Ultimate Guide: How to Set Up a Windows PC from Scratch in 2024 (Step-by-Step)

Over the past 3 years, I've used Windows for various things.

With that in mind, I have a common setup I perform when spinning up a new instance.

1. Winget

   • GitHub - microsoft/winget-cli
   • WinGet is the Windows Package Manager for the CLI(command line interface).

2. Windows Terminal

   • Enhance my terminal experience and allow me to use tabs.

3. Clink

   • winget install clink
   • Makes the command prompt bearable.

4. LazyGit

   • winget install -e --id=JesseDuffield.lazygit
   • When I am annoying at my command line.

5. Visual Studio Code

   • winget install -e --id Microsoft.VisualStudioCode

6. Microsoft Power Toys

   • winget install --scope machine Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

7. RDP Clip Restart Shortcut

   1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop.
   2. Select New > Shortcut from the context menu.
   3. In the "Create Shortcut" window, enter the following command:

   cmd /c taskkill /F /IM rdpclip.exe & start rdpclip.exe

   4. Click "Next".
   5. Give your shortcut a name, such as "Restart RDPClip".
   6. Click "Finish".
   7. This will create a shortcut on your desktop. When you double-click this shortcut, it will:
      1. Force-close the existing rdpclip.exe process
      2. Start a new instance of rdpclip.exe

Enjoy!