Power User Software Inventory for Windows

This guide is the curated Windows software installation list that pairs with everything else on this site — privacy-respecting browsers, terminals, productivity tools, sync clients, and utilities, all installable via winget or as portable apps. It assumes a debloated Windows base from Tiny 11 vs Atlas OS vs ReviOS, and the Dropbox/Mega/KDE Connect entries are the same three apps that make cross-OS sync work in the dual-boot guide.

---

Quick Start

If you want to install the essentials right now:

# Run in PowerShell (as Administrator for some packages)
winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys -e
winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e
winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e
winget install --id Git.Git -e
winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e
winget install --id 7zip.7zip -e
winget install --id Notepad++.Notepad++ -e
winget install --id AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey -e

That covers 80% of a power user’s daily needs. Below is the full curated catalog.

---

Prerequisites

Update Windows Package Manager

winget ships with Windows 11 and Windows 10 (1809+). It updates itself through the Microsoft Store (App Installer package), so there is usually nothing to do. If you must nudge it:

# Update winget itself (App Installer)
winget upgrade --id Microsoft.AppInstaller -e

Note: the winget repository version can trail your installed Store version — a “no applicable upgrade” result here is normal and means you’re already current.

Use --id and -e Flags

For reproducible installs, always use exact IDs with the -e (exact match) flag:

# Good - exact ID, version-locked
winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e

# Bad - name can match multiple packages
winget install Firefox

To find a package ID:

winget search "Firefox"
# Returns: Mozilla.Firefox    Firefox    ...

---

AI & Agentic Systems

Tools for autonomous coding, research, and AI-assisted workflows.

Tool	Install	Purpose
Claude Code	winget install --id Anthropic.ClaudeCode -e	Agentic CLI for coding and research (packaged on winget, verified)
GitHub Copilot	VS Code extension (see below)	AI pair programmer in your editor
Ollama	winget install --id Ollama.Ollama -e	Run open LLMs locally (Llama, Mistral, etc.)
LM Studio	winget install --id ElementLabs.LMStudio -e	GUI for running local LLMs
Jan	winget install --id Jan.Jan -e	ChatGPT-like desktop client for local models

VS Code AI Extensions

# GitHub Copilot (paid subscription)
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot
code --install-extension GitHub.copilot-chat

# Windsurf Plugin (formerly Codeium) — free autocomplete tier
# (the extension ID is still Codeium.codeium; the vendor lists it as maintenance mode)
code --install-extension Codeium.codeium

# Continue.dev (open source AI assistant)
code --install-extension Continue.continue

---

Core Development Environment

Languages, runtimes, and version managers.

Tool	Install	Purpose
Git	winget install --id Git.Git -e	Version control
GitHub Desktop	winget install --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop -e	GUI for Git
Node.js (LTS)	winget install --id OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS -e	JavaScript runtime
Python 3.12	winget install --id Python.Python.3.12 -e	Python interpreter
uv	pip install uv or winget install --id astral-sh.uv -e	Fast Python package manager
Rust	winget install --id Rustlang.Rustup -e	Rust toolchain
Go	winget install --id GoLang.Go -e	Go toolchain
Java JDK 21	winget install --id EclipseAdoptium.Temurin.21.JDK -e	Java development kit
.NET SDK 8	winget install --id Microsoft.DotNet.SDK.8 -e	.NET development

Version Managers

For languages where you need multiple versions, fnm (Fast Node Manager) manages Node releases and is faster than nvm:

winget install --id Schniz.fnm -e

---

Editors & IDEs

The primary interfaces for code and document editing.

Tool	Install	Purpose
VS Code	winget install --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode -e	Primary extensible IDE
Zed	winget install --id ZedIndustries.Zed -e	High-performance, memory-efficient editor
Notepad++	winget install --id Notepad++.Notepad++ -e	Lightweight text editor (replaces Notepad)
Sublime Text	winget install --id SublimeHQ.SublimeText.4 -e	Fast commercial editor
Neovim	winget install --id Neovim.Neovim -e	Modal terminal editor
Cursor	winget install --id Anysphere.Cursor -e	AI-first VS Code fork
Windsurf	winget install --id Codeium.Windsurf -e	AI-powered VS Code fork

VS Code Essential Extensions

# Language & tooling
code --install-extension dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
code --install-extension esbenp.prettier-vscode
code --install-extension EditorConfig.EditorConfig

# Git
code --install-extension eamodio.gitlens

# Containers & remote
code --install-extension ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers
code --install-extension ms-azuretools.vscode-docker

# Markdown
code --install-extension yzhang.markdown-all-in-one
code --install-extension davidanson.vscode-markdownlint

# Productivity
code --install-extension usernamehw.errorlens
code --install-extension christian-kohler.path-intellisense

---

Data Analysis & Science

Statistical computing, data science, and research tools.

Tool	Install	Purpose
R 4.x	Download from cran.r-project.org/bin/windows/base/	Statistical computing
RStudio	winget install --id Posit.RStudio -e	R IDE
Python (via uv)	See above	Data science alternative
JupyterLab	pip install jupyterlab	Notebook environment
Stata	Official installer from stata.com (license required — no winget package exists)	Professional statistics
SPSS	IBM installer only	IBM statistics
Julia	winget install --id Julialang.Julia -e	High-performance scientific computing

---

System Utilities & Optimization

Tools for monitoring, backup, and system management.

Tool	Install	Purpose
PowerToys	winget install --id Microsoft.PowerToys -e	Microsoft power user toolbox
7-Zip	winget install --id 7zip.7zip -e	Archive manager (replaces built-in)
Everything	winget install --id voidtools.Everything -e	Instant file search (like macOS Spotlight)
QuickLook	winget install --id QL-Win.QuickLook -e	macOS-style Spacebar file preview
PDFgear	winget install --id PDFgear.PDFgear -e	Free PDF reading, editing, and conversion
Sysinternals Suite	winget install --id Microsoft.Sysinternals.Suite -e	Advanced system tools (ID was renamed from Microsoft.SysinternalsSuite)
BleachBit	winget install --id BleachBit.BleachBit -e	System cleaner (CCleaner alternative)
HWMonitor	winget install --id CPUID.HWMonitor -e	Hardware temperature monitoring
CrystalDiskInfo	winget install --id CrystalDewWorld.CrystalDiskInfo -e	Disk health monitoring
CPU-Z	winget install --id CPUID.CPU-Z -e	Detailed hardware info
GPU-Z	winget install --id TechPowerUp.GPU-Z -e	GPU detailed info
Revo Uninstaller	winget install --id RevoUninstaller.RevoUninstaller -e	Thorough app removal
Eyes Guard	winget install --id Avestura.EyesGuard -e	Screen-time reminders for eye rest (EyeLeo is a solid alternative)

Backup & Recovery

Tool	Install	Purpose
Veeam Agent for Windows (Free)	Download from veeam.com	Full system image backup
Clonezilla	Download from clonezilla.org	Open-source disk imaging/cloning (bootable)
Rescuezilla	Download from rescuezilla.com	GUI frontend for Clonezilla images (bootable, no winget package)
File History	Built into Windows	Continuous file backup

Note: Macrium Reflect Free was discontinued in January 2024 (no longer distributed or patched). Legacy copies found on third-party mirrors receive no security fixes — prefer the tools above.

---

Internet & Communication

Browsers, email, messaging, and remote access.

Tool	Install	Purpose
Firefox	winget install --id Mozilla.Firefox -e	Privacy-respecting browser
Google Chrome	winget install --id Google.Chrome -e	Mainstream browser
Brave	winget install --id Brave.Brave -e	Chromium with built-in ad blocking
Thunderbird	winget install --id Mozilla.Thunderbird -e	Email client
Zoom	winget install --id Zoom.Zoom -e	Video conferencing
Discord	winget install --id Discord.Discord -e	Community chat
Slack	winget install --id SlackTechnologies.Slack -e	Work chat
Signal	winget install --id OpenWhisperSystems.Signal -e	Private messaging
Telegram	winget install --id Telegram.TelegramDesktop -e	Cloud messaging
Microsoft Teams (personal)	winget install --id Microsoft.Teams -e	Microsoft’s chat
Mullvad VPN	winget install --id MullvadVPN.MullvadVPN -e	Privacy VPN
Proton VPN	winget install --id Proton.ProtonVPN -e	Privacy VPN with free tier
qBittorrent	winget install --id qBittorrent.qBittorrent -e	BitTorrent client
LocalSend	winget install --id LocalSend.LocalSend -e	Cross-device file sharing
RustDesk	Download from rustdesk.com	Self-hosted remote desktop (no winget package currently)
KDE Connect	winget install --id KDE.KDEConnect -e	Cross-device clipboard, notifications, file sharing (pairs with phone and Linux)

Cloud Storage (CLI)

For automated sync, use the official CLI tools:

Tool	Install	Purpose
rclone	winget install --id Rclone.Rclone -e	Sync any cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, S3, etc.)
AWS CLI	winget install --id Amazon.AWSCLI -e	Amazon Web Services
Azure CLI	Download from aka.ms/installazurecliwindows	Microsoft Azure
Google Cloud CLI	Download from cloud.google.com/sdk	Google Cloud Platform

Cloud Storage (Desktop Sync)

Desktop clients with selective sync and “available offline” support. These are the same three apps that make cross-OS sync work in the dual-boot guide — install the equivalent clients on LMDE to keep your synced folders accessible from both operating systems.

Tool	Install	Purpose
Dropbox	winget install --id Dropbox.Dropbox -e	File sync with selective offline folders
MEGAsync	winget install --id Mega.MEGASync -e	End-to-end encrypted sync with selective folders (note the capital S — exact match is case-sensitive)

Tip for dual-boot setups: always relocate the local sync folder to a shared NTFS partition (not C:) through each app’s official Move feature. Manual drag-and-drop in File Explorer breaks the app’s tracking and triggers a full re-download. Any folder you want to read from LMDE must be set to available offline in Windows — online-only files are tied to Windows’ proprietary cloud-filter driver and won’t show up on the Linux side.

---

Media & Entertainment

Audio, video, image, and creative tools.

Tool	Install	Purpose
VLC	winget install --id VideoLAN.VLC -e	Universal media player
mpv	winget install --id shinchiro.mpv -e	Minimalist video player (power user favorite)
Spotify	winget install --id Spotify.Spotify -e	Music streaming
Audacity	winget install --id Audacity.Audacity -e	Audio editor
HandBrake	winget install --id HandBrake.HandBrake -e	Video transcoder
OBS Studio	winget install --id OBSProject.OBSStudio -e	Recording and streaming
Kdenlive	winget install --id KDE.Kdenlive -e	Video editor (Linux-style on Windows)
GIMP	winget install --id GIMP.GIMP -e	Image editor (Photoshop alternative)
Inkscape	winget install --id Inkscape.Inkscape -e	Vector graphics (Illustrator alternative)
Krita	winget install --id KDE.Krita -e	Digital painting
ShareX	winget install --id ShareX.ShareX -e	Screenshot and recording
ImageGlass	winget install --id DuongDieuPhap.ImageGlass -e	Image viewer (replaces Photos)

Fonts

For development work, monospace fonts matter. The winget catalog no longer carries the NerdFonts.* or Microsoft.CascadiaCode packages — what remains:

# Nerd-patched JetBrains Mono (verified on winget)
winget install --id DEVCOM.JetBrainsMonoNerdFont -e

# Hack typeface (regular, not Nerd-patched)
winget install --id SourceFoundry.HackFonts -e

For everything else, grab the installers directly from GitHub releases and run them (font installs are silent and per-user):

• Cascadia Code: github.com/microsoft/cascadia-code/releases (CascadiaCode-*.zip → right-click ttf → Install)
• Nerd Font patches of FiraCode / Hack / others: github.com/ryanoasis/nerd-fonts/releases

---

Input & Localization

Multilingual Input

Tool	Install	Purpose
Microsoft IME	Built into Windows 11	Multilingual typing (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
Avro Keyboard	winget install --id OmicronLab.Avro -e	Bangla phonetic input (packaged on winget, verified)
Google Input Tools	Download from google.com/inputtools	Many languages
KeyMan	Download from keyman.com	1,000+ keyboards

Bangla Fonts (PowerShell Installer)

Avro covers typing; this script installs the fonts themselves. It pulls 20 of the most-used Bangla fonts — Unicode standards (SolaimanLipi, Kalpurush, Siyam Rupali), government/formal (Nikosh), print-era classics (SutonnyMJ, AdorshoLipi, Chitra MJ), and modern Google fonts (Noto Sans Bengali, Hind Siliguri) — from pinned GitHub raw URLs. All 20 URLs verified live August 2026.

Run in an administrator PowerShell (the script checks and pauses if you forgot):

# ==========================================
# BANGLA FONT INSTALLER (20 fonts, verified URLs)
# ==========================================

# 1. Admin check (pauses instead of closing the window)
$isAdmin = ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal][Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]::Administrator)
if (-not $isAdmin) {
    Write-Host "`nERROR: Run PowerShell as Administrator to install fonts.`n" -ForegroundColor Red
    Read-Host "Press Enter to exit..."
    Exit
}

# 2. TLS 1.2 (older PowerShell defaults get rejected by GitHub)
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12

# 3. Verified raw font URLs (case-sensitive and exact)
$fonts = @(
    # --- Modern Unicode ---
    @{ Name = "SolaimanLipi";     Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/shiftenterdev/bangla-font/master/SolaimanLipi.ttf";          FileName = "SolaimanLipi.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Kalpurush";        Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/kalpurush.ttf";                 FileName = "kalpurush.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Siyam Rupali";     Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/potasiyam/Siyam-Rupali/master/Siyamrupali_1_070ship.ttf";    FileName = "SiyamRupali.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Lohit Bengali";    Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/Lohit_14-04-2007.ttf";          FileName = "Lohit_14-04-2007.ttf" }

    # --- Official & formal ---
    @{ Name = "Nikosh";           Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/Nikosh.ttf";                    FileName = "Nikosh.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "NikoshBAN";        Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/NikoshBAN.ttf";                 FileName = "NikoshBAN.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Mukti Narrow";     Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/muktinarrow.ttf";               FileName = "muktinarrow.ttf" }

    # --- Print & legacy (ANSI/Bijoy era) ---
    @{ Name = "SutonnyMJ";        Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/SutonnyMJ.ttf";                    FileName = "SutonnyMJ.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "AdorshoLipi";      Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/AdorshoLipi_20-07-2007.ttf";    FileName = "AdorshoLipi.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Chitra MJ Bold";   Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/Chitra%20MJ%20Bold.ttf";           FileName = "ChitraMJBold.ttf" }

    # --- Stylized & creative ---
    @{ Name = "BenSen";           Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/BenSen.ttf";                    FileName = "BenSen.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "BenSen Handwriting"; Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/BenSenHandwriting.ttf";       FileName = "BenSenHandwriting.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Amar Bangla";      Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/Amar%20Bangla.ttf";                FileName = "AmarBangla.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "3D Sonar Bangla";  Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/3D%20Sonar%20Bangla.ttf";          FileName = "3DSonarBangla.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Aparajita";        Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/Aparajita.ttf";                    FileName = "Aparajita.ttf" }

    # --- Modern clean & corporate ---
    @{ Name = "Hind Siliguri";    Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/Hind%20Siliguri.ttf";              FileName = "HindSiliguri.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Robi";             Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tazihad/bangla-fonts/main/Robi.ttf";                         FileName = "Robi.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Akaash";           Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/akaashnormal.ttf";              FileName = "akaashnormal.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Mitra";            Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/mitra.ttf";                     FileName = "mitra.ttf" }
    @{ Name = "Sagar";            Url = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/hmoazzem/bangla-fonts/master/sagarnormal.ttf";               FileName = "sagarnormal.ttf" }
)

$fontFolder   = "C:\Windows\Fonts"
$tempFolder   = "$env:TEMP\BanglaFonts"
$registryPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts"

if (-not (Test-Path $tempFolder)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $tempFolder | Out-Null }

$successCount = 0
foreach ($font in $fonts) {
    $tempPath = Join-Path $tempFolder $font.FileName
    $destPath = Join-Path $fontFolder $font.FileName
    $nameInRegistry = "$($font.Name) (TrueType)"

    Write-Host "-> Fetching $($font.Name)... " -NoNewline

    # Skip if already installed (file or registry entry exists)
    if ((Test-Path $destPath) -or (Get-ItemProperty -Path $registryPath -Name $nameInRegistry -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)) {
        Write-Host "Already installed. Skipped." -ForegroundColor DarkGray
        continue
    }

    try {
        Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $font.Url -OutFile $tempPath -UseBasicParsing -ErrorAction Stop

        # Guard against HTML error pages saved as .ttf
        if ((Get-Item $tempPath).Length -lt 10000) { throw "Downloaded file too small - URL may be broken" }

        Copy-Item $tempPath -Destination $destPath -Force
        New-ItemProperty -Path $registryPath -Name $nameInRegistry -Value $font.FileName -PropertyType String -Force | Out-Null

        Write-Host "Installed!" -ForegroundColor Yellow
        $successCount++
    } catch {
        Write-Host "Failed! ($($_.Exception.Message))" -ForegroundColor Red
    }
}

Remove-Item -Path $tempFolder -Recurse -Force | Out-Null
Write-Host "`nComplete: $successCount new fonts installed. Restart open apps to load them.`n" -ForegroundColor Cyan

Notes from real use:

• GitHub raw URLs are case-sensitive and exact — BenSen.ttf ≠ Bensen.ttf, and some fonts carry date stamps (AdorshoLipi_20-07-2007.ttf). A 404 here means the filename drifted; browse the repo to find the new name.
• Vrinda and Sonar Bangla ship with Windows’ Bangla language support, so they’re not in the list.
• To add more fonts, append another @{ Name = ...; Url = ...; FileName = ... } entry with a direct .ttf URL.

Windows-Specific Input Tweaks

After installing AutoHotkey v2, remap Caps Lock to Ctrl:

; capslock_to_ctrl.ahk
#Requires AutoHotkey v2.0

CapsLock::Ctrl

---

Terminal & Shell

Modern Windows terminals beat Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell 5.1.

Tool	Install	Purpose
Windows Terminal	winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e	Modern terminal (tabs, splits, GPU rendering)
PowerShell 7	winget install --id Microsoft.PowerShell -e	Modern cross-platform shell
Oh My Posh	winget install --id JanDeDobbeleer.OhMyPosh -e	Terminal prompt theming
Nerd Font	See Media section above	Icons in terminal
fzf	winget install --id junegunn.fzf -e	Fuzzy file finder
zoxide	winget install --id ajeetdsouza.zoxide -e	Smarter cd command
bat	winget install --id sharkdp.bat -e	Syntax-highlighted cat
eza	winget install --id eza-community.eza -e	Modern ls replacement
fd	winget install --id sharkdp.fd -e	Fast find alternative
ripgrep	winget install --id BurntSushi.ripgrep.MSVC -e	Fast grep alternative
lazygit	winget install --id JesseDuffield.lazygit -e	Git TUI
delta	winget install --id dandavison.delta -e	Better git diff

---

Productivity

Tool	Install	Purpose
Obsidian	winget install --id Obsidian.Obsidian -e	Markdown knowledge base
Logseq	winget install --id Logseq.Logseq -e	Outliner-style notes
Zotero	winget install --id DigitalScholar.Zotero -e	Reference manager
Calibre	winget install --id calibre.calibre -e	Ebook library manager
KeePassXC	winget install --id KeePassXCTeam.KeePassXC -e	Local password manager
Bitwarden	winget install --id Bitwarden.Bitwarden -e	Cloud password manager
1Password	winget install --id AgileBits.1Password -e	Paid password manager
ShareX	(see Media)	Screenshot tool
Greenshot	winget install --id Greenshot.Greenshot -e	Screenshot alternative

---

Windows-Specific Power User Tools

These make Windows behave more like a real developer OS:

Tool	Install	Purpose
PowerToys	(see Utilities)	Includes FancyZones, PowerRename, Keyboard Manager
EarTrumpet	winget install --id File-New-Project.EarTrumpet -e	Per-app volume control
AutoHotkey v2	winget install --id AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey -e	Keyboard automation, custom hotkeys
Windows Subsystem for Linux	wsl --install	Run Linux inside Windows

Configure WSL

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

wsl --install defaults to WSL 2 and requires one reboot. Add -d Ubuntu (or any distro name) to pick the distribution in the same step.

---

Setting Up a Fresh Windows Workstation (Under 1 Hour)

If you’ve just installed a debloated Windows and want to get to a productive state fast, run this single script.

Important: winget install accepts exactly one package per invocation — you cannot stack multiple --id flags on one command. The loop below is the correct pattern:

# Run as Administrator in PowerShell 7

# 1. Refresh package sources
winget source update

# 2. Install everything (one winget call per package, silent, no popups)
$packages = @(
    'Microsoft.PowerToys',            # utilities
    '7zip.7zip',
    'voidtools.Everything',
    'Notepad++.Notepad++',
    'Microsoft.WindowsTerminal',
    'Microsoft.PowerShell',           # PowerShell 7
    'AutoHotkey.AutoHotkey',
    'Mozilla.Firefox',                # browsers
    'Google.Chrome',
    'Microsoft.VisualStudioCode',     # editor
    'Git.Git',                        # development tools
    'OpenJS.NodeJS.LTS',
    'Python.Python.3.12',
    'VideoLAN.VLC',                   # media
    'Spotify.Spotify',
    'DEVCOM.JetBrainsMonoNerdFont'    # fonts
)

foreach ($id in $packages) {
    Write-Host "Installing $id..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
    winget install --id $id -e --silent `
        --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements `
        --disable-interactivity
    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
        Write-Warning "$id failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE) - continuing with the rest"
    }
}

# 3. Install WSL (for Linux tools; requires reboot)
wsl --install

# 4. Configure PowerShell profile
code $PROFILE
# Add:
# oh-my-posh init pwsh --config "$env:POSH_THEMES_PATH\agnoster.omp.json" | Invoke-Expression
# Set-PSReadLineOption -PredictionSource History
# Import-Module Terminal-Icons

Write-Host "Setup complete! Restart your terminal." -ForegroundColor Green

Save this as setup.ps1 and run it on any new Windows machine.

---

Verify & Remove

# Everything winget can upgrade
winget upgrade

# Find an installed package by name (output is text — filter with Select-String)
winget list firefox

# Uninstall cleanly by exact ID
winget uninstall --id Mozilla.Firefox -e

---

Silent & Elevated Installs (No Popups)

For unattended installs and updates — no wizards, no UAC spam beyond one elevation, no interruptions:

# Run this from an ELEVATED PowerShell 7 session (right-click Terminal → Run as administrator)
winget install --id <Package.Id> -e `
    --silent `
    --accept-package-agreements `
    --accept-source-agreements `
    --disable-interactivity

What each flag does:

Flag	Effect
--silent / -s	Suppresses the installer’s own UI (uses NSIS /S, Inno /VERYSILENT, MSI quiet mode, etc.)
-e	Exact ID match — prevents installing a similarly-named package
--accept-package-agreements	Auto-accepts the package’s license
--accept-source-agreements	Auto-accepts the source (winget/msstore) agreements
--disable-interactivity	Fails fast instead of hanging on any interactive prompt

Batch-upgrade everything at once:

# Review what would be upgraded first
winget upgrade

# Then apply all of it silently
winget upgrade --all --silent `
    --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements `
    --disable-interactivity

Notes from real use:

• Run elevated. Machine-scoped installers need admin; without it you get one UAC prompt per package (or silent failures). One elevated terminal = zero mid-install prompts.
• Close running apps first. Installers for running apps (sync clients, download managers, editors) either wait for exit or abort in silent mode. Stop the process before upgrading.
• Some packages reject winget upgrades entirely (“No applicable upgrade found”). When that happens, download the official installer directly and run its silent switch yourself — NSIS uses /S, Inno uses /VERYSILENT /NORESTART, MSIs use /qn. Always verify the SHA-256 against the manifest (winget show <id>) before executing.
• MSIX/Store apps ignore --silent (they’re always quiet) but may need the Store service running.

---

The Frozen-Update Maintenance Routine

This site’s dual-boot setup runs Windows with automatic updates disabled (services stopped via the Revision Tool) so work is never interrupted. That control comes with a responsibility: you are now the update scheduler. Budget 15–30 minutes once a month:

1. Review pending app updates (safe, reversible):

   winget source update
   winget upgrade          # read the list first
   winget upgrade --all --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreements --disable-interactivity

2. Check the OS servicing state occasionally (every 2–3 months): open Settings → Windows Update and let it scan manually. On this setup the update services are set to Manual, so a manual check still works — you decide when, and can reboot on your schedule. Skipping OS security patches indefinitely is the single riskiest part of a debloated setup.
3. Antivirus reality check: if your debloat removed Microsoft Defender rather than pausing it, “update virus definitions when I feel like it” isn’t possible — there is no engine to update. Verify with Get-Service WinDefend. If absent, either re-enable Defender through your debloat tool periodically, or run a third-party AV you update on your own schedule.
4. Keep a changelog — note the date and packages after each pass, so a future breakage has a suspect list.

---

What Didn’t Work (and Why)

Approach	Why It Failed
Stacking multiple --id flags on one winget install command	winget takes exactly one package per invocation — use a loop or separate commands
Typing a package ID with different casing under -e	Exact-match IDs are case-sensitive (Mega.MEGASync ≠ Mega.MEGAsync) — copy the ID from winget search output
Trusting winget upgrade to cover every installed app	Some manifests report “No applicable upgrade found” forever; fall back to the vendor’s silent installer (see above)

---

Official References

• winget Documentation
• winget Package Catalog — Community-curated package index
• PowerToys Features
• Windows Terminal Documentation
• AutoHotkey v2 Documentation

---

Related Guides

• Debloated Windows: Tiny 11 vs Atlas OS vs ReviOS — Choose your Windows 11 base
• Stata + VS Code Workflow on Windows — Development environment setup