# Windows Installing Steps

# Installing Windows

## Useful Commands

### Skip Account Creation
```powershell
start ms-cxh:localonly
```

#### Also Skip Network Requirement
```powershell
oobe\bypassnro
```

## Windows To Go

**Windows To Go** creates a portable, bootable Windows environment on a USB drive. For Windows 11, **Rufus** is required for a portable installation.

### Installation 

* **Insert Drive:** Open Rufus and select your USB.
* *Tip:* Press **Alt + F** to show all external drives.

* **Load ISO:** Click **Select** and pick your Windows ISO.
* **Mode:** Set **Image option** to **Windows To Go**.
* **Format:** Choose **GPT** (UEFI) or **MBR** (BIOS).
* **Customize:** Click **Start** and ensure you **uncheck** "Prevent Windows To Go from accessing internal disks" (if you want your internal files visible).
* **Finish:** Select your Windows edition and click **OK** to flash.

### Fixing Freezing On External NVMe

#### Paging File

* Run `sysdm.cpl` in `Win`+`R`.
* Navigate to Advanced > Performance > Settings... > Advanced > Virtual Memory > Change...
* Uncheck `Automatically manage paging file size for all drives`, then select `No paging file` and click `Set`.

#### Power Management

* **Power Options:** Set `USB selective suspend` to **Disabled** and `PCI Express Link State Power Management` to **Off**.
* **Device Manager:** Under `Universal Serial Bus controllers`, right-click **USB Root Hubs** > Properties > Power Management > Uncheck **"Allow the computer to turn off this device."**

#### Disk Performance Policies

* **Device Manager:** `Disk drives` > [Your NVMe] > Properties > Policies.
* **Selection:** Choose **Better performance** and check **Enable write caching on the device**.

#### Service Optimization

Disable these in `services.msc` to stop 100% disk spikes:

* **SysMain:** Stop and set to **Disabled**.
* **Windows Search:** Stop and set to **Disabled**.
* **Connected User Experiences and Telemetry:** Stop and set to **Disabled**.

#### OS & Hardware Tweaks

* **Notifications:** Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings > Uncheck **"Get tips and suggestions."**
* **TRIM:** Run **"Defragment and Optimize Drives"**; ensure drive is detected as "Solid state drive" and click **Optimize**.
* **File System:** Run `chkdsk C: /f /r` from an Admin Command Prompt.
* **Hardware Check:** Verify use of a **USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps)** cable and port to avoid bandwidth throttling.


## WinBoat
RDP ports are taken from a pool: 47000-47009!