Windows: Microsoft PC Manager

Some time ago I heard about the latest program from Microsoft, called the Microsoft PC manager. A maintenance tool for computers, that combines already existing tools into a GUI.

Download is available from the Microsoft Store, but since I didn't want to log in, I found a so called offline installer, using Bing. The link for the offline installer (beta) is available here: https://aka.ms/PCManagerOFL30101

The functionality that the app contains are the following features:

Updating your system, including drivers that you can find in Windows Update.

Disk clean up, which includes the classic disk cleanup and removing temporary files for example. A function I found interesting was the scan for duplicate files.

Memory freeing activities, such as closing open processes.

You also can fix startup apps that slows up your booting.

Additionally you have a PC boosting button and a health check. You also have access to Microsoft Defender Antivirus scanning. 

Many of these functions are already available in your Windows 11 installation, but this program gathers these tools nicely under one app. A great addition to your home server management.

Maintenance: Updating your Surface Pro 7

In my job I have been updating a few docking stations with fresh firmware. Personally I find it to be a nice little routine to keep the firmware and software up to date, like putting things to order.

For example there is firmware for both Lenovo and Dell docking stations, and keeping that in mind I was looking for a way to update the firmware for my Surface Dock 2.

Updating your Surface Dock 2:
The easy way is to use the Surface app, downloadable from the Microsoft Store.
After installing it and opening it, you get an easy to use menu. You can interact with your dock, mouse and pen for example.

By clicking clicking on the dock you can make sure that your firmware is up to date. There you can also turn different ports on and off.

For someone that would need a manual update, it seems like Microsoft offers a few versions as well, based on your device.

Updating your Surface Pro 7 drivers:

You can also update the driver kit with a roughly 600 mb sized file with all the drivers. 

To download it go here.

Running a diagnostic toolkit to identify errors:

You might also want to grab the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit, it let's you test the functionality of your device, a great tool for singling out various issues that you might have with your computer.

To get the toolkit, go to this link.

Now you have been provided with some simple and easy to access tools to service your device.

Windows: Clearing cache, temp files and logs

As a follow up to my previous maintenance post here are a few more advice that will help you clear out some cache primarily, it's not a way to clear much space. You might save up to a gigabyte depending on how long your computer has run without maintenance. Also check out my other post about maintenance.

The script goes as following and can be run by a normal user, it does not force the computer to delete anything that requires admin permissions in other words. So if an admin runs the script it will be even more powerful.

It will clear up logs and temp files, and then also clear the recycling bin. After which it will also clear up some cache.

$ErrorActionPreference = "SilentlyContinue"

Write-Output "Clearing DISM log..."
Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows\Logs\DISM | Remove-Item -Recurse

Write-Output "Clearing CBS log..."
Get-Childitem -Path C:\Windows\Logs\CBS | Remove-Item -Recurse

Write-Output "Clearing C:\Windows\Temp"
Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Windows\Temp | Remove-Item -Recurse

Write-Output "Clearing C:\...\AppData\Local\Temp"
$User = $env:username
Get-ChildItem -Path C:\Users\$User\AppData\Local\Temp | Remove-Item -Recurse

Write-Output "Clearing recycle bin"
Clear-RecycleBin -Force

Write-Output "Clearing DNS cache"
Clear-DnsClientCache

Write-Output "Resetting Microsoft Store"
wsreset
Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 700
Stop-Process -name "WinStore.App"

At the end of the script, Microsoft Store will pop up, I've included a line in the script that closes the app again, to leave the user with a more hands off execution.

You can also delete these items manually. For a manual cleanup you can also go to C:\Windows\LiveKernelReports\ and look for big .dmp files. These are dump files and can be investigated in case of a system crash for example. If you have no need to inspect these files you can delete them. I would avoid any folders or other files personally.

Enjoy!

Windows: Maintenance and debloating

Keeping your computer clean on the outside is a good thing, equally important is cleaning up the computer internally as well using software. You might simply not want to go through the steps necessary to reinstall the entire computer so here I list some good commands that you can run in PowerShell as an admin. You can also check my other blog post for some tips and tricks on what you can delete to save space.

 

Commands to run in PowerShell

Run system file checker, this sometimes finds and fixes corrupt system files:

SFC /Scannow

Run the tool for Deployment Image Servicing and Management. Basically these are three levels, the last does a bit of repairing. Run SFC before you run any of the DISM commands:

Dism /online /cleanup-image /checkhealth

Dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

Dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

This command can help you recalibrate your system clock. I found it helpful when syncing the clock on computers with a bad battery when internet access have been stopped either by a VPN or because the web browser notices an all too big of a time change. 

Simply run this command to fix the clock:

W32tm /resync /force

In order to fix basic network issues you can run the following commands in this order, the second will disconnect your from the internet usually.

Ipconfig /flushdns

Ipconfig /release

Ipconfig /renew

When changes have been made to the group policy you can try this command to force an update. Pay attention to what settings that override which as well so that you aren't waiting for an update that might not show up.

Gpupdate /force

Running this command let's you check the health of your harddisk.

Chkdsk /f

This command will help you to scan your memory for issues (this command is a program that you can call upon):

mdsched.exe

Some programs to run

Apart from these commands that you can run as admin in the PowerShell window, there are a few built-in programs that you find by searching in your start menu. These are just a good habit to run once in a while to do some cleaning:

Disk cleanup

Disk defragmentation

Storage settings (it will list items you can delete as well)

Full Windows virus scan

 

Debloating script

I've also put together a script that runs through basic pre-installed software and removes it. Sometimes I've tried removing every AppxPackage that I could find, but I found things to get a bit buggy. So this script contains apps that you can live without, all in the name of more resources to what you think is important.

# Run as admin

# Silence errors
$ErrorActionPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';

# App list
$applist = "*3dbuilder*","*windowsalarms*","*windowscommunicationsapps*","*windowscamera*",
"*officehub*","*skypeapp*","*getstarted*","*zunemusic*","*windowsmaps*","*solitairecollection*",
"*bingfinance*","*zunevideo*","*bingnews*","*onenote*","*people*","*bingsports*","*soundrecorder*",
"*bingweather*","*xboxapp*","*xbox*","*Microsoft.MixedReality.Portal*","*GetHelp*","*Microsoft.Messaging*",
"*sketch*","*sticky*","*phone*","*sticky*","*photos*","*calc*","*gethelp*","*camera*"

foreach ($app in $applist) {Get-AppxPackage $app | Remove-AppxPackage}

 

The script works by creating a list where every item is a search word related to apps that can be installed in Windows. If it doesn't find the app it will continue to the next object. When it finds an object it passes it through the pipeline to the removal cmdlet.