Windows 11 Setup Memo
I decided to upgrade my desktop PC to Windows 11 because I wanted to try out some new features and Windows 10 support is ending in October 2025. During the setup process, I reviewed various settings and took note of some useful features, including older ones.
My main use case is GPU-intensive processing (AI and gaming). I have five SSDs installed for storage.
Japanese Voice Input
For some reason, I couldn't get voice input to work in English on Windows 10. However, with Windows 11, I was able to use Japanese voice input without any issues from the start.
That being said, the usability is inferior to that of Pixel series smartphones or M1 Macs. Since it's a network-based process, input is confirmed each time, and typing during voice input cancels it. However, it can be useful as a supplementary tool in certain situations. I plan to write a separate article about this in more detail.
HDR Settings
I can now adjust HDR settings. This is an essential feature for gaming consoles. Previously, there was a function to adjust the brightness of SDR applications when HDR was enabled. Now, I can adjust HDR brightness and color, and create profiles.
Dev Drive
As its name suggests, this is a development-focused feature. It creates a high-speed drive using ReFS, a next-generation file system, as the backend. This is suitable for intermediate data that requires fast read and write speeds. The antivirus software settings are also optimized for performance.
This feature can be useful for programmers as a cache for npm or Cargo, and for video creators as a render cache. I realized that OS-level support can even handle antivirus software.
Storage Spaces
This feature allows multiple storage devices to be combined into a single logical space. It's like software RAID. I think it's more user-friendly and powerful than the old Dynamic Disk (Spanned Volume).
Although it's been around since Windows 8, it hasn't gained much attention, but I think it's become more practical now. Setting it up is simple: just add unused disks to the pool and select "resiliency." For example, if you choose dual-direction mirroring, it's equivalent to RAID 1, and if you choose parity, it's equivalent to RAID 5. This time, I set it up with dual-direction mirroring. Although the usable capacity is halved, it's convenient because I don't need to worry about the capacity of each volume, and it has fault tolerance. If I run out of space, I can just add more disks.
CrystalDiskMark
Improving Usability
From here, I'll note some settings I've made to improve usability.
Preventing Sleep Mode from Being Disabled
Windows has a habit of waking up from sleep mode when a connected mouse moves slightly. This is stressful because it happens even when I'm not using the computer. To prevent this, I use the following command in an Administrator-privileged Command Prompt, as described in a superuser post. Although an error occurs, the process is executed, and I can sleep peacefully at night. It's a good idea to run this command periodically as new devices are added.
powershell -Command "powercfg /devicequery wake_armed | ForEach{ powercfg /devicedisablewake $_ }"
Remapping Keys Using the Registry
I use a Mac English keyboard, and the command key next to the space bar becomes the Windows key. I want to use this key to switch between Japanese and English input. However, the Windows key is troublesome, and even official tools can't change its behavior. So, I remap it to another key using the registry. Note that this is in little-endian format.
reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout" /v "Scancode Map" /t "REG_BINARY" /d "0000000000000000030000001DE05BE0FFE05CE000000000" /f
Installing Keyhac
After preparing the registry, I use Keyhac to customize my input. I've set it up to switch between Japanese and English input with a single Cmd key press, and to use the left Cmd key as Ctrl. I've also enabled Emacs-style cursor movement (e.g., Ctrl+p).
Keyhac is very convenient, but it doesn't work well with some games or production apps, so I need to add those apps to the exclusion list. In that case, remapping doesn't work for those apps.
Recently, I've been interested in remapping keys using QMK/VIA, which seems more convenient.
Installing Ueli
Ueli is a free Spotlight-like tool. It's highly customizable, like Alfred. It can also receive commands, so I can use it to put my PC to sleep by typing "sleep." It reduces the mental burden.
Installing FreeCommander
Windows 11 has finally improved the fossilized Explorer. Although it's better with tabs and a refreshed design, it still lacks customization options, so I install FreeCommander.
FreeCommander may look simple, but it's highly customizable. For example, I can set it up to extract zip files by double-clicking, like on a Mac. To do this, I install 7-Zip, create a new item in the "default action" settings, and set the parameter to C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe with x %ActivItem% -o*.
Mouse Color Inversion
When the background is white, the mouse cursor often gets lost. In such cases, it's convenient to have a feature that inverts the mouse color based on the background. This feature is available in Windows settings -> Accessibility -> Mouse color inversion.
Conclusion
I feel like my desktop PC is gradually getting more features I want. I hope that in the future, I'll be able to change the window manager, remove all initial apps, and set up my PC with just a few commands.
