One of the more tedious tasks during the PC build process is reinstalling all the programs you want and adjusting your Windows settings to your liking. Nobody wants to spend more time in the doldrums of menus and installation wizards than they otherwise would have to. To save time, self-proclaimed IT expert Chris Titus has developed a lightweight utility that allows you to quickly install frequently used applications and make simple tweaks to your Windows installation that would otherwise be a bit tedious. I love this tool and think it is an essential tool that both power users and casual computer builders should keep in their arsenal.
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Extremely light
The best utilities on your PC are the ones that require the least amount of effort to run. That couldn't be more true for what Chris calls “the ultimate Windows utility.” It can be run immediately from a Windows PowerShell terminal as long as you run it with administrative privileges. Just copy and paste the following line and it will open: iwr -useb https://christitus.com/win | iex
The first screen allows you to install frequently used applications. Here you'll find everything from your favorite web browser to productivity staples to must-have utilities. There are very few things that I use daily that aren't on this list. You can also use this tab to quickly uninstall these applications if necessary.
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Quickly eliminate bloating and clutter
The next two tabs, Tweaks and Config, are used to quickly disable features you may not need and eliminate common annoyances that come with reinstalling the operating system. These can be rudimentary things like deleting temporary files or more complex tasks like completely removing OneDrive from your system. I would exercise caution in executing some of these; Chris provides detailed information on his GitHub so you can check what each optimization does. You can find this by clicking on the question mark next to the customization name.
Chris also offers some recommended choices, from “Standard,” which includes almost everything, to “Minimal,” which includes just the essentials. Once you've made your selection of tweaks and installations, you can export your configuration to a JSON file, so the next time you reimage your computer, setup is as easy as copying your configuration. For more information about the tool itself, visit Chris's website.
Don't make it more painful than it needs to be
Whether you're setting up a fresh install or tweaking a few things on your existing computer, it's easy to get stuck in the muck. The splitting of Windows settings has made making small changes a major hassle. Don't torture yourself. Use this utility or look for another one to simplify any changes you want to make to your Windows installation. This tool is not exhaustive and some things still require a trip into the settings in Windows.