or revert to the Balanced profile when you don't need it.

Reverting Tweaks

Undo Selected Tweaks — reverts only what you chose
System Restore — roll back to the restore point Winutil created before tweaks ran

Config (Features & Fixes)

Windows Features

Enable optional Windows components with a checkbox and a single click:

All .NET Frameworks (2, 3, 4)
Hyper-V Virtualization
Legacy Media (Windows Media Player, DirectPlay)
NFS — Network File System
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Windows Sandbox
Enable Legacy F8 Boot Recovery
Enable Daily Registry Backup (12:30 AM)

Fixes

One-click repairs for common system problems:

Fix	What It Does
Set Up Autologin	Configures automatic login for the current user
Reset Windows Update	Re-registers update DLLs and restarts update services
Reset Network	Runs `netsh int ip reset` and `netsh winsock reset` to restore the network stack
System Corruption Scan	Runs `sfc /scannow` and `DISM /RestoreHealth`
WinGet Reinstall	Restores WinGet if installs or uninstalls start failing

Legacy Windows Panels

Open classic Windows control panels that are faster and more feature-rich than the modern Settings app:

Control Panel
Network Connections
Power Panel
Region
Sound Settings
System Properties
User Accounts

Remote Access

Enable an OpenSSH server on your Windows machine for remote access without third-party software.

Updates

Three update modes to match your risk tolerance:

Mode	What It Does
Default	Restores standard Windows Update behavior (out-of-box settings)
Security (Recommended)	Delays feature updates by 365 days; delays security updates by 4 days to catch bad patches before they hit your machine
Disable ALL Updates	Turns off all updates entirely — only for isolated or special-purpose systems. Leaves the system without security patches. Use the Default button to restore.

Win11 Creator

Win11 Creator takes an official Windows 11 ISO and produces a customized, debloated version — removing AI features, telemetry, and pre-installed apps while maintaining full program compatibility. Export the result as a new ISO or write it directly to a USB drive.

You need an official Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft's website before starting. Requires ~10–15 GB of temporary disk space.

What it removes and changes

App & Component Removal:

40+ bloat apps removed — Clipchamp, Teams, Copilot, Dev Home, new Outlook, Bing apps, Solitaire, and more
OneDrive setup deleted from the image
Unused Windows editions stripped (saves 1–2 GB per removed edition)
Component store cleaned via DISM (reclaims 300–800 MB)

System Customization:

Hardware requirement checks bypassed — installs on machines without TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, or supported CPUs
Local account setup enabled — skips the Microsoft account screen during OOBE
BitLocker and device encryption disabled
Chat icon removed from taskbar
Dark mode enabled by default
Empty taskbar and Start Menu — no pinned apps

Privacy & Telemetry:

Advertising ID, tailored experiences, input personalization, and speech online privacy disabled
Cloud content features, app suggestions, and Microsoft Store recommendations disabled
Telemetry scheduled tasks removed (CEIP, Appraiser, WaaSMedic, and others)
Copilot and search box suggestions disabled
DevHome, new Outlook, and Teams auto-installation blocked
Windows Update disabled during OOBE (re-enabled automatically on first login)

Optional: Driver Injection — injects all drivers from your current system into the install image, useful for offline installations on machines with missing drivers.

Steps

Select ISO — browse to your official Windows 11 ISO (4 GB+)
Mount & Verify — Winutil mounts and validates the image, then lets you pick the edition (Pro selected by default)
Run Modification — starts the customization process (10–30 minutes depending on disk speed)
Export — save as a new ISO file or write directly to a USB drive
Clean Up (optional) — delete the temporary working directory (~10–15 GB)

Typical output ISO size: 2.5–3.5 GB (down from 5–6 GB original).

Automation

Winutil configurations can be exported and reused to apply the same setup across multiple machines — ideal for labs, workstations, or personal reinstalls.

Export a config:

Open Winutil
Click the gear icon (top-right corner)
Choose Export and save the JSON file

Apply the config on another machine:

& ([ScriptBlock]::Create((irm "https://christitus.com/win"))) -Config "C:\Path\To\Config.json" -Run

Run this in an elevated PowerShell session.

Demonstration Videos

My Obsidian Setup

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 13:32:54 GMT

Notes are vital to our productivity but often people either take too many notes or none at all. I sought to fix this by using a simplistic approach in the Obsidian app. I've tried notion and a variety of other offerings that always fell flat. Let me show you how I set this app for maximum productivity.

Install Plugins

Open Obsidian Settings

Template (Core)
Kanban
Dataview (Progress Bar)
Homepage

Template Core Plugin

Make Template folder in file view
Set Template Folder under Template in Obsidian settings

Kanban Plugin

Click on settings cog for your board

NOT the settings for the obsidian program

Set your default template, Note folder to put new files in, and lane width.

Note: I recommend leaving 270 width for 1080p screens

Homepage Plugin

Adds Home button and just makes it easy to always get back to your kanban to-do page. The homepage button my default will close all open notes and open the to-do or what ever note you specify. Here are my settings:

Dataview Plugin

This is for progress bar, or if you want to do filters, tags, yaml headers, and other sorting techniques. It does WAY more than I use it for at the moment. Since I'm limiting my notes to maybe 10-20 notes I don't need the other stuff, but it is there incase I expand. For now, I will use the following code in my templates to add a progress bar that tracks any checkboxes and how many are checked compared to total.

`="![progress](https://progress-bar.dev/" + round(length(filter(this.file.tasks.completed, (t) => t = true)) / length(this.file.tasks.text) * 100) + "/)"`

Walkthrough Video

Robocopy - Copying files the right way in Windows

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 23:39:34 GMT

This guide shows how to copy files in windows when dealing with large volumes of files and very long file paths past 255 characters.

What is Robocopy and Why use it?

Robocopy is a build in command line program that is fantastic at copying files quickly and bypasses many of the downsides of the standard copy process of windows.

The downsides of Window's standard file copy are:

Has to read ALL files being copied BEFORE it will copy the first file
Artificial character limit of 255 that includes the filename and filepath.
GUI limitations for LARGE amounts of files.

How to use Robocopy

Launch into the Command Prompt or Powershell by right-clicking Start Menu

From this interface you can now run Robocopy.

Basic Syntax:

C:\> robocopy "Source Directory" "Destination Directory" /e /w:5 /r:2 /COPY:DATSOU /DCOPY:DAT /MT

Full syntax can be shown with robocopy /? but be careful with /MIR and move style copies as this can overwrite and erase existing files in the destination directory.

Notable Options with Robocopy

/e - Copy all folders including empty ones
/r - Retry times /r:0 means no retry on failed copy
/w - Wait time /w:0 means no wait between retry on failed copy
/COPYALL OR /COPY:DATSOU - Copy Data, Attributes, Timestamps, Security, Owner, and Auditing Info for files
/DCOPY:DAT - Copy Data,Attributes and Timestamps for Directories (Other Options are E=EAs-Extended Attributes, X=Skip alt data streams, but are almost never used)
/MT:n - Multithread transfer with n threads. Example /MT:4 - Use 4 threads to copy files. If no threads set, it will default to 8.
/MIR - Mirror Source to Destination - WARNING: WILL DELETE ANY FILES THAT DO NOT MATCH IN DESTINATION!
/MOVE - Moves from Source to Destination - WARNING: WILL DELETE ALL FILES FROM SOURCE AFTER COPY!
/LFSM:100M - Operate in Low Free Space Mode with 100 Megabytes. 10M = 10 Megabytes 1G = 1 Gigabyte
/B - Backup Mode - Great for system backups if you are part of Administrator or Backup Users group - NOT RECOMMENDED - Use 3rd party backup software
/ZB - Restartable Backup Mode - Tries to copy files with restartable and if it fails it restarts in backup mode - NOT RECOMMENDED - Use 3rd party backup software
/RH:1700-0900 - Scheduled run between 5PM and 9AM and will pause if it is during "business hours of 9AM-5PM"
/LOG+:C:\robocopy.log - Outputs everything to C:\robocopy.log (Note: if NOT running as admin you need to put this in your user folder C:\Users\username\robocopy.log) the + adds to the file.
/TEE - If using LOG and you also want console output, put the /TEE option in.

I don't recommend using backup, restartable mode, or jobs. Jobs typically miss options and 3rd party solution like veeam are FAR better for backups than robocopy EVER will be.

Walkthrough Video

Uninstall Microsoft Edge

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:55:48 GMT

This goes over Removing Microsoft Edge Chromium edition and keeping it removed.

The Problem

Microsoft Edge has taken over PDF viewer, and other default web tasks. Even when manually removing it will reinstall via windows updates.

Removing the Base Install

We first need to find the Edge install of the chromium edition in your Program Files.

Location:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\

The setup program is what we need to uninstall edge. Go to the location above and drill down from the number and Install folder

Example:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\92.0.902.62\Installer

Once you find your path you can now uninstall edge with the following command (Note: YOURS WILL BE DIFFERENT!)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\92.0.902.62\Installer\setup.exe --uninstall --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall

Keep it from coming back... for now

You now need to add a registry entry. The following location Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate needs to be added with a DWORD called DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium with a value of 1.

You can do this with a simply reg file. (stopedge.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\EdgeUpdate]
"DoNotUpdateToEdgeWithChromium"=dword:00000001

Create this file or download the file @ https://christitus.com/files/stopedge.zip

Run this to prevent edge reinstallation. Note: Microsoft will kill this workaround in the future and force edge on you

Update Any PC to Windows 11

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 16:21:54 GMT

This is a guide going over updating any PC to Windows 11 that "doesn't meet requirements" or doesn't use Secure Boot or has a TPM 2.0 chip.

Methods

Download appraiserres.dll from Windows 10 install and replace this file in the Windows 11 Sources directory (Windows 11 ISO required)
Use Registry edits below to upgrade your PC in the insider channel. This will be patched out before official release. Video showing regedit: https://youtu.be/fk5B-a7vZ_w
Bypass the requirement prompt by using Command Prompt. Here is a video showing fresh install: https://youtu.be/wK40EFgzmqM

Upgrade Path

The path for upgrading to 11 requires you to have an activated Windows 10 PC and be subscribed to the insider builds.

Insider builds can be registerd for use @ https://insider.windows.com/

System Modifications

Windows 11 does checks for TPM and Secure boot before it allows the upgrade process to start. However, these can be bypassed.

Note: It is important to understand Microsoft can at ANY TIME enforce these rules or ignore these modifications which means you would NO LONGER recieve updates

Here is the registry edits that need to be made: (win11bypass.reg)

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\LabConfig]
"BypassTPMCheck"=dword:00000001
"BypassSecureBootCheck"=dword:00000001

Download Reg File here: https://christitus.com/files/win11bypass.zip

REBOOT AFTER MODIFICATIONS MADE

Upgrade

Now you can simply finish your insider build sign up and then click update

Once it finishes updating you should see a screen to update to the latest Windows 11 build (22000.52) or Greater

Ultimate Windows 10 Install ISO

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:23:43 GMT

This goes over creating the best installation media possible for a fresh Windows 10

Downloading Windows 10 ISO

I only use official Microsoft sources for Windows installation. At the time of the writing the following link is where I'd download either the ISO directly or the media creation tool that you select ISO on.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Mounting and Modifying the ISO

Using MSMG Toolkit

Download MSMG Toolkit from their website.

https://msmgtoolkit.in/download.html

Expand and Mount Windows

From the Source menu select expand and then mount in MSMG Toolkit. Below is a full video where I use MSMG toolkit to remove many components in Win10.

How to Make a Custom Windows 10 ISO with MSMG Toolkit Video

Install Drivers

Download and extract your drivers with the following Powershell command:

DISM.exe /Online /Export-Driver /Destination:%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Downloads\Drivers

You can install ANY inf files to the below directories. EXE and Setup files DO NOT WORK!

If you want to install EVERY DRIVER IN EXISTENCE... download the offline files using https://sdi-tool.org/ and go into the drivers directory and extract all of the 7z files. This will be time intensive and require about 60 GB or more for the install media

Put the inf and driver x64 files here: ToolKit_Directory\Drivers\Install\w10\x64
Put the inf and driver x86 files here: ToolKit_Directory\Drivers\Install\w10\x86 Note: Most people don't do 32-bit installs and can skip this

Other notable tools: 3DP Chip Network Drivers https://www.3dpchip.com/3dpchip/3dp/net_down_en.php - This installs pretty much any network driver on the fly.

Install Updates

Download the Windows updates from the Official Microsoft Catalog. We need two specific updates that cover most of the big updates missing from our ISO download.

Servicing Stack Update https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Servicing Stack Update Windows 10
Cumulative Update https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Cumulative Update Windows 10

Note: Be sure and download your version 20H2, 2009, 1909, etc. and x64 architecture for most computers

Put these in ToolKit_Directory\Updates\w10\x64

Create the ISO

Make Autounattend.xml

Now let's make it so we will automatically install Windows 10 without answering a bunch of questions. I use a cheatsheet where it just makes it for me from: https://www.windowsafg.com/win10x86_x64.html

Fill out the form and then click download at the bottom of the page.

Apply Changes and Exit MSMG Toolkit

Select the Apply Changes option and exit MSMG Toolkit. We aren't done as we need to implement the autounattend.xml file into the ISO and add any extra tools we want. This can be the Network Driver EXE or any other executable you want. Another good example would be the nVidia Geforce Experience.

Mount ISO and Copy Files

Mount the completed ISO file. (Right-Click the Windows10.ISO file and select mount)

Windows 10 Optimization Guide

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 20:34:52 GMT

This guide goes over using a Custom ISO, Removing Windows 10 Components, and Optimizing Windows 10 Settings.

Custom ISO

The whole purpose of a custom ISO is to make the initial install as slim as possible. You don't have to uninstall bloat if it never gets installed to begin with!

Easiest Method NTLite ($30) - https://www.ntlite.com/

Free Method MSMG Toolkit - https://msmgtoolkit.in/

How to Make a Custom Windows 10 ISO with MSMG Toolkit Video

Microsoft Method for Custom ISO (Advanced Users Only)

Downloading in Installing ADK (Microsoft Image Tools) https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install Using sysprep from Microsoft https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/sysprep--generalize--a-windows-installation

I highly recommend a video by Craft Computing going over Windows Deployment Services if you are interested in this method - https://youtu.be/PdKMiFKGQuc

Installing Windows 10 and Removing Components

The Full AME Experience. Most people will NOT want to do this as it will remove functionality from Windows 10, that you CAN NOT put back in. Some of the components can be taken out in the Custom ISO phase, but this takes it to another level.

Note: I do NOT recommend this for MOST machines

Components Removed

Windows Update
Windows Store
Media Player Functions
Telemetry
Windows Activation (YOU MUST Activate Windows Before this Tweak!) If you fail to do this, you will have a watermark you can't get rid of
DirectX 12

The AME project now lives at https://amelabs.net/. The old GitHub mirror has been retired.

Installation Overview

Install Windows 10 (Stock or Custom ISO)
Activate Windows 10 and Disconnect from Internet afterwards
Run amelioration_2004.bat as Admin and Pre-Amelioration
Reboot to Linux (I recommend Linux Mint)
Run sudo ./ameliorate_2004.sh in Terminal on Live Linux USB
Reboot back to Windows
Run amelioration_2004.bat as Admin and Post-Amelioration

Driver Installation

Recommend using the Offline Snappy Driver Installer https://sdi-tool.org/. This is about 50 GB, but has every driver you need.

AME Step-by-Step Documentation

https://docs.ameliorated.io/

Running Updates

Download Latest Servicing Stack Update (Check Month - Windows verison- Architecture x64) https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Servicing Stack Update Windows 10
Download Cumulative Update (Check Month/Version/Arch AND Run After rebooting above) https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Cumulative Update Windows 10

Extract Updates
expand -F:* .\Windows10SSU.msu C:\Update1
dism /online /add-package /packagepath=C:\1\Windows10.0-SSU.cab
Reboot
expand -F:* .\Windows10Cumulative.msu C:\Update2
dism /online /add-package /packagepath=C:\2\Windows10.0-Cumulative.cab
Reboot and Run
dism /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

Note: File Names change and will be different from above!

Optimizing Windows 10 Settings

To finish things off we do some custom tweaks with the Official CTT Windows 10 Toolbox. This is something I have been customizing for years and refining every single month to work on any Windows 10 Installation.

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ8R4'))

What this script can do

Installs Chocolatey, Notepad++, Irfanview, VLC, Java, and asks if you want Adobe Reader or Brave.
Removes all Windows Store Apps EXCEPT office, xbox, and WSL.
Removed Telemetry
Disables Cortana
Deletes various schedules tasks that rebloat the system
Removes Other Bloatware (Candy Crush, etc.)
Fixes problems that other scripts causes (lock screen and personalization options restricted)

Based on User feedback, this no longer uninstalls OneDrive or Office.

Toolbox Walkthrough Video

Windows Services to Disable

Windows Defender & Firewall
Windows Mobile Hotspot Service
Bluetooth Support Service
Print Spooler (Required for Printing)
Fax
Remote Desktop Configuration and Remote Desktop Services
Windows Insider Service
Secondary Logon
Downloaded Maps Manager
Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service
Offline Files
Windows Connect Now
Remote Registry
Application Layer Gateway Service
Smart Card
Windows Image Acquisition
Security Center
Connected User Experiences and Telemetry
Retail Demo Service
Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service
AllJoyn Router Service
Geolocation Service
Windows Biometric Service (Required for Fingerprint logon)
Program Compatibility Assistant Service
Enterprise App Management Service

2020 Buyers Guide

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 19:46:56 GMT

Looking for a Tech Gift this holiday season? Here are the things I have my eye on and are worth considering.

Amazon Fire Tablet

7" https://amzn.to/2UzZZ8T
10" https://amzn.to/35H7Yax

Video Overview on how to debloat: https://youtu.be/yLoymK65dJE

Cell Phones

Google 4a - $350 - https://amzn.to/2IKfTLr
PinePhone - $200 - https://www.pine64.org/pinephone/
XDA Pro1-X - $639 - https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pro1-x-smartphone-functionality-choice-control

Both PinePhone and XDA Pro1-X are Linux phones and may not be practical for everyday use unless you load Lineage or a solid mobile OS on it, but man are they fun to play with.

Google 4a is the practical choice and is a rock solid phone that comes unlocked to where you can wipe out Google and move to Lineage for those security and privacy oriented folks. This is the best value in my opinion.

Monitors

Cheap Spectre Monitors - https://amzn.to/3pxmv0l - Prices range from $80 to $250
BenQ High-End Monitors - https://amzn.to/2K9wxV0 - Prices range from $300 to $450
Current Gaming Monitor Pick - BenQ ZOWIE 24" 144Hz - $199 - https://amzn.to/32VJ05h

Peripherals

Razer Cynosa Lite - $40 - https://amzn.to/3f6ZfS1
Razer DeathAdder Essential Mouse - $30 - https://amzn.to/3lGFAe9

Why Razer? Did they pay me or something? Nope!
Razer has a bunch of cool features, but also has a great open source project called OpenRazer https://openrazer.github.io/ for any operating system. You can do all kinds of fun macros with them and I picked these two above because they are rather quiet and I hate noise. Most people would prefer a full mechanical and if you are interested in this check out the project above and pick a compatible device for your needs!

Logitech Options

MK545 Keyboard and Mouse Combo from Logitech - $50 - https://amzn.to/3pEPSxO

3 Device Switching Keyboard and Mouse

M720 Logitech M720 Wireless Triathlon Mouse $30 - https://amzn.to/3fseOUu
Logitech K780 Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard $100 - https://amzn.to/33bKBUO

TitusPi

Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Kit - $105 - https://amzn.to/2K7CuBR
Raspberry Pi 4 Image - Build it yourself with https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/TitusPi

Audio/Video Production Stuff

Here is Equipment I use for A/V and recommend to others. Below is a video going over my entire studio setup, but I left out the impractical gear that many wouldn't want.

Camera - M200 - $550 - https://amzn.to/32T9qEU
Camera Lens - Canon 22M 2.0 - $200 - https://amzn.to/3pzW0r0
Microphone - Rode VideoMicro - $60 - https://amzn.to/2IBn093
Capture Card - Magewell - $900 - https://amzn.to/3pFZiZJ
StreamDeck - Button Macros - $150
- Streamdeck_ui Open Source Project https://timothycrosley.github.io/streamdeck-ui/
Microphone Standalone - Shure MV7 - $250 - https://amzn.to/3kGstbi

Computers and Graphics Cards

Good Luck! All the stock out there is way out of date and any of the new hotness is Out of Stock. Wait til 2021!

But... If you want to see something cool for a laptop in 2020, check out this "little" machine. https://kfocus.org/ #NotSponsored

Common Computer Issues

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:42:25 GMT

These are all the issues we discussed on a live stream. I took all the community questions and made this webpage for them.

Windows 10 - Automated Tasks

Q: How can I make a YouTube video sit there paused on someone's screen in Windows 10 and instantly start playing aloud upon unlocking the screen/waking from sleep?

A: Task Scheduler can do all sorts of tasks and you can set the triggers to be on login or at certain times of the day.

Linux - Display Issues

Solution for Display constantly resetting or getting incorrectly configured

3 Solutions (All will work)

Xorg Custom Settings
- When display render is launched it will automatically configure each display to these specification from /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-monitor.conf
Section "Monitor"
### Monitor Identity - Typically HDMI-0 or DisplayPort-0
    Identifier    "HDMI1" 
    Option        "PreferredMode" "1920x1080"
    Option        "TargetRefresh" "60"

### Positioning the Monitor
## Basic
    Option "LeftOf or RightOf or Above or Below" "DisplayPort-0"    
## Advanced
    Option        "Position" "1680 0" #Note you can always set both to 0 0 to mirror
## Disable a Monitor
     Option        "Disable" "true"
EndSection

Autorandr - Automatic monitor settings
- https://github.com/phillipberndt/autorandr - This automatically selects a display configuration based on connected devices
Xrandr Script
- Make a custom bash script and set with login manager, cron job, or set in ~/.xinitrc

Sample xrandr script:

#!/bin/bash
xrandr --output HDMI-1 --off --output HDMI-2 --auto

Note: You can use the tool arandr to grab the proper display script

Windows/Linux/MacOS - Flashing Images to SD-Card or USB

There are so many solutions for this one:

Windows - Rufus (https://rufus.ie)
Windows/Linux/Mac - Etcher (https://www.balena.io/etcher/)
Linux/Mac - dd terminal command
- dd if=~/Downloads/image.iso of=/dev/sdx bs=1M
- if = input file/device | of= output file/device | bs= block size
Windows - Win32 Disk Imager https://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager/
- for images that aren't working or using special media like sd cards

Linux - Boot Time High for KDE

Analyze systemd and figure out why... (systemd-analyze)

systemd-analyze blame
             10.667s apt-daily.service
              1.127s apt-daily-upgrade.service
              1.053s dev-mapper-neon\x2d\x2dvg\x2droot.device
               793ms lvm2-pvscan@8:3.service
               622ms boot.mount
               613ms snapd.service
               267ms minidlna.service
               217ms NetworkManager.service
               200ms nvidia-persistenced.service
               196ms upower.service
               189ms systemd-logind.service

Note: Also try systemd-analyze critical-chain or systemd-analyze plot > boot.svg as this shows the chain of the startup

Linux - USB Port stops working

Check to see if device shows on lsusb
Check dmesg for errors dmesg | grep -i USB
Run usb-devices
Disable Auto Suspend
- cat /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend result should be 2 which means enabled
- Modify Grub or bootloader to disable auto suspend (for grub modify /etc/default/grub)
  - GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash usbcore.autosuspend=-1"
  - sudo update-grub
- Verify by running cat command again

Linux - Fixing No Display Drivers or Black Screen or Missing Desktop Environment

Ctrl + Alt + F1 or F2

This drops you to TTY and no display drivers are needed. From this console you can fix things by installing display drivers or missing packages you need.

All Computers - Can't Get into BIOS

Open it up and remove the CMOS Battery. Press the power button without it plugged in to fully discharge. Then wait 60 seconds and put CMOS battery back in.

General PC Maintenance - Updates & Shuting them down

Updates should be done weekly with security only one applied. Feature Updates should be delayed at least 1 year. This is universal across all operating systems. I also recommend shutting down your PC every day and not using suspend/hibernate. If you want to schedule the updates you can leave your PC once a week overnight.

Windows/Linux - Time Maintenance

You should use UTC time everywhere. Windows uses local time and it is terrible. Change this with a registry setting

Disable Internet Time on Windows 10
- Head to Settings > Time & language and disable “Set time automatically”.
Modify Windows Registry to use UTC
- Start - Run - regedit
- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation
- Create new DWORD (32-bit) Value RealTimeIsUniversal
- Set Value to 1

MacOS - OpenCore and Safety

Opencore is a completely open project and is safe. Here is the github of OpenCore where they expose all their code for review https://github.com/acidanthera/OpenCorePkg and the complete install guide is here https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Install-Guide/

Linux Battery Life and Laptop Heat

There are a variety of packages you can use, but highly suggest two:

tlp
xfce4-power-manager

TLP will throttle your CPU and use less power and XFCE power manager will take care of brightness, suspend, and other power saving features as a standalone package even if you aren't using XFCE as a desktop environment.

MacOS - OpenCore Audio Issues

This typically comes from using two codecs or the wrong one. Use ONLY ONE!

AppleALC - https://github.com/acidanthera/AppleALC
VoodooHDA - https://sourceforge.net/projects/voodoohda/

Linux - App won't launch it just disappears

Run Application in Terminal and look at the errors. Chances are it is missing a dependency.

Windows - "these settings are managed by your organization"

Chances are you ran a powershell script (maybe mine...) and you are now locked out of changing the lock screen on your Windows Box. Run this command in powershell to gain control of your lock screen again:

Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization" -Name "NoLockScreen" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

You can also open up Start - Run - gpedit.msc and then go to All Settings and look for enabled features and set them to Not Configured

Windows - Reinstall OneDrive

Open Up PowerShell Admin (Right Click Start Button)

%systemroot%\SysWOW64\OneDriveSetup.exe

Windows 10 Scripts

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 16:43:17 GMT

Three Windows 10 Scripts

Regular (No OneDrive, Indexing, and Defender)

powershell -nop -c "iex(New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ8R4')"

Minimal (Only Targets Bloatware/Telemetry)

powershell -nop -c "iex(New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ5qc')"

LTSC Style Debloat

(WARNING: WILL UNINSTALL LOTS OF STUFF)
The old LTSC debloat script has been retired. Use WinUtil for the current Windows utility.

Video Walkthrough

Ultimate Windows Setup Guide

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 19:26:59 GMT

This guide will walk you through a fresh Windows installation and debloat the services, tasks, and apps that are running in the background.

One Command to Do Everything

powershell -nop -c "iex(New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ8R4')"

GitHub Project for Debloating, Optimization, and Installing Programs

https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/win10script/tree/master

This project was using many of the aspects of other debloat scripts, but I combined system admin scripts with it that I use to configure workstations at businesses. I also added Chocolatey package manager to the script for easy program installations.

The script will remove scheduled tasks, windows applications, install common applications (adobe reader, notepad++, java, and more), while also disabling services, and removing windows components like Cortana that are performance hogs.

What this script does

Main Programs and Tweaks

Installs Chocolatey (Package Manager for Windows)
Installs O&O Shutup 10 and Runs Recommended Settings
Misc 3rd Party program installs (Adobe, 7-Zip, Notepad++, and Media Player Classic-HC)
Removals all Bloatware in MS Store (Leaves Office, Snip Tool, Xbox and other Apps used for Gaming)

Privacy Tweaks

Disabled Services and Tasks

Telemetry
Wifi Sense
Smart Screen and Web Search
App Suggestions and Activity History
Location Tracking and Maps
Feedback and Tailored Experiences
Error Reporting
Cortana
Advertising ID.

Security Tweaks

UAC Set to Low
Disable SMB version 1
Set Network to Private
Disable Controlled Folder Access
Disable Microsoft Defender (Check customization if not using another AV)
Disable Meltdown Flag (Big performance boost for Intel Users)
Enables F8 Boot Menu

Service Tweaks

Services Disabled:

Malware Removal Tool
Driver Updates
Home Groups
Shared Experiences
Remote Assistance
Autoplay
Storage Sense
DeFragmentation
Superfetch
Indexing
Hibernation
Sleep Timeout

UI Tweaks

Windows 10's user interface is a mess and has too many notifications. This removes the Action Center, LockScreen, Sticky Keys, Task View, Expands File Transfer details by default, Show all tray icons, and various other tweaks.

Application Tweaks

This script will keep the core of Microsoft Office, but most other Microsoft products that are sideloaded are removed. OneDrive is a big one that some use, so if you want that functionality check the customization section. Most other features removed aren't used, like Internet Explorer and Work Folders.

Customization

I encourage people to fork this project and comment out things they don't like! Here are a list of normal things people change:

Uninstalling OneDrive (This is on in my script)
Installing Adobe, Chocolatey, Notepad++, MPC-HC, and 7-Zip

Comment any thing you don't want out... Example:

########## NOTE THE # SIGNS! These disable lines This example shows UACLow being set and Disabling SMB1
### Security Tweaks ###
"SetUACLow",                  # "SetUACHigh",
"DisableSMB1",                # "EnableSMB1",

########## NOW LETS SWAP THESE VALUES AND ENABLE SMB1 and Set UAC to HIGH
### Security Tweaks ###
"SetUACHigh",
"EnableSMB1",

Video Walkthrough

Conclusion

This script will be great for most users out there without losing much if any functionality. I typically run this on every system I setup, but I encourage you to fork this project and make the customizations that you need. Anything is possible, and everything can be automated. Save yourself hours of time and learn how to use not only this script, but using PowerShell.

Change your Desktop Wallpaper

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 19:52:13 GMT

This article shows you how to automatically change your wallpaper on Windows, macOS, and Linux. To get the greatest variety and the highest quality it is best to use reddit as the voting system and variety ensure both these goals are met.

Change Wallpaper in Windows

GitHub Project: https://github.com/Rawns/Reddit-Wallpaper-Changer

From the Releases Tab on GitHub download the latest version and install it.

Here are the settings I recommend using:

There is also an option to save all wallpapers locally. I like to save all downloaded wallpapers for future reference or build and offline repository.

Change Wallpaper in Mac OS

GitHub Project: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/wallpaper-reddit

Install MacOS Dependancies

xcode-select --install
sudo easy_install pip
sudo pip install --upgrade pip
pip install pillow

Needed Desktop Wallpaper Script Package

Install Swift Tools on MacOS 13 (Required for High Sierra or Earlier) - https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1998
Script for Changing MacOS Wallpaper - https://github.com/scriptingosx/desktoppr/releases

Install MacOS Program

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/wallpaper-reddit.git
cd wallpaper-reddit
sudo python3 setup.py install

MacOS Usage

You can run this anytime by typing in terminal wallpaper-reddit [subreddits]
Binaries are located at /usr/local/bin/wallpaper-reddit Config files are located at ~/.config/wallpaper-reddit Syntax Help wallpaper-reddit --help

Running on macOS Startup

Start Automator
Create New Task: File -> New
Select "Application"
- Click "Show library" in the toolbar (if hidden)
Add "Run shell script" (from the Actions/Utilities)
- Copy-and-paste your script into the window and Run- Note: I used desktoppr to force wallpaper if script fails

/usr/local/bin/wallpaper-reddit --startup
/usr/local/bin/desktoppr ~/Pictures/Wallpapers/wallpaper.webp

Save it somewhere: a file called your_name.app will be created)
Go to System Preferences → Users and Groups → Login items
Add this newly-created app

Change Wallpaper in Linux

GitHub Project: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/wallpaper-reddit

Install Linux Dependancies

Ubuntu/Linux Mint/ElementaryOS: sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-setuptools libjpeg8-dev zlib1g-dev libfreetype6-dev
Fedora: sudo dnf install python3-imaging
Arch: sudo pacman -S python-pillow

Install Linux Program

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/wallpaper-reddit.git
cd wallpaper-reddit
sudo python3 setup.py install

Linux Usage

Running on Linux Startup

There is plenty of ways to have this automatically change the wallpaper on startup, however, I like to use the method by adding it at the /etc/profile EOF (End of File). Here is an example.

/usr/local/bin/wallpaper-reddit --save
/usr/local/bin/wallpaper-reddit --startup

--save option flag will save the current wallpaper to the default directory in the config file (~/Pictures/Wallpapers/). Remove this line if you don't want to save past wallpapers. --startup option flag will wait til internet access is established and then download the wallpaper from reddit

Wallpaper-reddit Config File Settings

The config file is in ~/.config/wallpaper-reddit, and will be created automatically. Currently, the GNOME, XFCE, MATE, Unity, and Cinnamon Desktop Environments should be automatically detected and the program should set the wallpaper without any extra work. However, due to the varying nature of window managers, it is possible, even likely, that you may have to specify a custom command to set your wallpaper. The program will prompt you for this if this is the case; the exact command can be researched per desktop environment. If your desktop environment is not supported, leave the set command blank and it will auto download to the ~/Pictures/Wallpapers/ directory as wallpaper.webp for the daily wallpaper.

Config Options

minwidth and minheight set the minimum dimensions the program will consider a valid candidate for a wallpaper. If --resize is enabled, the script will resize the image to those dimensions before setting the wallpaper. minratio is the minimal aspect ratio of the image. It is a float value of width/height of the image, for example 1.6 for 16:9 image. maxlinks is the maximum number of links the script will go through before giving up. resize does the same thing as the --resize flag. It is enabled by default. random does the same thing as the --random flag.

Recommended Wallpaper Subreddits

EarthPorn
CityPorn
SkyPorn
WeatherPorn
BotanicalPorn
LakePorn
VillagePorn
BeachPorn
WaterPorn
SpacePorn
multiwall
wallpapers
wallpaper

How to Create a Windows Service

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 04:33:56 GMT

This article goes over how to create a windows service.

I will be going over 3 different ways to create a windows service. Check the legend to skip to the method you'd like to use. They will be: PowerShell, 3rd Party Tool, and Windows Resource Kits.

Create Windows Service with PowerShell

Microsoft Source Article with ALL Syntax - Microsoft Link

TestService Example:
New-Service -Name "TestService" -BinaryPathName "C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs"

Create Windows Service for Java Applications with WinSW

https://github.com/winsw/winsw is the project that is a fantastic wrapper for windows services.
You will download this exe and rename it to your needs. It is configured by the included XML file under the same name.

Create Windows Service with NSSM

http://nssm.cc is the official site for this 3rd party tool method.

To show service installation GUI:
nssm install [<servicename>]

To install a service without confirmation:
nssm install <servicename> <app> [<args> ...]

To show service editing GUI:
nssm edit <servicename>

To retrieve or edit service parameters directly:
nssm get <servicename> <parameter> [<subparameter>]
nssm set <servicename> <parameter> [<subparameter>] <value>
nssm reset <servicename> <parameter> [<subparameter>]

To show service removal GUI:
nssm remove [<servicename>]

To remove a service without confirmation:
nssm remove <servicename> confirm

Create Windows Service with Windows Server Resource Kit 2003

The Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit download is no longer available from Microsoft; these steps are preserved for historical reference.
Run the executable to install the Resource Kit
Open up a command prompt and run the following to install a service stub (default install location used in this example):
You may substitute "EQBC Service" with whatever name you would like to give to the service for display purposes

"C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\instsrv.exe" "New Service" "C:\Program Files\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\srvany.exe"

Run regedit to edit the Windows registry, and navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\New Service
From the Edit menu, select New, select Key, and name the new key Parameters
Highlight the Parameters key
From the Edit menu, select New, select String Value, and name the new value Application
From the Edit menu, select Modify, and type in the full path name and application name, including the drive letter and file extension. Example: C:\MQ2\eqbcs.exe
Now go to Start and Run and type in services.msc
From here scroll down to New Service (or whatever name you gave the service above), right-click and select Properties
On the General tab, change the Startup type to Automatic
Click the Start button to start your service
Select the Recovery tab, and you have the option of changing the drop-down boxes for First-Failure and so on to Restart the service
Select OK and you are finished

Conclusion

Each one of these ways have their uses and I have used each method for different programs. It is great to learn to use all of the above examples or at least make yourself familiar with them.

Debloat Windows in 2022

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 21:04:48 GMT

This goes over debloating and slimming down Windows 10 and 11 so you get maximum performance from your PC.

I made a guide going over the debloat process two years ago [https://christitus.com/debloat-windows-10/](https://christitus.com/debloat-windows-10/) - The guide has evolved and the github project I was using has also improved. I've also made a newer post going over the all the changes @

April 2022 Update

Added new options to get Windows 10/7 Options in Windows 11
Service optimizations to reduce process count
Added more tweak settings and misc. fixes
GUI Redesign
new Github https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil

New command!

iwr -useb https://christitus.com/win | iex

July 2021 Update

If you are coming here from the YouTube video I have taken all the scripts below and a system admin script I used a lot in the past to make a streamlined debloat script. This script will optimize Windows and can be run multiple times if you have an update ruin all the optimizations. I have also made it very easy to launch. Here is the source files: https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/win10script

If you want to just run this on any system, you can easily copy and paste this into a Admin Powershell prompt and watch it do everything for you. It does have two prompts based on user feedback. Let me know what you think below!

OLD PROJECT - DEPRECATED

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ8R4'))

What this script can do

Installs any program listed that you click on using WinGet
Removed Telemetry
Disables Cortana
Deletes various schedules tasks that rebloat the system
Fixes problems that other scripts causes (lock screen and personalization options restricted)

Based on User feedback Microsoft Store and Windows Defender is no longer touched.

Toolbox Walkthrough Video

User Requested Restore Scripts

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JTbKD'))

This restore script pops up a GUI that lets you restore what you want to FACTORY DEFAULTS!

Current Lineup:

Cortana
Tray Icons
Action Center

Old Methods from Prior Videos that I no longer use

The project I use has been developed for many years now and is extremely good. Here is the source github project I use:
https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater

This is a new project that was brought to my attention, but has quickly made a name for itself. It works very well and is typically more up to date than the above project.
https://github.com/farag2/Windows-10-Setup-Script

Optimal Way to Use this Tool

I recommend running this tool under the following conditions:

Before User Profile is Created
Empty Desktop and Downloads (Past versions has deleted files from Desktop and Downloads)
After installing New Feature Updates

Recommended Options:

Disable Cortana
Uninstall OneDrive
Run Essential Tweaks

I generally always enable Dark Mode and Install 3.5 .NET but that is entirely my personal preference.

Wsl2

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 15:50:19 GMT

This article goes over WSL 1 and 2 for Feature Update 2004. This will help you know which WSL you are currently using for any Linux installs on your PC.

Source Article: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10 I copy these because Microsoft is notorious for changing URLs and to make additions

Install the Windows Subsystem for Linux

Before installing any Linux distributions on Windows, you must enable the "Windows Subsystem for Linux" optional feature.
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

To only install WSL 1, you should now restart your machine and move on to Install your Linux distribution of choice, otherwise wait to restart and move on to update to WSL 2. Read more about Comparing WSL 2 and WSL 1.

Update to WSL 2

To update to WSL 2, you must meet the follow criteria:

Running Windows 10, updated to version 2004, Build 19041 or higher.
Check your Windows version by selecting the Windows logo key + R, type winver, select OK. (Or enter the ver command in Windows Command Prompt). Please update to the latest Windows version if your build is lower than 19041. Get Windows Update Assistant.
Enable the 'Virtual Machine Platform' optional component

Before installing WSL 2, you must enable the "Virtual Machine Platform" optional feature.
Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Restart your machine to complete the WSL install and update to WSL 2.

Set WSL 2 as your default version

Run the following command in Powershell to set WSL 2 as the default version when installing a new Linux distribution:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Note: The update from WSL 1 to WSL 2 may take several minutes to complete depending on the size of your targeted distribution.

Troubleshooting WSL 2 set-default error

If you can't set the default version after enabling the virtual machine platform and linux subsystem for windows. Then you need to do a kernel upgrade. This done by running the following msi file: https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi

Install your Linux distribution of choice

Open the Microsoft Store and select your favorite Linux distribution.

The following links will open the Microsoft store page for each distribution:

From the distribution's page, select "Get".

Set up a new distribution

The first time you launch a newly installed Linux distribution, a console window will open and you'll be asked to wait for a minute or two for files to de-compress and be stored on your PC. All future launches should take less than a second. You will then need to create a user account and password for your new Linux distribution.

Set your distribution version to WSL 1 or WSL 2
You can check the WSL version assigned to each of the Linux distributions you have installed by opening the PowerShell command line and entering the command (only available in Windows Build 19041 or higher): wsl -l -v

wsl --list --verbose

To set a distribution to be backed by either version of WSL please run:

wsl --set-version <distribution name> <versionNumber>

Make sure to replace with the actual name of your distribution and with the number '1' or '2'. You can change back to WSL 1 at anytime by running the same command as above but replacing the '2' with a '1'.
Additionally, if you want to make WSL 2 your default architecture you can do so with this command:

wsl --set-default-version 2

Note: This will set the version of any new distribution installed to WSL 2.

Troubleshooting installation

Below are related errors and suggested fixes. Refer to the WSL troubleshooting page for other common errors and their solutions.

Installation failed with error 0x80070003

The Windows Subsystem for Linux only runs on your system drive (usually this is your C: drive). Make sure that distributions are stored on your system drive:
Open Settings -> Storage -> More Storage Settings: Change where new content is saved

WslRegisterDistribution failed with error 0x8007019e

The Windows Subsystem for Linux optional component is not enabled:
Open Control Panel -> Programs and Features -> Turn Windows Feature on or off -> Check Windows Subsystem for Linux or using the PowerShell cmdlet mentioned at the beginning of this article.

Installation failed with error 0x80070003 or error 0x80370102

Please make sure that virtualization is enabled inside of your computer's BIOS. The instructions on how to do this will vary from computer to computer, and will most likely be under CPU related options.

Error when trying to upgrade: Invalid command line option: wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2

Please make sure that you have the Windows Subsystem for Linux enabled, and that you're using Windows Build version 19041 or higher. To enable WSL run this command in a Powershell prompt with admin privileges: Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux. You can find the full WSL install instructions on Microsoft's site.

The requested operation could not be completed due to a virtual disk system limitation. Virtual hard disk files must be uncompressed and unencrypted and must not be sparse

Please check WSL Github thread #4103 where this issue is being tracked for updated information.

The term 'wsl' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program

Ensure that the Windows Subsystem for Linux Optional Component is installed. Additionally, if you are using an Arm64 device and running this command from PowerShell, you will receive this error. Instead run wsl.exe from PowerShell Core, or Command Prompt.

Conclusion

WSL 2 is still very new and as such is still rough around the edges. However, the performance increase is undeniable and is a substantial improvement over

How to Install Only Security Updates on Windows 10

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 02:55:22 GMT

This article shows how to install only security updates on Windows 10. This is vital to avoid long updates on startup or shutdown!

Windows 10 Pro Users - Policy Editor Method

Open your Local Policy editor (Start - Run) and type gpedit.msc
From this screen go to Computer - Administrative Templates - Windows Components - Windows Update - Windows Update for Business

Now set the Feature Updates to the following

For Quality Updates, I recommend deferring those 4 days.

Windows 10 Home Users - Regedit Method

Open up your registry editor (Start - Run) and type regedit
Go to the follow key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsUpdate\UX\Settings
Add the following DWORD Values (32-bit value):

BranchReadinessLevel 20
DeferFeatureUpdatesPeriodInDays 365
DeferQualityUpdatesPeriodInDays 4

Set Active Hours

Under Settings and Updates & Security, make sure to set your active hours! I always set these manually as the automatic method is horrible. Always set an 18 hour window where you want to make sure your computer doesn't update.
My personal active hours are 8 AM to 2 AM.

Video Walkthrough

Conclusion

These are settings that I recommend anyone using windows adopt. Otherwise, you will run into many update issues caused by the terrible quality control that goes into the first couple rounds of updates in Microsoft Windows 10.

Clean Up Windows 10

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:08:01 GMT

In this article, we will clean up Windows 10. This will include debloat, startup maintenance, system tweaks, and privacy settings. These 3 stages are broken down below and will help maintain a healthy Windows 10 system. I’d recommend re-running these steps every 6 months.

July 2021 Update - CTT Official Debloat Launched

Check out the updated debloat and utility toolbox here: https://christitus.com/debloat-windows-10-2020/

Old Content is below with an older method of debloating Windows 10.

Step 1: Debloat Windows 10

We will be utilizing PowerShell to clean up Windows 10 and get rid of a bunch of useless bloat that is included with it.

Download PowerShell Script

Run PowerShell Script

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/debloat'))

Note: This will remove many apps in the Microsoft Store. Games, Office 365 and things that utilize the Microsoft Store. If unsure, use the customize blacklist and only tick the boxes of things you want to remove!
Source: https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater

Step 2: Clean Up Windows 10 Startup

Launch Task Manager and then click the startup tab. You need to disable any unneeded programs from here.

Changing Startup Programs (Advanced Users)

You can change startup programs from Start-Run-Type:shell:startup and Start-Run-Type: shell:common startup

You can also modify startup programs using registry editor HKCU or HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrrentVersion\Run

Cleanup Task Scheduler, as it accumulates many things that cause an install to be slow and is vital when you clean up Windows 10.

Step 3: System Tweaks and Privacy

There is literally hundreds of settings in Windows 10 that are privacy concerns and why I’d recommend using a 3rd party software for this. However, you can do all the same tweaks by simply going through settings and doing all these manually. That said, I recommend using O&O Shutup10 for optimal tweaks and privacy.

Download: https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10

I also tell everyone to use the recommended settings as the other settings can have unintended consequences.

Other Recommended Settings

Turn off Hibernation: powercfg /hibernate off
Modify Applications Menu: explorer shell:AppsFolder
Change Windows 10 Start Menu: shell:StartMenuAllPrograms or shell:Start Menu

Video Walkthrough

How To Change Cortana Search

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 15:22:41 GMT

This article goes over how to change Cortana search engine to display results in chrome instead of Microsoft Edge. Afterward, the second part requires you to install a chrome extension to search in Google instead of Bing.

Links from Video

https://github.com/sylveon/SearchWithMyBrowser – GitHub Source and Compile Instructions
https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9PPKNR9RK26R?ocid=badge – Windows Store Link from Developer
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chrometana-pro-redirect-c/lllggmgeiphnciplalhefnbpddbadfdi – Chrometana Pro Google Store Extension

Steps to Change Cortana Search (Updated)

Open up Chrometana Pro Google Store Extension and Install (Link Above)
Install EdgeDeflector (On Page after Extension Installed)
- Note: SearchWithMyBrowser is no longer needed as EdgeDeflector takes its place
Open Webpage and select EdgeDeflector.exe for default open with application
Done!

In the end, you need to watch out for Windows updates. Anytime Windows does a major update, be prepared to repeat the process above, as it will reset it to Edge. Therefore, I’d bookmark the Chrometana Pro page or this one as you will be coming back to do this about twice a year. If you don’t want to do this, you can always switch to Linux. Consequently, I have written an article about the pro’s and con’s of such a switch and I highly recommend the switch if you are able.

Disable Windows Firewall Properly

Sat, 06 Oct 2018 17:20:22 GMT

This walkthrough goes over how to Disable Windows Firewall while not affecting other programs that rely on this service. It’s important that you DO NOTdisable the service, due to the fact it can cause issues with Microsoft Office and other products.

Steps to bypass firewall

Launch Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security (Start -> Run -> wf.msc)
Click Inbound Rules
Select “New Rule”
Custom rule
All Programs
Leave Any and All Ports
Any IP Address for both
Allow the connection
Check Domain, Private, and Public
Name “Allow All”

Video Guide

Finishing Up

By doing this you allow all traffic inbound to this computer, consequently, all outbound traffic is already allowed by default. Therefore, certain programs and services that depend on windows firewall can function properly. In conclusion, this is a far superior way of disabling the built-in firewall in windows without affecting other programs.

Snipping Tool Removed by Microsoft in October 2018 Update 1809

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 19:06:44 GMT

The Snipping Tool is being removed by Microsoft in October 2018 Update 1809 and I am not happy! This tool is one of the best tools Microsoft has ever created, so why? Well, they want you to use the Snip and Sketch App from the Microsoft Store. Spoiler: It sucks.

Greenshot the best Snipping Tool Replacement

So what should you use? Greenshot. Its freeware and it just works. Not bulky with a toolbar, but adds a tray icon, which you don’t have to use. You can just press print screen and away you go.

Download it from there website here: http://getgreenshot.org/downloads/

Microsoft Snip and Sketch Replacement

Currently, this is labeled as Screen Sketch, however, this is changing to Snip and Sketch App in the next update. Here is the preview of the upcoming disaster for Microsoft their predictably bad moves on forcing their tragic app store on us. Here is today’s download image of the app prior to the upcoming update that sunsets our beloved Snipping Tool.

Conclusion

With Snipping Tool gone, you might as well get used to something new, and Greenshot is a great freeware that has been around for 4 years. In the short week or so that I have been using this, I have grown to love it more than the old Snipping Tool. The features give me more options, but with its polish, I am much more efficient than I ever was.

Using IOMeter to determine hard drive performance

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:50:46 GMT

Using IOMeter will give you a great benchmark on any hard drives and network drives you have. I use this quite often as you can see the effects of new hardware, introducing Link-Aggregation, or troubleshooting drives to determine if they are losing performance.

Steps to Follow

Download IOMeter from the Official Site and run setup

All Programs -> Iometer -> Iometer
Under ‘Topology’ tab, select the local machine
-Delete All workers but 1
-Under ‘Disk Targets’ tab select the drive you want to run the IO test on:
-Set Maximum Disk Size to 204800 Sectors (one sector is 512 B, so 204800 sectors gives 100MB)

Under ‘Access Specifications’ tab, under Global Access Specifications, select Default, and Click Add

Note: Default test is – 67% read, 33% write, 2 KB, 100% Random non/sequential writes, Burst Length 1 I/O. This is fine for this brief guide and the sample results below use this.

Under ‘Results Display’ tab, under Update Frequency, set to 10 seconds

Under ‘Test Setup’ tab, set Run Time to 1 minute ( If bench-marking a SAN or Network drive I recommend doing it for 5 minutes for consistency. )
Clone Workers from the first page to the number of cores you have. (Ex. Quad Core = 4 workers)
The click the green flag to start the test, and choose a location to save the results….

Conclusion

Remember to benchmark often and always do a before and after you make any changes. This is imperative so you can see any performance gains or losses you might incur. There are many times I have been surprised by the results of switching hardware or simply testing older hardware to see how it is holding up. One thing is for certain, I haven’t found a freeware tool that is better than IOMeter in the past 15 years that I’ve been doing IT.

Google Chrome missing www and how to fix it

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 20:49:44 GMT

Chrome started rolling out update 69 at the beginning of this month (September 2018) causing a missing www in the address bar. There are two things this update did that you need to be aware of.

Google Chrome Update 69 Changes

Show trivial sub-domains (missing www in the address bar)
- Fix: Type this in your address bar:
- chrome://flags/#omnibox-ui-hide-steady-state-url-scheme-and-subdomains
- Set to DISABLED
Chrome now defaults to SSL / HTTPS for all websites
- So I didn’t realize this happened and launched a new ubuntu web server to find it unreachable with apache installed. After wasting a lot of time, more than I’m willing to tell you here, I found out the new version of chrome will default to https:// before everything unless you explicitly put http:// in the address bar. This includes IP addresses and the like. So make sure you have SSL certs updated otherwise you are going to have a bad time.

Video Walkthrough

Conclusion

I typically love a lot of the Google projects and updates they do, but the missing www in the address bar left me a little puzzled and why they thought they needed to do it. On the plus side, I do like the new chrome tabs, so the entire update is not all bad. Also, the changes to default to secure sites has been a long time coming. There are many different reasons for this, but the fact is by forcing webmasters to use SSL and get secure is a good thing. These days non-secure http sites can easily be exploited by a variety of different methods and this is a welcomed change in my opinion.

Installing Linux Subsystem for Windows 10

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 19:56:07 GMT

The following video goes over installing Linux Subsystem on Windows 10. Most notably it allows you to run Linux terminal commands in Windows 10 without having a virtual machine or dual boot into a Linux operating system.

Enable Linux Subsystem Feature

cd ~ Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
Note: Perform in PowerShell

PowerShell Installation Method

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://aka.ms/wsl-ubuntu-1604 -OutFile Ubuntu.appx -UseBasicParsing Rename-Item -Path ~/Ubuntu.appx -NewName Ubuntu.zip Expand-Archive ~/Ubuntu.zip ~/Ubuntu cd Ubuntu ./ubuntu.exe

Microsoft Store Installation Method

Open the Microsoft Store
Browse to Ubuntu-1604 and subsequently click the Install button

Conclusion

In Closing The Linux Subsystem is a welcomed addition to Windows 10 because most things that come from the Microsoft store are garbage. Above all using this will give you the ability to check out and compile many GitHub projects. It is now one of the first options I enable when I do fresh installs of Windows 10 due to the fact Linux is not practical all the time. Leave any Questions and Comments below and I’ll get back to you. I regularly publish on

Debloat Windows 10

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 17:08:58 GMT

Trying to Debloat Windows 10 is getting ridiculous and as a system admin it is soul crushing to see all that performance go to waste on the botched attempt by Microsoft to do an Appstore and its apps (I’m looking at you Candy Crush). Luckily some admins have worked tirelessly to give us a solution that works considerably well. Lets Start!

October 2020 Update

iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://git.io/JJ8R4'))

What this script does

Installs Chocolatey, Notepad++, Irfanview, VLC, Java, and asks if you want Adobe Reader or Brave.
Removes all Windows Store Apps EXCEPT office, xbox, and WSL.
Removed Telemetry
Disables Cortana
Deletes various schedules tasks that rebloat the system
Removes Other Bloatware (Candy Crush, etc.)
Fixes problems that other scripts causes (lock screen and personalization options restricted)

Based on User feedback, this no longer uninstalls OneDrive or Office.

Old 2018 Instructions

Right Click Windows Button ->Select Powershell Prompt (Admin) OR Select Command Prompt (Admin)
- Note: If you don’t have PowerShell and only command prompt open command prompt (admin) and type “powershell“
Change Execution policy to allow a debloat script to run in Powershell Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Run the script from the following Github Repository. The person running this GitHub has been updating this script for a while and is a godsend. (Source: https://github.com/Sycnex/Windows10Debloater) Use Windows10Debloater.ps1from the location above
- During installation select yes to debloat windows 10, select yes to remove OneDrive, and Yes to reboot after it finishes. Below is the image of performing these tasks.

[

Video Walkthrough

Repair Windows Boot Partition | Includes files and partitioning

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:01:44 GMT

This walkthrough shows you how to repair windows boot partition and boot from an existing windows installation without reinstalling windows.

Recently I had an old server with a FAT32 system reserved partition and a bunch of extra partitions. I have already moved all the data off the server and it was ready for decommissioning. Before, I did this I wanted to go ahead and remove all these old partitions and just leave the C: Drive with the Windows installation then rebuild the System Reserved partition as NTFS as an exercise. Many backup programs have issues doing block level images with FAT32 partitions OR you need to do a physical to virtual setup. For me, I wanted to decommission the hardware but be able to spin up this server in a virtual environment if needed.

Backup Before Attempting This

Step 1: Delete old partitions and create new ones

Boot into your partition manager of choice (I used Parted Magic https://partedmagic.com/ ) GParted
Delete extra partitions including the old FAT32 system partition (These all should be very small between 100 MB and up to 2 GB)
Create new NTFS partition with 512 MB of space and label it System Reserved
Shutdown

Step 2: Setup Partitions with the correct drive letters

Launch Windows 10 Install disc / usb
Shift+F10 once you see language select to bring up command prompt
Launch DISKPART
select volume with 512MB (ex: select vol 0)
assign letter=G: (or any letter that isn’t taken that is NOT C:)
exit OR If Windows operating system is NOT on C:
select volume with windows installation on it
assign letter=C:
exit

Example output:

diskpart
select disk 0
list vol
select vol 0 <---500 MB Partition
assign letter=G:
select vol 1 <--- Large Partition with Windows Install on it
assign letter=C:
exit

Partitions are done. Now time to fix problems with the “type” of partition – By forcing all partitions to be NTFS NT60

bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force

Step 3: Copy Boot Records, Fix MBR, and Rebuild BCD

Rebuild new system reserved partition with EFI and regular boot files

bcdboot c:\Windows /s <boot letter of System Reserved Partion>: /f ALL
bcdboot c:\Windows /s G: /f ALL

Now we can finally rebuild the bcd and master boot record like you see in so many online guides
You can verify the system is seeing the windows installation by doing a bootrec /scanos and then be running through the rest of the commands to do the rest of the repairs

bootrec /scanos <---Verify it sees the windows install
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot <----Pick the installation will mirror /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd

Reboot and you are done!

Video

Changing file permissions using PowerShell

Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:46:23 GMT

Use the following script for changing file permissions using PowerShell. I use this script when command line takeown and icacls fail. Obviously, run from an elevated PowerShell prompt or by typing ‘powershell’ from elevated cmd.

The Script

Change $folder to the base directory you want for changing permissions. Please note, you can use network UNC paths for this or a simple C:.

$folder = "\\homeserver\users\"
$users = get-childitem $folder
Foreach ($user in $users) {
$acl = Get-Acl $user.FullName
$acl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"$user")
set-acl $user.FullName $acl -Verbose
$subFolders = Get-ChildItem $user.FullName -Directory -Recurse
Foreach ($subFolder in $subFolders) {
$acl = Get-Acl $subFolder.FullName
$acl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"$user")
set-acl $subFolder.FullName $acl -Verbose
}
$subFiles = Get-ChildItem $user.FullName -File -Recurse
Foreach ($subFile in $subFiles) {
$acl = Get-Acl $subFile.FullName
$acl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"$user")
set-acl $subFile.FullName $acl -Verbose
}
}

I’ve never had takeown fail on local disks, but I have found that I needed to resort to using a PowerShell script when doing this through a network location. It’s a very powerful script, however always be careful when running this. Be sure to always test this in a subdirectory first. This can be catastrophic for a company with millions of files and folder to reset the permission on, therefore be very careful!

Spooler subsystem app high CPU usage on Windows 10

Tue, 02 May 2017 19:53:16 GMT

Perform the following steps to solve the Spooler subsystem app high CPU usage. I recently updated a computer to Windows 10 and found that the spooler service was using a lot of resources.

The Solution

Open up command prompt as administrator and type the following

net stop spooler
del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers\*.*"
net start spooler

Conclusion

Now check task manager again and verify the Spooler subsystem app is now at 0% usage. Alternatively, you can disable the spooler service in services (Start -> Run -> Type: services.msc) and this will make sure it doesn’t run, however, it also means you can’t print.

Launching a startup program to run as administrator

Mon, 27 Mar 2017 02:26:36 GMT

The following script shows you how to launch a startup program to run as administrator in Windows 10. This fixes many programs that require elevation and you don’t want to launch manually every time.

Almost every online tutorial I came across said to run it as a scheduled task. This is very cumbersome and I hate it, however using the following method is easier and saves you time.

Create a Text file in shell:startup and put the following in it.

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell" ) 
WshShell.Run chr(34) & "C:\Program Files (x86)\File\Program.exe" & Chr(34), 0 
Set WshShell = Nothing

Now save the file as ProgramName.vbs

You are done! Reboot and see that program launch.

Windows 10 IIS: C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\rewrite.dll failed to load

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:07:43 GMT

This article shows you what to do if you get the rewrite.dll failed to load in Windows 10 event viewer for Windows 10 IIS.

Commands

Checked Event viewer when my website Showed up with

Service Unavailable 503 error

The Event Viewer Error was

The Module DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\rewrite.dll failed to load

I went into Add/Remove Programs (Start -> Run-> appwiz.cpl) and simply repaired the following program

IIS Url Rewrite Module 2.0

Troubleshooting/Download

Afterward, restart your WWW Service in services.msc and your website will now be working. If you are unable to repair the IIS rewrite module using Add/Remove Programs, download the current installer from the official IIS site.

IIS URL Rewrite Module

SFC scannow error and Windows 10 corruption

Sun, 26 Jul 2015 02:39:10 GMT

If you run into SFC scannow error which cannot be repaired chances are you have some corrupt system components. The fastest way to fix this is by following these steps to repair your system.

Here is an example of the error you are seeing:

Download Windows 10 ISO from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Mount the ISO file by double-clicking on it.
Open ‘Windows Powershell’ or ‘Command Prompt’ with Admin privileges (right click -> Run as Administrator)
Let’s check the System Health first, by running these commands:
- dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
- dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth
- dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
I’m sure that will give you an error stating that it could not perform the task. Afterward, Let’s specify the file from the ISO so that we can fix it. Run the following command: (Notice that X must be the drive letter on which your system has mounted the ISO)
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Now let’s repair any damage in the system files, shall we?
- sfc /scannow

Once this is complete, you will see you now have a functional windows environment again. One other tip that I would suggest is to re-run windows updates because your windows components were damaged and the updates have not been happening.

Raid Re-syncing Windows software raid

Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:53:22 GMT

I want to preface this article in saying that I would never use a software raid in a business environment. However, recently I tried the windows software raid on a home theater PC. We recently had a power issue and caused the RAID 1 to go into resyncing status. Since it was about 2 TB of data, the resync would take several days and be causing performance issues. I found I could not break the raid or remove the mirror.

The following solutions are how you’d fix the issue:

Solution One

Open up Disk management (Start -> Run -> Type diskmgmt.msc)
Right click disk to remove from Raid and select Offline (Click on Disk to left not the graphic on right)
Reboot PC
Open Disk management back up, select disk, and put online.
Immediately after, Right click graphic and select remove Mirror.

Solution Two

Physically unplug one of the disks
Open Disk Management
Remove Mirror

In closing, this will get rid of your raid and give you the ability to repurpose these disks as you see fit. In the above experience, I still had my data on both disks so I just formatted one and repurposed it for other functions.

Deploy excel macros to all xls files on startup

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:39:39 GMT

To deploy excel macros on every excel file you open, you will need to create a personal file in your XLStart folder.

Here is a step-by-step

Create and test your macro
Save as – Personal.xls (Macro-Enabled workbook)
Copy the personal file to your C:Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office1#\XLStart folder
Done!

I have no clue why the articles on TechNet and Microsoft’s Knowledge-base are so long when this is all you have to do. Other than its Microsoft 😉

Note: I’ve also heard of folks dropping there *.bas macro files directly into XLStart and having the same result, but I personally have not used that method.

Remove or Hide System Reserved Partition

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:55:42 GMT

Does your system reserve partition have a drive letter? With these steps, you will Hide System Reserved Partition and no longer see it when browsing your computer.

Here is the fix using Diskpart:

Load Command Prompt (cmd)
Load Diskpart (diskpart)
List Disks (list disk)
Select Proper Disk (select disk #)
List Partitions (list partition)
Select Proper Partition (select partition #)
List Volumes (list volume) NOTE: Look at Drive letter of system reserved volume
Select the volume to hide (select volume #)
Remove assigned disk letter (remote letter X)

With this, you should no longer see it, and you will Hide System Reserved Partition for good.

Take ownership of an entire drive in Windows

Mon, 13 Jan 2014 16:37:53 GMT

The commands below will show you how to take ownership of an entire drive. Here is a simple script to accomplish just that.

Option 1: Create a cmd file takeowner.cmd in notepad

Option 2: Type the following or past this in a command line prompt one line at a time

takeown /f %1 /r /d y
icacls %1 /grant administrators:F /t

Please Note: This will take a large amount of time on big drives

In closing, this will work in almost any situation, however, if you do have issues check out my PowerShell post on taking ownership of entire network drives.

File Permissions in PowerShell

Installing .NET Framework 3.5 / 3.0 / 2.0 Error 0x800F0906

Mon, 01 Jul 2013 19:23:04 GMT

Recently I had error 0x800F0906 when doing a dot net framework update. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2734782 Note: You could take this resolution further and push it out via network script if needed. Make sure to copy the Windows 8 DVD to a local network drive before attempting.

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for the error code that you are receiving.

Error code: 0x800F0906

This error code occurs because the computer cannot download the required files from Windows Update.

This behavior can be caused by a system administrator who configures the computer to use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) instead of the Microsoft Windows Update server for servicing. In this case, contact your system administrator and request that they enable the Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair Group Policy setting and configure the Alternate source file path value or select the Contact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) option.

Configure Group Policy – Option 1

Start the Local Group Policy Editor or Group Policy Management Console.
Expand Computer Configuration, expand Administrative Templates, and then select System.
Open the Specify settings for optional component installation and component repair Group Policy setting, and then select Enabled.

If you want to specify an alternative source file, in the Alternate source file path box, specify a fully qualified path of a shared folder that contains the contents of the sources\sxs folder from the installation media. Or, specify a WIM file. To specify a WIM file as an alternative source file location, add the prefix WIM: to the path, and then add the index of the image that you want to use in the WIM file as a suffix. The following are examples of values that you can specify:

Path of a shared folder: \server_name\share\Win8sxs
Path of a WIM file, in which 3 represents the index of the image in which the feature files are found: WIM: \server_name\share\install.wim:3

If it is applicable to do this, select theContact Windows Update directly to download repair content instead of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) check box.
Tap or clickOK.
At an elevated command prompt, type the following command and then press Enter to apply the policy immediately:
gpupdate /force

Use DISM via PowerShell – Option 2

Insert the Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 installation media.

At an elevated command prompt, run the following command: Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:Drive:sourcessxs /LimitAccess Note In this command, Drive is a placeholder for the drive letter for the DVD drive or for the Windows 8 installation media. For example, you run the following command:
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFx3 /All /Source:D:sourcessxs /LimitAccess

Cannot Rename Folders on mapped drive

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:46:08 GMT

This error message is displayed and I cannot rename folders on the mapped drive. By making a group policy change I was able to make this error go away.

The drive that this file or folder is stored on does not allow long file names, or names containing blanks or any of the following characters: / : , ; * ? < > |

Solution: Create a GPO to fix

To resolve this problem, turn off Fast Logon Optimization. I recommend creating a GPO in your domain controller to achieve this. If its an isolated instance to one PC, you can use gpedit.msc to enforce it on that one PC.

Group Policy Settings to Change

Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Scripts\Run logon scripts synchronously

Full Screen RDP and various Remote Desktop Session hotkeys

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:40:02 GMT

Here are all the hotkeys I use regularly when doing Full Screen RDP.

Full Screen RDP Hotkey:

Ctrl + Alt + Pause/Break Key

Activate Connection Bar:

Ctrl + Alt + Home

Send Ctrl+Alt+Del on Remote Computer

Ctrl + Alt + End

Simulate Alt+Tab on Remote Computer

Alt + Page Up/Page Down

Windows Key Press on Remote Computer

Alt + Home

I often find myself using these hotkeys to move around, but these are needed especially when you have a locked up program in an RDP session.

Ideas

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Current Ideas for Videos and Articles

[ ] ZFS, couple that with Sanoid and Syncoid
[ ] Tiling Window Manager for Windows - https://github.com/LGUG2Z/komorebi
[ ] TrueNAS Scale
[ ] Hyprland Window Manager for Wayland - https://github.com/hyprwm/Hyprland
[ ] Setting Up Linux Gaming
[ ] Live Stream Radio Browser Program (Strimio)
[ ] DSTask - https://github.com/naggie/dstask
[ ] Portainer.io
[ ] PiKVM (https://pikvm.org/)https://pikvm.org/
[ ] KVM / QEMU full tutorial
[ ] Zerotier - BestVPN
[ ] Darling - MacOS Emulation https://www.darlinghq.org/
[ ] plex server setup linux
[ ] Enable GPO in Win 10 Home https://www.itechtics.com/enable-gpedit-windows-10-home/#Method_1_Enable_Group_Policy_Editor_in_Windows_10_Home_using_GPEdit_Installer
[ ] automount drives systemd
[ ] rEFInd Bootloader
[ ] snapdrop.net - Share files between devices
[ ] WinGet and Windows Terminal
[ ] https://mycroft.ai - Open Source Home Assistant
[ ] Samba Advanced Video
[ ] Github config save
[ ] systemd-services on startup cleanup
[ ] debtap install deb packages on arch - rpm2cpio - alien
[ ] https://github.com/dreamer/luxtorpeda/ - Gaming native
[ ] OpenHABian
[ ] Startup Programs and managing them
[ ] Live USB Environments
[ ] jellyfin
[ ] Adding Android Libraries / Davik Virtualization
[ ] Quibble Windows Bootloader - https://github.com/maharmstone/quibble
[ ] Kodachi
[ ] Linux Users and Groups
[ ] Grafana Zabbix Monitoring
[ ] Alienvault OSSIM
[ ] resize filesystem
[ ] URXVT
[ ] Ranger
[ ] Vagrant
[ ] Arch CHROOT Repair
[ ] alpine linux - The 100MB Linux
[ ] Kubernetes Initial Setup
[ ] DEX Linux
[ ] Making a workstation to load images on PCs - FOG Project
[ ] Linux Screen Command
[ ] Firejail
[ ] Chroot from USB drive
[ ] Debloat Linux
[ ] Linux Firewall - UFW
[ ] Privacytools.io
[ ] Add SSD or Hard Drive to VM
[ ] pulse effects and pulse equalizer
[ ] PxE and TFTP Servers
[ ] Update MOTD for on Servers
[ ] Using the grep command
[ ] LAMP Stack on Ubuntu
[ ] SMB4k
[ ] Docker
[ ] Redhat Line of Products (Insights / Ansible / OpenShift)
[ ] Snaps and Flatpacks

Windows Store not loading (On Domain)

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:13:46 GMT

After joining my computer to the domain windows store would not load. I first had to re-enable UAC because of a GPO and that fixed launching the metro apps. I was still having the issue with Windows Store not loading and this fixed it.

Symptoms

First, if you’re getting shut out of the store (“Can’t connect to the Store right now” kind of messages) & on a corporate, managed machine (you’ll see ‘Managed by your system administrator’ in Windows Update) – plus getting stuff like this in event viewer:

Resolution

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsUpdate]
"DisableWindowsUpdateAccess"=dword:00000000

Either copy/paste that text into a text file, save it as storefix.reg & run it, or navigate to that tree & change the DWORD from 1 to 0. Next, go into services.msc & restart the Windows Update service.

Windows Refresh PC Setting

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:51:38 GMT

Using Windows Refresh PC now solves the common problem, that PCs get infected with viruses and require you to either reload it from the disc or recovery partition. Sometimes people lost the disc, re-partitioned their drives, or simply had their hard drive fail. This leads to installing windows from scratch and hunting down all your drivers.

That is all changing in Windows 8, they are including a “Refresh” option and a “Remove everything and Re-install Windows” option.

I’m skeptical on how well this works, but in theory, this could be a great thing for the home user. Windows 8 computers are likely to get infected, just as much as a Windows 7 computer. However, having these options at users fingertips could be a blessing or a curse. Imagine if a virus re-programs these features, wouldn’t that be fun 😉 I guess we will just have to wait and see.

“Refresh your PC”

The Windows refresh PC options remove all user-installed applications from 3rd parties, i.e. Adobe products from a disc, Google Chrome, or anything you installed on the “desktop” portion of windows 8. This pretty much erases all applications on your PC, except those from the windows store. You see where I’m going here, don’t you? Microsoft hopes that end users will purchase EVERYTHING from their store, which it can vet and make sure it doesn’t have viruses. Microsoft will, of course, take a piece of the pie on that purchase and is why Windows 8 will be so cheap. I have mixed emotions on this, but it does make a lot of sense.

“Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows”

This will be nice to have it part of the operating system. It should have been there on past windows, but better late than never. A simple reformats, and reload without the need to hunt down the correct windows disc.

Overall, I’m happy to see Microsoft taking steps to transition the computer world away from where we have been. There will be bugs, and Windows 8 is a far cry from perfect, but I like its direction. I’m looking forward to the official launch next month.

To Learn more about Windows Refresh PC and Restoring custom images go to http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2012/01/04/refresh-and-reset-your-pc.aspx

This details creating a custom refresh image which would include 3rd party applications. This could be a godsend for IT Professionals in business, since the image would be local and easily a one-click fix all button, so to speak.

“Error 1327. Invalid Drive” or “Error 1325 – not a valid short file name” Fix

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:05:32 GMT

If you are installing a program and receiving a pop-up message during installation of valid short file name this applies to you. I removed a drive from my computer and had this happen to me.

Steps to Fix “not a valid short file name”

Click Start, and then click Run.
In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
Under Registry Editor, locate the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
On the right pane, note the values in the Data field of each entry. If any value contains a drive that is not correct for your computer, right-click the entry, type c:\my documents in the Value data box, and then click OK.
Repeat step 4 for each entry whose Data value contains an incorrect drive.
Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each of the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

7.Close Registry Editor.

Re-run your setup program and you shouldn’t see “not a valid short file name” error. Also, I’d recommend running the registry cleaning portion of CCleaner and checking your Environmental Variables (Under System Properties, Advanced, then Environmental Variables.)

Keep Windows 7 from installing device drivers from Windows Update

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:57:09 GMT

I find a very annoying feature of Windows 7 is every device you install by default searches windows update. This makes installing devices a lot longer than it needs to be. Follow these steps to make windows search your computer first and then Windows Update if needed.

Right Click My Computer from Start Menu and select “Properties”
Click “Advanced System Settings”
Select Hardware Tab, and click “Device Installation Settings”
Highlight “No, Let me choose what to do”

4a. Also, “Install driver software from Windows Update if it is not found on my computer”

Save Changes and you are done. You now install devices at lightning speed!