My Windows 10 set up for a laptop.

Reset system

This is a factory reset, all files will go.

Settings -> Update & security -> Recovery. Under Reset this PC, choose Get started, then Remove everything.

If the computer originally came with other version of Windows, for example if you bought it with Windows 8 then upgraded to Windows 10, you may see an additional option Restore factory settings. Don’t choose cause it will restore the version of Windows that came on the computer originally.

Choose either Just remove my files or Remove files and clean the drive. The latter will wipe the hard disk contents for increased security. This will take between 40 and 60 minutes if you let the installer check your disk.

Set user, password and other settings. You will login automatically.

Create restore point

Create a restore point with the clean installation. Right click on Start menu -> System. Click on System Protection on left column. Select system drive and click on button Configure.

A new windows is displayed. Select Turn on system protection. If needed set the max usage. Click OK.

Back on System Protection tab of System Properties, the system drive shows Protection enabled/on. Select it, and click on button Create. Describe appropiately, for example “Clean reinstallation”. Then click OK.

After a few seconds System Protection will confirm that the restore point was created succesfully.

You may restart Windows.

Lock screen on timeout

Settings -> Personalization -> Lock screen. Click on Screen saver settings at the bottom of page. In the displayed window, check the box On resume, display logon screen and enter how many minutes to wait to automatically lock the screen. You don’t have to select a screen saver.

Set system power settings

A few recommended power settings.

Press Meta+E to open File Explorer, and go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items. Click on Power Options, then on Require a password on wakeup and then on Change settings that are currently unavailable

Do nothing when the power button is pressed, when the sleep button is pressed and when the lid is closed.

Select Require a password (recommended) in section Password protection on wakeup.

In section Shutdown settings uncheck Turn on fast startup and check Sleep, Hibernate and Lock.

Customize the default power plans or create a new one if needed. Make sure that the power plan you use has the following options selected (click on corresponding Change plan settings and then Change advanced power settings):

  • Require a password on wakeup: yes on both battery and plugged in.

Network connection

When connecting to a network for the first time, select No when asked Do you want to allow your PC to be discoverable by other PCs and devices on this network?

In Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Network and Sharing Center\Advanced sharing settings. Display profile Guest or Public and select Turn off network discovery and Turn off file and printer sharing.

Display All Networks and select Turn off Public folder sharing, Use 128-bit encryption and Turn on password protected sharing.

Disable remote assistance

Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System and click on Advanced system settings. Go to tab Remote and uncheck Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.

Configure Windows Update

Settings -> Update and Security. Click on Advanced Options. Select Notify to schedule restart.

Then click on Choose how updates are delivered and turn off Updates from more than one place.

Connect to the internet to let Windows update itself.

Update & Security

Windows Defender

Settings -> Windows Defender

  • Cloud-based Protetion. Get better, faster protection by sending Microsoft info about potential security problems Windows Defender finds: off.

  • Automatic sample submission. Help us make Windows Defender better by sending Microsoft samples so we can improve our anti-virus and malware measures…: off.

Add exclusions as necessary.

For developers

Select Windows Store app. Only install apps from the Windows Store.

Security and Maintenance

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Security and Maintenance. Click on Change Security and Maintenance settings and check all the boxes in section Turn messages on or off. Then click OK to return to previous window.

In section Security -> User Account Control, click on Change settings to show the window User Account Control Settings. Select Always notify, maximum notification level. Click OK.

Then in section Windows SmartScreen, click on Change settings to show window Windows SmartScreen. Select option Get administrator approval before running an unrecognized app from the Internet.

Windows Firewall

Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Firewall and then click on Change notification settings. For both private and public network settings, select Turn on Windows Firewall and check Notify me when Windows Firewall blocks a new app.

Analyze and optimize local partitions

Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools in File Explorer. Double click on Defragment and optimize drives. For each main partition, select it and click on Analyze and Optimize. This can take a while.

Rename PC

System -> About -> Rename PC.

Privacy

Settings -> Privacy.

General

  • Let apps user my advertising ID for experiences across app: off.
  • Turn on SmartScreen Filter…: on.
  • Send Microsoft info about how I write to help us improve typing and writing in the future = off.
  • Let website provide locally relevant content by accessing my language list: off.

Activity History

Keywords: timeline, task view, multiple desktops, virtual desktops.

Uncheck everything, switch off activity for every account and clear activity history.

Location

Off.

Account info

Let apps access my name, picture and other account info: off.

Contacts

No app allowed to access contacts.

Calendar

Let apps access my calendar: off.

Call History

Let apps access my call history: off.

Email

Let apps access and send email: off.

Messaging

Let apps read or send messages (text or MMS): off.

Radios

Let apps control radios: off.

Other devices

Let your apps automatically share and sync info with wireless devices that don’t explicitly pair with your PC, tablet, or phone: off.

Feedback & diagnostics

  • Windows should ask for my feedback: never
  • Send your device data to Microsoft: Basic.

Language

Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Language\Advanced Settings.

In Personalization data select Don’t use automatic learning and delete all previously collected data

In Language for web content check Don’t let websites access my language list….

Enable ping

Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. In left column click on Inbound Rules. Order the rules by name and look for a set of rules whose name start with the string File and Printer Sharing (Echo Request -. Select the rule(s) applicable to your need case and enabled them without modification.

Adjust visual effects for best performance

Go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System. Click on Advanced system settinsg. In tab Advanced click on Performance Settings. Select Adjust for best performance and click OK.

Then, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Ease of Access Center. Click on make the computer easier to see. Check Turn off all unnecessary animations and click OK.

Misc

  • Add desktop with Meta+Ctrl+D.
  • Move to next desktop with Meta+Ctrl+Right-Arrow.
  • System -> Notifications & actions -> Hide notifications while presenting = on.
  • System -> Devices -> AutoPlay. Set it off and choose Take no action for all AutoPlay defaults.
  • System -> Devices -> USB. Notify me if there are issues connecting to USB devices = on.

After initial configuration

After the initial configuration is a good to create a restore point.

References

  • Windows 10: The Missing Manual. David Pogue. O’Reilly Media, Inc. September 2015