Introduction#
“A small tool is often more useful than a large one, if it is the right tool for the job.” - Proverb
I still remember the excitement of first encountering a computer, and now over 25 years have passed. I have changed 3 desktop computers and 4 laptops. The operating systems have evolved from DOS, Windows 95/98/XP/7/8/10/11, to OS X, macOS, Linux, Proxmox, and TrueNas. Nowadays, most people's time revolves around a computing device.
Thus, this article shares some insights from my current use of a Windows PC. Whether you have just bought a new PC or have been working with one for a long time, I believe you will find some new inspirations and valuable references.
What is Elegance#
“Elegant use” means following certain principles: simplicity and intuitiveness, adaptability and flexibility, integration and compatibility, cross-platform synchronization.
These principles have been explored and iterated over a long period of use, with the same purpose as the invention of computers: saving time.
In fact, these principles are not limited to using a single operating system; they can be applied across any software, even on phones, cameras, tablets, e-readers, and more.
- Simplicity and Intuitiveness
The tools chosen should be easy to use, with a clear and straightforward interface that is easy to grasp.
- Adaptability and Flexibility
The tools chosen should be adjustable and customizable according to different needs.
- Integration and Compatibility
The tools chosen should easily integrate seamlessly with other tools and platforms.
- Cross-Platform Synchronization
The tools chosen should synchronize across multiple devices and platforms.
Initial Setup and Optimization#
After getting a new computer or reinstalling the system, there is no need to rush to install software. If you have previously registered a Microsoft account, it is recommended to log into the system directly with this account. The Edge browser and OneDrive cloud storage will automatically sync settings and files from the old computer in the background, effectively providing an automatic backup for this transition.
Basic Settings#
Upon first boot, I habitually close and remove some unnecessary pre-installed software and features, such as games, system notifications, sidebars, search boxes, personalized ad recommendations, etc. I delete all icons on the desktop to make it extremely simple, as running programs or searching for files only requires a few keystrokes, as will be mentioned below.
At the same time, I update drivers and apply the latest system patches. Windows has monthly patch updates, and it is advisable to install them; no one knows Windows better than Microsoft itself. For drivers, I prefer to use the Microsoft-certified drivers provided in the system update. If you are not gaming, there is no need to pursue the latest versions, as long as they can stably complete the work.
While waiting for background updates, I make some personalized configurations. Generally, I collect some favorite wallpapers in OneDrive, and series wallpapers are made into individual theme files for easy switching at any time.
Other optional custom settings:
- Taskbar: Hide the search button, task view button, widgets, and chat.
- Start Menu: Hide recently added apps and frequently used apps.
- Folder Options: Set the first opening to display as "This PC" and show file extensions.
Finally, restart once to complete the basic settings.
Built-in Input Method#
In fact, the built-in input method in Windows is already quite good, and a very practical trick is U mode for rare characters.
For example, if you need to input “叕” but don’t know how to spell it, just type “u” first, then input four ‘you’ in succession, and you can directly find this character.
There is also a V mode calculator, for example, inputting “v12*15” will directly output the calculation result.
Common Shortcuts#
After long-term use of a computer, you will definitely feel that operating with the keyboard is much faster than clicking around with the mouse. Life is short; whether in the system or software, memorizing a few more shortcuts and forming a habit can save a lot of time.
Common system-level shortcuts:
Win + E: Open File Explorer (My Computer)
Win + Tab: Open the task view interface, keep pressing Tab to switch applications
Win + L: Lock the screen
Win + D: Go to the desktop
Win + P: Switch display mode (projector or external monitor)
Win + Left/Right Arrow: Snap window to the left/right
Ctrl + Win + Left/Right Arrow: Switch virtual desktops
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
Ctrl + C/X/V: Copy/Cut/Paste file data
Ctrl + Z/Y/A: Undo/Redo/Select All file data
In addition to system-level shortcuts, it is also recommended to memorize a few frequently used shortcuts within some software, and you can even customize them to be easier to remember and more in line with your habits. For example, when creating digital paintings, I set the smudge tool in Photoshop to “N,” which is right next to the brush shortcut key “B,” making the painting process smoother.
If common operations are mentioned later, corresponding shortcuts will be noted.
Do not underestimate these small habits and changes; over time, they will save a lot of time and reduce unnecessary repetitive actions.
Performance Optimization#
The performance of a PC is always centered around the CPU and memory.
Default Hidden Power Settings
The Control Panel has various power modes to choose from, and I usually select a customized “Power Saver” or “Balanced” mode.
Windows 11 offers many advanced power setting options for Intel 12th generation CPUs and later, allowing for better balance between CPU performance and power consumption. However, these settings are hidden by default, and more detailed adjustments can be made according to ‣.
Here are my settings:
Of course, in addition to the Control Panel, more precise power settings can also be made through the motherboard BIOS, but the settings options for different brands and models of motherboards and CPUs vary. Therefore, for the vast majority of users, using the factory settings is sufficient, and I will not elaborate further.
Startup Items
For applications that are not frequently used or that significantly affect startup speed, it is advisable to disable their startup. You can view and manage startup items in the “Startup” tab of Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del). Here, you can disable or enable any installed applications to start at boot. Disabling unnecessary startup items can improve the system's boot speed.
- Right-click the Start Menu: Right-click the Windows logo (Start Menu) in the lower-left corner of the screen.
- Open “Task Manager”: In the expanded options, select “Task Manager.”
- Select the “Startup” tab: In Task Manager, click the “Startup” tab at the top.
- Enable Startup Items: In the “Startup” tab, find the application you want to set to start at boot, right-click it, and select “Enable.”
On the other hand, you should not disable all startup items in pursuit of extreme startup speed; everything should still prioritize actual needs. Tools like WeChat and Remote Desktop, which are used almost daily, should naturally be set to start at boot.
Automatic Junk File Cleanup
I generally do not advocate deleting files on the computer. “Junk files” refer to files that are no longer needed in the long run; however, whether these files affect performance often stems more from psychological effects, just like being unable to stand the little red dot notifications on a phone.
Many optimization software like “Computer Manager” and “Junk Cleaner Master” capitalize on this psychological effect. If you think about it, if a computer's performance is severely affected by “junk files,” it would be a design flaw, and Microsoft would certainly build in some features to eliminate them, likely doing it more reliably than third-party companies. Microsoft has indeed done this.
As early as Windows 10, there was a built-in feature called “Storage Sense,” which can automatically clean temporary files and files in the Recycle Bin. You can find this feature in “Settings” - “System” - “Storage,” and by clicking “Configure Storage Sense or run it now,” you can set it up or clean immediately.
My approach is to turn on “Storage Sense” and not worry about it anymore.
Microsoft PC Manager
If you find the above settings still cumbersome, you can consider installing Microsoft's official PC Manager. I installed this on my parents' computer; it has no ads, basic functions are sufficient, and it automatically cleans and updates, which is quite good.
Disk Optimization
Compared to junk files, regularly performing disk optimization can better help improve your computer's performance. You can find this feature in “Settings” - “System” - “Storage” - “Optimize Drives.” Select the drive you want to optimize and click “Optimize” to start. You can also set a regular optimization schedule.
Configuring Virtual Memory
Virtual memory is a technology that allows the computer to use hard disk space as temporary RAM. When too many programs are opened simultaneously and physical memory runs out, the system will use some hard disk space to store this data. Hard disks are certainly not as fast as memory, so opening too many programs will naturally cause lag.
With the popularity of solid-state drives, the speed is fast enough that normal use rarely perceives lag. Currently, most computers start with 16GB of RAM, and the system will automatically allocate some virtual memory (usually greater than 4GB) to cope with computational pressure, which is generally sufficient for over 80% of regular work.
If considering future upgrades, it is recommended to get enough memory at once. The value of memory is always: capacity > speed. If the memory is large enough, turning off virtual memory may actually be better.
Directory Structure and File Management#
As mentioned in the previous article “The Flowing Program, The Iron Data”, I have established core principles for directory structure and file management:
Do not increase categories unless necessary: The premise is that this classification can be exhaustive; for example, file types are only a few, but formats are countless.
Complete archiving within 1 minute: I have seen many people know that archiving is important, but very few can persist for a year. Often, after finishing work, they are already too tired and annoyed to bother with it. In fact, if classification is done well, archiving in 1 minute becomes a natural thing.
Try to use English + date numbers for naming: This is a professional habit because many professional applications only recognize English paths, and some fonts do not support Chinese, leading to garbled text.
Important files should be backed up weekly in both hot and cold storage. You can skip organizing, but please make sure to back up for world peace.
These principles remain solid to this day, and more specific operational methods can be found in the original text. Of course, these rules may evolve with workflows, and if there are significant changes in the future, I will write another article to introduce them if they are useful.
Efficient Workflow and Common Software#
The workflow here is aimed at lightweight and general scenarios; regardless of what your own workflow is, using it properly will yield benefits.
Multitasking
`alt + tab`, used to quickly switch between the two most recently opened programs.
`win + tab`, a more advanced multitasking interface, where the bottom window can add virtual desktops.
`ctrl + win + left/right arrow`, quickly switch virtual desktops.
Multitasking seems to be a consensus achieved by all graphical operating systems, and even the shortcuts are similar. It is quite simple to use, so I won't elaborate.
It is worth mentioning that Windows 11 has made many optimizations for window management; simply dragging a window near the edge of the screen will display preset window sizes, and 99% of software will adapt well to this feature. Compared to previous versions, there are also more grouping options.
Virtual Desktops
When I only have one monitor, I create at least two virtual desktops, one for “foreground” focused heavy work and the other for “background” tasks like handling documents, emails, and replying to messages.
The benefit of this is naturally to reduce distractions while working, but it takes some time to get used to; at first, you may forget that you have another “desktop” open.
Templates are Great
Machines excel at simplifying repetitive tasks, saving people time. The simplest example is a clock— a machine for calculating time, counting every minute and second year after year. The rules for calculating time are the “template” of this “program.”
The template I use most often is “Project Directory Structure.”
Very simple, each project directory only has three subdirectories, storing three types of files that any project will have: documents, project files, and deliverables.
To facilitate recognition and understanding, I name them: \doc\, \pj\, \render\.
Since I have recently been studying the front-end field, I have also gotten into the habit of using all lowercase letters for naming.
project-name
- doc
- pj
- render
To add, if possible, it is not recommended to use Chinese for any files and folders in the project directory. Most professional software is developed based on an English environment, and excessive use of Chinese may lead to path recognition issues.
Recommended Common Software#
For software selection, I still adhere to “If not necessary, do not increase entities.” The order here will be based on my usual usage frequency, and all introduced functions are free to use.
uTools: Launcher, Search
Similar to the “Spotlight Search” in macOS, but with more powerful features. Just press \alt + space\\ to pop up a simple search box that can search for almost anything you want. Before this, I was using the system's built-in search in the Start menu, which could serve as a launcher, but that was all it could do.
In addition to being a software launcher, uTools' file search can be combined with Everything for super-fast results. uTools can install many practical small tools, such as quickly modifying the hosts file, clearing DNS cache, image compression, batch renaming files, color picking, screen recording, CPU performance ranking, commonly used API documentation queries, and even many fun little gadgets made by developers for leisure.
Notion and Obsidian**: Project Management, Article Writing, Knowledge Base**
Notion + Obsidian can do an incredible amount of things. Notion's deeply ingrained modular design and Database, combined with Obsidian's localized file management and internal linking, can help you manage almost all text content. Sharing information with a team is also very convenient, but there are no servers set up in the country, so access is slightly slower; you can use Notion Faster for free acceleration.
The linked knowledge structure in Obsidian
All my articles in the past two years have been edited in Notion; a more detailed introduction can be found in this article “Analyzing the Designer's Second Brain: From Concept to Practice”.
Traffic Monitor : Hardware Resource Monitoring
A very lightweight, free, open-source tool used to monitor the usage and temperature of major components in real-time. Generally, it only needs to be displayed in the taskbar, and hovering the mouse can show traffic information. Say goodbye to software like Master Lu. For more professional monitoring data, you can use AIDA64.
Quicklook: Quick File Preview
A tool inspired by the macOS space preview tool, allowing you to view the content of any selected file by pressing the space bar. Commonly used for quickly viewing images, videos, and text documents.
Twinkle Tray: Keyboard Control of Screen Brightness
This tool is mainly used for desktop computers to conveniently control screen brightness, utilizing the DCI technology of monitors (most monitors in recent years support this). If you have two or more monitors, you can control them individually or adjust brightness separately. You can hover the mouse over the icon and use the scroll wheel to control brightness, or customize hotkeys. In short, you will no longer need to manually touch the buttons on the monitors.
Fluent Reader: Subscription Management
A clean and beautiful open-source RSS reader, designed with inspiration from the Fluent Design System. It can be read locally and can also sync with self-hosted services compatible with Fever or Google Reader API. It supports synchronization with various RSS services, including Inoreader, Feedbin, The Old Reader, BazQux Reader, etc., and has comprehensive functionality.
It can import or export OPML files for easy data backup and recovery across applications, provides a built-in article view for reading full RSS content, and can default load web pages. It supports searching articles using regular expressions or filtering based on reading status.
In my own words, RSS is a remedy against recommendation algorithms, and I will write a separate article to discuss the ancient RSS.
Terminal and Command Line#
The biggest advantage of using the command line is that a simple line of command can execute a series of operations, avoiding the need to click around with the mouse and remember various buttons and menu locations.
You only need to remember some simple commands the first time you use it, and it will save you a lot of time in the future. Do not be afraid that inputting errors will damage the computer; it can protect itself.
Common terminal commands for beginners:
# View system information systeminfo
# Disk partition management tool diskpart
# Power management powercfg
# View network configuration ipconfig
# Clear screen cls
# Clear DNS cache ipconfig /flushdns
# Release or renew IP address ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
Hyper-V Virtual Machine#
A virtual machine can simply be understood as running another Windows inside Windows. Although this may be a bit challenging for beginners, the built-in Hyper-V virtual machine in Windows is already very simple and easy to understand.
One common scenario you may encounter at work is when a client sends you a file format, such as a WPS document, but you usually use Office and cannot open it or it opens incorrectly. Since this format will only be used once, it is not worth installing WPS just for this occasion. At this point, you can install WPS in the virtual machine to handle the file without affecting the main system. The entire virtual machine system runs as a single file within the main system. Even if this virtual machine gets infected or crashes, you can simply delete that file.
The situation I often encounter is that many models downloaded online are in 3Dmax format, but 3Dmax takes up a lot of space and resources, and I don’t use it regularly, making it hard to uninstall cleanly. I usually use Cinema4D, so I install 3Dmax in the virtual machine, open the model, export it to a suitable format, and then shut down the virtual machine.
If you have development or other needs, you can also try installing other systems for learning and testing other production environments. Therefore, I strongly recommend virtual machines; besides Hyper-V, there are many third-party virtual machine applications, which I will not elaborate on here.
Data Security and Privacy Protection#
Data is invaluable, and generally speaking, just doing two things can avoid over 90% of data security issues.
- Important files involving personal and work matters are generally not recommended to be stored in any cloud storage. For even more sensitive files, local encryption processing should be performed, along with regular hot and cold backups.
- Try not to download, install, or run any programs, codes, or commands from unknown sources. If you must, test them in a virtual machine first.
Conclusion#
To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools. To effectively use tools to accomplish a task, one must first have a sufficient understanding and mastery of the tools themselves. By fully utilizing the characteristics of computers and maintaining good habits, you will ultimately benefit from the cumulative actions over time.
The article was first published on: CG Art Laboratory, and you are welcome to subscribe for free via email.