Guides

• Install Windows Server 2019
• In ESXi:
  • 2 Cores, 5GB Memory, 50GB+ Hard disk on an NVME controller
  • Add a sound card

• Update & Security > For Developers > Developer mode
• Apply desired settings changes further down page

• Desktop:
  • View > Small icons
  • Move Recycle Bin to corner
  • Click on the audio icon on the taskbar and then enable the audio service
  • Pin to taskbar:
    • Resource monitor
    • Command Prompt
    • PowerShell
    • Registry Editor
    • Event Viewer
    • Server Manager

• Explorer Folder options:
  • Deselect Show recently used files/folders in Quick access
  • Expand to open folder

• Download Sysinternals AutoLogin and configure auto login
• Server Manager > Manage > Server Manager Properties > Enable Do not start Server Manager automatically at logon

• Note: Replace the Arguments line in the following with:

/c "net use W: "\\FileServer\Music" & net use X: "\\FileServer\Software" & net use Y: "\\FileServer\Downloads" & net use Z: "\\FileServer\Dereks Backups""

• Open the network tab in Explorer and connect to the network share to authenticate for the first time, make sure to select Remember my credentials
• Open Task Scheduler
• Action > Create Task
• General:
  • Name > Reconnect Network Drives
  • Run only when user is logged on
  • Configure for > Windows 10
• Triggers > New:
  • Begin the task > At startup
• Conditions > Network > Start only if the following network connections are available
• Actions > New:
  • Action > Start a program
  • Program/Script > cmd.exe
  • Add arguments:

/c "net use R: "\\FileServer\Public" & net use S: "\\FileServer\Documents" & net use T: "\\FileServer\Photos" & net use U: "\\FileServer\Music" & net use V: "\\FileServer\Video" & net use W: "\\FileServer\Software" & net use X: "\\FileServer\Dereks Documents" & net use Y: "\\FileServer\Downloads" & net use Z: "\\FileServer\Dereks Backups""

• Download and run the following file to make the change to the registry:

ShareNetworkShares.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"EnableLinkedConnections"=dword:00000001

2018/07/17 12:34 · derek

• Install WinRAR:
  • Download and open the 48x36 Classic Theme
  • Copy the licence key file into its install folder
  • Settings > Integration > Context menu items:
    • Deselect both email options
    • Deselect both Open with WinRAR options
• Install Sublime Text 3

• Install iTunes Desktop:
  • Deselect Use iTunes as the default player for audio files
  • Deselect Automatically update iTunes and other Apple software
  • Default iTunes language: > English (United Kingdom)
  • Install
  • Agree to restart Windows
• Run iTunes, agree to the licence agreement, agree to sharing details, and then close iTunes
  • Take a snapshot of the Music share in XPEnology
  • Delete the %USERPROFILE%\Music\iTunes, and %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync folders
  • Run the following in cmd.exe (Change target locations as needed)
    • MKLINK /D "%USERPROFILE%\Music\iTunes" "W:\iTunes"
    • MKLINK /D "%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync" "Z:\MobileSync"
  • Run iTunes and verify it is using the wanted library
  • Account > Sign in
  • Open Task Scheduler and import the Daily restart iTunes.xml file; which mainly does the following things:
    • Triggers:
      • At log on, delayed by 30 seconds
      • Daily at 12:01PM, delayed up to 30 mins
    • 3 Start a program actions in this order:
      • taskkill /im itunes.exe (Gracefully shuts iTunes down as long as it's not syncing or a dialog box is up)
      • timeout /t 20 /nobreak (Waits 20 seconds to make sure it shutdown properly)
      • C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes.exe
    • Conditions:
      • Start the task only if idle for 5 mins
      • Start only if any network connection is available
• Setup WiFi sync:
  • Connect an iPhone via USB to the server
  • ESXi > Windows Server VM > Edit > Add other device > USB device > USB Device 1 > Select Apple iPhone > Save
  • Enter your password into the iPhone to Trust the computer
  • iTunes:
    • Navigate to the iPhone > Summary:
      • Backups > Automatically Back up > Select This Computer > Enable Encrypt local backup
      • Stop the backup that is automatically started
      • Options:
        • Enable Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected
        • Enable Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi
      • Apply
  • iPhone:
    • Disconnect the iPhone's cable
    • Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync > Start now
  • Repeat for any other iPhones/Devices

• Install and set up Veeam backup

• Shutdown the VM
• In ESXI try disabling the Lock the guest operating system when the last remote user disconnects option for this VM, if this doesn't work try:
• ESXI > Storage > Datastore Browser:
  • Navigate to this VM
  • Download the .vmx file
  • Edit the file to change tools.guest.desktop.autolock = "TRUE" to = "FALSE"
  • Upload the file back to the datastore
• Start the VM

TODO:

• Google backup for pictures
• Install/copy win only utilities
• WSL?
• Bulk Rename Utility
• Install MediaInfo Lite
• Install dBpoweramp Music Converter
• Install Replay Gain Codec

• 
• Install Windows Updates
• Update iTunes
• Veeam:

  • Describe update Process

  2020/05/12 07:06 · derek

433/TCP Windows Admin Center