Set up a conservative Windows Update cadence and useful restore points.

High Level Steps

  1. Set up deferred Windows updates.
  2. Create a restore point.
  3. Run a memory diagnostic.
  4. Install essential software.
  5. Create another restore point.
  6. Set up developer environment.
  7. Create yet another restore point.

1. Deferred Windows Updates

This option is no longer available as of the Oct 2020 update (version 20H2).

Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced Options (available in Windows 10 Professional)

  • Channel: Semi-Annual
  • Feature Update Delay: 365
  • Quality Update Delay: 30

Settings > Network & Internet > WiFi (or Ethernet) > Click on some Network Name > Metered Connection > On

Metered connections will install Quality Updates but not Feature Updates.

Windows 10 Update Types include feature updates to add new features and occur 2x/year in approx March and September and quality updates to enhance security and reliability and occur about once per month. Windows 10 Update Channels include Windows Insider, Semi-Annual (Targeted), Semi-Annual, and Long-Term Servicing. For details see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/update/waas-overview

2/5/7. Restore Point

Search for "Create a restore point"

3. Memory Diagnostics

Search for "Memory diagnostic"

After performing the diagnostic, find details in Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System and search for MemoryDiagnostics

4. My Essential Software

  • Windows Terminal
  • Vim
  • Git
  • Firefox & Brave
  • BitWarden

And map caps lock to control via PowerShell. Then restart the computer.

$hexified = "00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,1d,00,3a,00,00,00,00,00".Split(',') | % { "0x$_"};

$kbLayout = 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout';

New-ItemProperty -Path $kbLayout -Name "Scancode Map" -PropertyType Binary -Value ([byte[]]$hexified);

Screen Shots

Advanced Windows Update Settings

This is available in Windows 10 Professional

Metered Connections

Restore Point

Memory Diagnostics