#setup #windows

Windows is what I typically just use for gaming and some general stuff, only one of my computers actually runs windows, definitely recommend setting up WSL for it

WSL

Since I run NixOS I use https://github.com/nix-community/NixOS-WSL

Following which I setup an SSH key and clone this repo (my nix config) git clone git@github.com:rft/nix-config.git

git will likely be missing from a fresh NixOS install, you can add git temporarily with nix quite easily with nix shell nixpkgs#git

after it has been cloned I run sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#mistletoe "mistletoe" being what I defined my WSL host as.

Windows Software

Software list

Powershell
Everything
windirstat
Executor
Blackblaze
Prism Launcher
wootility
Air screen mirroring
Bambu Studio
Naps2
Raindrops
Autohotkey
mpv.net
lossless cut

Powershell

If you want to keep your sanity on windows use powershell, makes you feel more at home if you are used to bash, no longer will you type "ls" and be rejected by windows for not typing "dir" instead

In some ways it's actually better than bash, since it lets you move objects down the pipeline, but given the option I am usually in WSL instead, still though it's not too bad, and becomes really nice with the extensions listed later below.

Powershell is usually installed by default, but with whatever version on windows it can be quite old, so I would suggest you get the latest elsewhere. It should be available via winget or on the appstore

winget install -e --id Microsoft.PowerShell

Everything

Executor

Might be marked as a virus (allow through defender)
make sure to mark launch on startup
Change keybind to win + alt + A

Quick install via winget

winget install --id=Obsidian.Obsidian  -e
winget install --id=Valve.Steam  -e
winget install --id=Discord.Discord  -e
winget install --id=Spotify.Spotify  -e
winget install --id=Flameshot.Flameshot  -e
winget install --id=WerWolv.ImHex  -e
winget install --id=calibre.calibre  -e
winget install --id=SolveSpace.SolveSpace  -e
winget install --id=Cockos.REAPER  -e
winget install --id=Audacity.Audacity  -e
winget install --id=Cyanfish.NAPS2  -e
winget install --id=AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey  -e
winget install --id=RustemMussabekov.Raindrop  -e
winget install --id=BlenderFoundation.Blender  -e
winget install --id=OpenStenoProject.Plover  -e
winget install --id=Anki.Anki  -e
winget install --id=WinDirStat.WinDirStat  -e 
winget install --id=voidtools.Everything  -e
winget install --id=PrismLauncher.PrismLauncher  -e
winget install --id=WiresharkFoundation.Wireshark  -e
winget install --id=OBSProject.OBSStudio  -e
winget install --id=ajeetdsouza.zoxide  -e
winget install --id=DebaucheeOpenSourceGroup.Barrier  -e
winget install --id=Bitwarden.Bitwarden  -e
winget install --id=Microsoft.VisualStudioCode  -e
winget install --id=MartinBresson.Executor  -e
winget install --id=Bambulab.Bambustudio  -e
winget install --id=Ablaze.Floorp  -e
winget install --id=Vivaldi.Vivaldi  -e
winget install --id=VideoLAN.VLC  -e
winget install --id=mpv.net  -e
winget install --id=BurntSushi.ripgrep.GNU  -e
winget install --id=sharkdp.fd  -e
winget install --id=ch.LosslessCut  -e
winget install --id=RevoUninstaller.RevoUninstaller  -e
winget install --id=Rufus.Rufus  -e
winget install -e --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.ProcessExplorer

App Store

There are a few things I get from the Appstore, mainly for convenience

Oh my posh
Powertoys
Icloud
Wolfram Alpha
Devtoys

Settings

Disable suggest snap when snapping window to side

System > Multitasking
Click dropdown arrow and uncheck "When I snap a window, suggest what I can snap next to it"

Disable "ads"

Personalization > Lockscreen
Uncheck "Get fun facts, tips, tricks and more on your lock screen"
Personalize your lock screen > picture

Enable Hibernation

Open the old control panel (Might need to search)
Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do > Check hibernation

System > Multitasking

Click dropdown arrow and uncheck "When I snap a window, suggest what I can snap next to it"

Terminal

- Psreadline
- Zoxide
- oh my posh
- alias pwsh=“/mnt/c/Program\ Files/Powershell/7/pwsh.exe” 
- alias vi=nvim
- alias vim=nvim
- alias cd=z

⚠️ **Warning**: Make sure powershell version is > 6 `$PSVersionTable.PSVersion` to check

Hide other stuff from terminal

Profiles > Azure/Command promt, > Hide porfile form dropdown

Oh My Posh

A bit of software that makes your terminal look nice Pasted image 20260406135911.png

winget install JanDeDobbeleer.OhMyPosh --source winget --scope user --force or get it on the windows app store https://ohmyposh.dev/docs/installation/windows

Add required stuff to path

If you downloaded via the app store you do not need to follow these steps

search environment variables on windows search and click on edit environment variables for account
from there click on Environment Variables...
from there click on PATH and add C:\Users\<youruser>\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\bin\
for themes create a new variable called POSH_THEMES_PATH and add C:\Users\<youruser>\AppData\Local\Programs\oh-my-posh\themes\

Create powershell profile

if using a newer version of powershell it will ask if you want a profile made. if you do run notepad $PROFILE

if it fails (likely means your powershell version is old) you can run if (!(Test-Path -Path $PROFILE)) { New-Item -ItemType File -Path $PROFILE -Force } but I would recommend you update instead!

Add required software

https://github.com/PowerShell/PSReadLine From an elevated terminal run Install-Module -Name PowerShellGet -Force; exit

Install-Module PSReadLine -Repository PSGallery -Scope CurrentUser -AllowPrerelease -Force

https://github.com/devblackops/Terminal-Icons

Install-Module -Name Terminal-Icons -Repository PSGallery

View profile

notepad $PROFILE

oh-my-posh init pwsh --config "$env:POSH_THEMES_PATH\powerlevel10k_rainbow.omp.json" | Invoke-Expression

Import-Module -Name Terminal-Icons
Import-Module -Name PSReadLine

Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionSource History
Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionViewStyle listView
Set-PSReadLineOption -EditMode Windows

Invoke-Expression (& {
	$hook = if ($PSVersionTable.PSVersion.Major -lt 6) { 'prompt' } else { "pwd" }
	(zoxide init --hook $hook powershell | Out-String)
})

Starting directory

%USERPROFILE%

Browser Extensions

Both Firefox/Chromium

Firefox Only

Sideberry

Chrome Only