How to Setup Windows PROPERLY
0 up · 0 down · 0 ratings
Promos
Thanks to MSI for sponsoring this video and sending us the laptops! Check them out using the links below! Raider 18 HX AI: msi.gm Vector A18 HX: msi.gm Stealth A16 AI+: msi.gm Whether it's finishing the fresh Windows install on your new laptop or prebuilt, or you're just trying to do some debloating the next time you reset your machine, we've got you covered. And for everything else, there's Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility which we did not cover in this video. Links to everything we used: ninite.com chocolatey.org rufus.ie schneegans.de Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET OUR MERCH: lttstore.com ► GET EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON FLOATPLANE: lmg.gg ► GET A VPN: piavpn.com ► SPONSORS, AFFILIATES, AND PARTNERS: lmg.gg Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:49 Downloading Windows 1:43 Network Drivers 2:24 Getting ready for installation 2:57 RAPID FIRE 3:42 Ninite 4:33 OOBE 5:54 Driver Updates 8:10 Managing Startup Apps 8:41 Debloating 9:22 Anti-Virus? 9:46 Magical Tips 12:23 Rufus 13:59 Online results in the windows search function 14:49 Our Last Trick 17:22 Outro
The video provides a comprehensive, practical guide to performing a fresh Windows installation with a focus on a clean, bloatware-free setup tailored for enthusiasts and gamers using MSI hardware. It begins by outlining the needed preparation steps, including downloading the Windows 11 installation media with the Media Creation Tool, creating a USB installer, and ensuring you have both LAN and Wi-Fi drivers ready on a separate USB drive. The host emphasizes starting from a clean slate by removing other drives and selecting the correct boot device, then walking through the Windows 11 installation prompts, including language, keyboard, and edition choices, and the potential need to supply or bypass a product key. After Windows is installed, the guide moves on to post-install steps aimed at speed, stability, and customization, such as installing essential utilities like Ninite, configuring out-of-box features, and disabling telemetry prompts to reduce data leakage. A core portion of the video is devoted to driver management and system optimization, including updating network, GPU, and chipset drivers from official sources, and using MSI Center to manage startup programs while omitting unnecessary utilities. The presenter also covers debloating and smart software removal, illustrating how to uninstall bloatware like Copilot, OneDrive, and Teams, and explains why Windows Defender is a solid built-in antivirus option. The latter part of the video expands into advanced tricks for power users, including bypassing certain setup requirements with legitimate caveats, managing privacy settings via registry edits, and a demonstration of combining prior steps into a fully customized unattended installation. Finally, the video showcases a high-end MSI laptop as a case study for how aggressive debloating and driver optimization can impact performance, with a candid note about the marginal visual gains on a particular model but the overall value of a streamlined Windows environment for gaming and productivity. The overall takeaway is that a modern Windows install can be lean, fast, and tailored through careful selection of drivers, startup controls, and selective software, while staying mindful of security and reliability. The host closes by acknowledging MSI sponsorship and pointing to resources and tools used throughout the process.
Topics · technology · howto · windows · hardware · gaming · performance · software
Questions answered
- What tools and resources are recommended for a clean Windows installation and post install setup?
- The video recommends using the Windows 11 installation media from Microsoft via the Media Creation Tool, a USB flash drive for the installer, and utilities like Ninite for bulk-installing common apps, Rufus for creating a bootable ISO, and optional package managers like Chocolatey. It also suggests MSI Center (optional) for driver and startup management, and sources drivers from the official motherboard or laptop manufacturer pages, plus AMD and Nvidia sites for chipset and GPU drivers.
- Should you install third party antivirus after a fresh Windows install?
- No, the presenter notes that Windows Defender is already a solid option and that additional antivirus software is not necessarily better in modern setups.
- How can you bypass Microsoft account or internet requirements during Windows setup?
- The video demonstrates advanced tricks such as booting the installer with Shift+F10 to access a command window, using commands to bypass user prompts, and in some sections using registry edits to bypass account and TPM checks. These steps are presented as options for power users, with warnings about the risks and the need to use them carefully.
- What is the recommended approach to dealing with bloatware after installation?
- The recommended approach is to uninstall unwanted preinstalled apps like Copilot, OneDrive, and Teams through the Settings > Apps > Installed apps interface, and to avoid unnecessary utilities while using tools like Ninite to quickly grab preferred software.