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, 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 were explored and iterated upon after long-term use, with the same purpose as the invention of computers: to save time.
In fact, these principles are not limited to using a single operating system; they can also apply to any software, and even to phones, cameras, tablets, e-readers, etc.
- Simplicity and Intuitiveness
The tools chosen should be easy to use, with a clear and straightforward interface that is easy to get started with.
- 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 creating an automatic backup for this transition.
Basic Settings#
When I first boot up, I habitually close and delete some unnecessary built-in 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, which will be mentioned below.
At the same time, I update drivers and apply the latest system patches. Windows has patch updates every month, and it is advisable to apply 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 the background updates, I will make some personalized configurations. Generally, I collect some favorite wallpapers in OneDrive, and series wallpapers are made into single theme files for easy switching at any time.
Other optional customization 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 there is a very practical trick called 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 using keyboard shortcuts is much faster than clicking around with the mouse. Life is short, and whether in the system or software, remembering a few more shortcuts can save a lot of time once they become a habit.
Common system-level shortcuts:
Win + E: Open File Explorer (My Computer)
Win + Tab: Open the task view interface, continuously pressing Tab will 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 advisable to remember 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 “B”, making the painting process smoother.
In the following text, if common operations are mentioned, the corresponding shortcuts will be indicated.
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 custom “Power Saver” or “Balanced”.
Windows 11 provides many advanced power settings options for Intel CPUs after the 12th generation, 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, you can also make more precise power settings 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 system startup 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 on 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. So-called “junk files” are files that may not be needed in the long run, but whether these files affect performance often comes 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 functions 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 up 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 it immediately.
My approach is to turn on “Storage Sense” and not worry about it anymore.
Microsoft Computer Manager
If you find the above settings still troublesome, you can consider installing Microsoft's official Computer Manager. I installed this for my parents' computer; it has no ads, basic functions are sufficient, and it automatically cleans and updates, making it a one-time solution, 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 technique that allows the computer to use hard disk space as temporary RAM. When too many programs are opened simultaneously and physical memory is insufficient, the system will use part of the hard disk space to store this data. Hard disks are certainly slower than memory, so opening too many programs will naturally cause lag.
Now that solid-state drives are widespread, their 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 (generally greater than 4GB) to handle computational pressure, which is usually 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 Program of Flowing Water, The Data of Iron”, I have set core principles for directory structure and file management:
Do not add categories unless necessary: The premise is that this category 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. Many times, after finishing work, they are already too tired and annoyed to bother with it. In fact, if you really do a good job of categorizing, archiving in 1 minute will be a natural outcome.
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 may not need to organize, but please ensure backups for world peace.
These principles remain steadfast 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 reached by all graphical operating systems, and even the shortcuts are similar. It is relatively simple to use, so I won't elaborate.
It is worth mentioning that Windows 11 has made many optimizations for window management. Just drag a window near the edge of the screen, and it will display preset window sizes; 99% of software will adapt well to this feature. Compared to previous versions, there are also more grouping options.
Virtual Desktops
When using only one monitor, I will create at least two virtual desktops, one as the “front” for focused heavy work, and the other as the “back” for 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. When first using it, you may forget that you still 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.
Then, for easy 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 one more point, 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 the principle of “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 it was limited to that.
In addition to being a software launcher, uTools' file search can be combined with Everything for super speed. 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, querying common API documentation, etc. There are even many interesting small tools developed for fun.
Notion and Obsidian: Project Management, Article Writing, Knowledge Base
Notion + Obsidian can do a lot of things. Notion's deeply ingrained modular design and Database, combined with Obsidian's localized file management and internal backlinks, can help you manage almost all text content. Sharing information with the team is also very convenient, but the server is not set up in the country, so access is slightly slower; you can use Notion Faster for free acceleration.
The backlink knowledge structure in Obsidian
All my articles in the past two years have been edited in Notion. For a more detailed introduction, you can check 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 rates and temperatures 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 select any file and press the space bar to directly view its content. 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 button 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. There is no need to fear that inputting errors will damage the computer; it can protect itself.
Some commonly used terminal commands for beginners:
# View system information systeminfo
# Disk partition management tool diskpart
# Power management powercfg
# View network configuration information ipconfig
# Clear the screen cls
# Clear DNS cache ipconfig /flushdns
# Release or renew IP address ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew
Hyper-V Virtual Machine#
A virtual machine can be simply understood as running another Windows inside Windows. Although this may be somewhat difficult for beginners, the built-in Hyper-V virtual machine in Windows is already very simple and easy to understand.
A common situation 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. If this format is only used once, installing WPS just for that occasion is not worth it. In this case, 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 most common situation I encounter is that many models downloaded online are in 3Dmax format, but 3Dmax takes up a lot of space and resources, and I usually don’t use it, making it hard to uninstall cleanly. I mostly use Cinema4D, so I would 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; in addition to 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 unknown programs, codes, or commands. If there are any, 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 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 Lab, and you are welcome to subscribe for free via email.