HON’s Wiki # Windows

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Contents

• Installation
• Setup
• Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
  • Setup
  • Usage
  • Docker Desktop
  • NVIDIA CUDA
  • Troubleshooting

Using

• Windows 10

Installation

• There’s no need to provide a product/activation key. If the PC (motherboard?) has been activated before, it will automatically activate when starting the first time.
• Use a local account. Link to a Microsoft account later if needed, but preferably only for Microsoft apps.
• Say no to everything privacy related.

Setup

• Install all available updates.
• Install graphics drivers and fix display frame rates, color ranges (use full range for PC displays and limited for TVs, generally) etc.
• Enable BitLocker drive encryption (requires Windows Pro edition):
  • (Note) Using passwords and not TPM because I don’t want my PC to decrypt itself without me and because I need to move disks between PCs.
  • If you have a TPM module: Disable it in the BIOS settings.
  • Allow using it without a TPM module:
    • Open gpedit.msc.
    • Go to: Local Computer Policy/Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/Windows Components/Bitlocker Drive Encryption/Operating System Drives
    • Edit “Require additional authentication at startup”.
      • Enable it.
      • Allow without compatible TPM module.
      • Do not allow TPM.
    • Enable “allow enhanced PINs for startup”.
  • Setup BitLocker for drives:
    • Enter the BitLocker management settings.
    • Enable for all disks.
    • Save the recovery keys somewhere safe, it’s required sometimes to unlock the disk.
    • Enable auto-unlock for other encrypted disks.
• Disable the lock screen:
  • Because it’s annoying to wait before I can start typing the password.
  • Open regedit.
  • Set DWORD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Policies/Microsoft/Windows/Personalization/NoLockScreen to 1.
• Set hardware clock to use UTC:
  • Because Linux uses it, so the Windows time will be wrong if dual booting.
  • Open regedit.
  • Set DWORD HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TimeZoneInformation\RealTimeIsUniversal to 1.
• Disable network throttling:
  • Open CMD as admin.
  • Run netsh int tcp show global and look for “Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level”. “enabled” means throttling is enabled.
  • Run netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled to disable it.
• Change the computer name.
• Check Windows Security.
• Start menu:
  • Remove useless tiles.
• Sound Control Panel:
  • Disable unused playback and recording devices.
  • Set “format” for used devices.
  • Set to do nothing when Windows detects communications activity.
• Windows Explorer:
  • Set File Explorer to open to “this PC”.
  • Hide recently used files and folders in Quick access.
  • Show known file endings and hidden files.
  • Show merge conflicts.
• Power settings:
  • Use balanced mode (high performance mode is a waste of energy with no benefits).
  • Extend periods for turning off stuff.
  • Disable the sleep timer.
  • Set the minimum processor state to 0% (for power saving with DVFS).
• Device settings:
  • Disable AutoPlay.
• Keyboard settings:
  • Disable the layout change shortcut:
    1. Go to “Advanced keyboard settings” (settings), “Input language hot keys” (window), “Advanced key settings” (tab).
    2. Press “change key sequence” for the “between input languages” entry and set both options to “no assigned”.
• Personalisation settings:
  • Enable dark mode.
  • Remove lock screen apps.
  • In desktop icon settings, hide the recycle bin.
  • Only show app list in start menu.
  • Configure the taskbar.
• Apps settings:
  • Uninstall useless apps and programs.
  • Change optional features and Windows features.
• Accounts settings:
  • (Optional) Add login PIN to avoid typing the password from the lock screen.
• Gaming settings:
  • Disable “Record […] using Game bar”.
  • Keep Game Mode enabled.

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Setup

More info: Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10 (Microsoft Docs)

1. Prerequisites:
   • Intel VT-x or AMD SVM must be enabled in the BIOS settings. Check that the “Virtualization” field in the Task Manager CPU page says “Enabled” afterwards.
   • Hyper-V is not required.
2. Install (Ubuntu, the default):
   1. Open the Windows command prompt or PowerShell in admin mode.
   2. Start installer: wsl --install
   3. Reboot (if and when requested).
   4. Wait for the terminal window to open and the installation to finish.
   5. Enter your new Linux username and password.
3. Enable automatic kernel upgrades:
   1. Go to “Windows updates”, “advanced options” and enable “Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows”.
4. Install a distro like Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store app.
   1. Make sure it’s using WSL 2, see usage.

Usage

• Show status: wsl --status
• Show VMs: wsl -l -v
• Change WSL version for VM: wsl --set-version <vm> <version>
• Restart: wsl --shutdown and ???
• Update kernel: wsl --update

Docker Desktop

• Recommends using the WSL 2 backend.
• WSL backend notes: Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend (Docker Docs)
• See the NVIDIA notes for NVIDIA Container Toolkit notes.
  • Side note: I gave up on getting it working … Why would I use Windows for CUDA stuff anyways.

NVIDIA CUDA

• User guide: CUDA on WSL User Guide (NVIDIA Docs)
• Announcement blog post: Announcing CUDA on Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (NVIDIA Developer Blog)
• Using the Windows Insiders Program may be necessary.
• CUDA on WSL drivers: NVIDIA Drivers for CUDA on WSL, including DirectML Support(NVIDIA Developer)

Troubleshooting

Time in containers is wrong when using WSL backend:

Restart WSL every time it happens. It’s a known bug still not fixed.

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