pspowell/windows-tech-helper-files

Batch, script, and reg files that may be of use

layout	title	date	categories
post	Windows Tech Helper files	2023-11-08	tech

Windows Tech Helper files

I've put an archive of helpful files on my GitHub which simplify tasks or add features such as creating a Windows Image backup under special conditions and adding new options to the right-click menu.

You can download the zip file from HERE then right-click and select **Extract All**

I'll maintain a list of all files here along with a brief description. Further information will be referenced where available.

[!IMPORTANT] Make a current backup!

Windows Image Backup

• Image_Backup.bat
  Copy this file to the external backup drive, then right-click and select **Run As Administrator**. Will not work on a flash drive. This creates a full Windows Image Backup on the drive.
• Image Backup to flash.bat
  Same as above, but this defeats the windows limitation of not working on a flash drive by mapping the drive as a network drive first. Expect 8-10 hours or overnight for the backup to complete.
• Image Backup to VHDX.bat
  Image Backup to VHDX.ps1
  If you have less than half of the C drive used, either of these will: 1. Create a virtual hard disk on the C drive. 2. Mount the VHD and perform the backup to it, then dismount. The VHD can then be copied to OneDrive, flash drive, etc. Useful as another way of taking a snapshot of the system before making risky changes when you don't have external storage available, but if the hard disk fails, the VHD will be lost as well.

Registry Tweaks

• Add new .ps1 to right_click.ps1
  Remove_ps1_from_New_context_menu.reg
  Add/remove "new Powershell Script" to the right-click context menu.
• Add new markdown to right_click.reg
  Adds "new README.md" to the right-click context menu. Useful if you work with GitHub/Markdown a lot.
• Add Take Ownership to Context menu.reg
  Remove Take Ownership from Context Menu
  Add/remove "Take Ownership" to the right-click context menu. Useful if you frequently need to access locked files/dirs.
• Add VSCode to context menu.reg
  Adds "Edit with VSCode" to the right-click context menu, although the preferred way is to select this option during VSCode installation.
• Add_Open_PowerShell_window_here_as_administrator_context_menu.reg Remove_Open_PowerShell_window_here_as_administrator_context_menu.reg
  Adds "Open Powershell Window here as Administrator" to the right-click context menu. Useful to get an elevated command prompt in a directory from the File Explorer.
• localaccounttokenfilterpolicy.reg
  allows you to access drives as C$, D$, etc. on computers you can reach on your network

Other

• Enable Sandbox on Windows Home.bat
  Adds Sandox to Windows Home Edition. See the BLOG on this item.
• Flush SoftwareDistribution folder.bat
  Flushes the SoftwareDistribution folder. Make a backup first.
• Get Computername of VHD file.ps1
  If you have a VHD file of a disk but forgot what computer it came from.
• reset permissions.bat
  Run from a CMD prompt as **reset permissions <path>**. Takes ownership and resets permissions for things like WindowsImageBackkup directories.
• unpin all items in start menu.bat
  Unpins everything from the start menu