Tag: windows 10

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Update Path Environment Variable Using PowerShell In Windows 10

#Update Path Environment Variable Using PowerShell In Windows 10

#These are the two PowerShell commands you need to permanently update the Path environment variable in Windows 10.  If that is all you want to do then you do not need to read further than the following two commands. These commands all work in both PowerShell and PowerShell Direct.

#The Longer Story…

#Setx is the old way to modify registry entries and set environment variables. It still works if needed but PowerShell commands are all I am attempting to use at this point.

#Check mounted drives and filesystems

#You do not need to run the command below. Is just to prove a point about accessing different mount points.

#Run Get-PSDrive to see the drives available in PowerShell.

#▲You will see Env listed under the Name column and Provider is Environment meaning that the environment variables are an actual mounted file system to PowerShell and the same commands you use to manage other filesystems will work when modifying or adding environment variables manually.

#Add c:\Important Executables to the existing environment path for the current session only.

#Disconnecting your PowerShell session loses these changes when you reconnect to a new session. You instead need to update the registry to make the change permanent. There is no output for the following command but you would need to change c:\Important Executables to the directory you would like to include in your system path. This command has no results or confirmation.

#Check current permanent Path variable

#Check the registry key value for the Path variable to see what it is currently set to.  Any changes so far are still not there after running the last command. The path will revert to the results of the command below once you disconnect and reconnect your PowerShell session.

#▲Get-ItemProperty before updating the registry value.

#▲Get-ItemProperty after updating the registry value.

#Use Get-Item Env:Path  to get the currently loaded Path environment variable value

#▲$Env:Path also works as a shortcut for Get-Item Env:Path

#▲$Env:Path after exiting PowerShell and reconnecting again.

#Perserve old path to $Old_Path and a new path to the existing path

#To save the current registry value for combining with the new path or at least have the original value stored in case you screw something up by typing:

#Set registry key to the old registry value combined with the new directory

#Modify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment|Path properties to include a new directory.

#Delete Environment Variables

#Setting a variable = to an empty string will remove it completely.

#Default Path In Windows 10 Creators Edition

#For reference in case something gets screwed up. This is not a commnad
C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

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Enable File And Printer Sharing In Windows 10 Creators Edition Without Using The netsh Command In PowerShell

#Enable File And Printer Sharing In Windows 10 Without Using The netsh Command in PowerShell

#It is as simple as enabling  the pre-configured rule in Windows Firewall to enable File and Printer Sharing in Windows 10 but using netsh is the old fashion way.

#Run this command in an elevated PowerShell prompt and you are done.

#The Long Story…

#Allow File and Printer Sharing services through the Windows Firewall to access shared information and to share information of your own. These commands all work in both in PowerShell and PowerShell Direct.

#Get Firewall rules for File and Printer Sharing

#This command shows the individual rules and the network connection profiles that  are explicitly enabled and disabled for the File and Printer Sharing services.

#Enable File and Printer Sharing for Private and Domain network profiles

#Enable the  File and Printer Sharing services for the Private and Domain network connection profiles by applying the preconfigured Windows Firewall group rule called File and Printer Sharing by typing this:

#▲That is what it looks like under Advanced Sharing Settings when the File and Printer Sharing firewall rule is enabled.

#Set Network Connection Profile to Private.

#I set the variable $InterfaceAlias to automatically query my primary network interface or NIC. The -NlMtuBytes 1500 switch is what makes it work. If you have changed the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) from the defaults then this command will need to be modified:

#Disable File and Printer Sharing on all network profiles

#▲It will look like this when File and Printer Sharing is disabled.

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Open Elevated PowerShell Prompt Here From Right-Click Context Menu Instead Of Command Prompt Here As Administrator In Windows 10

#Open Elevated PowerShell Prompt Here From Right-Click Context Menu Instead Of Command Prompt Here As Administrator In Windows 10

#Run these commands to enable an elevated Elevated PowerShell Prompt Here also known as PowerShell Here as Administrator when right clicking on a folder in Windows Explorer. These commands all work in both PowerShell and PowerShell Direct.

#Just the code:

#The Long Story…

#HKCR: does not work in this example and you do not need to mount first. This method accesses the registry directly. Many instructions say to use New-PSDrive to mount HKCR: first and use that convention to access it to do many things but none of that is needed.

#Get-PSDrive will show you what is mounted.

#▲As you can see there is no HKCR:

#Moving on…

#If done properly launching Elevated PowerShell Prompt Here will trigger a UAC prompt. This is normal and good. Create all the keys and values by typing the following commands in order:

#This works when right-clicking only on folders in Windows Explorer and not drives or drive letters.

#Create the User’s file folder (from the Desktop Experience feature) on the Desktop of all new and current users

#Run this to create the User’s file folder (from the Desktop Experience Feature) on the Desktop of all new and current users. After that you will always have a folder nearby to single right-click on to launch an Elevated PowerShell Prompt Here session.

# Since HKLM is mounted already I can use the short path to manipulate the registry entries.

user folder created with registry change using microsoft powershell should appear on your Desktop after using F5 to refresh or on log off /reboot. Use the commands above to right-click and launch an elevated PowerShell prompt starting with the selected folder as a starting point.

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Enable Hyper-V Role In Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise And Education Vs. Android Emulators

#Enable The Hyper-V Role in Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise Or Education Using PowerShell

#If this is the first time, and if if this will be the only time enabling the Hyper-V role in Windows 10, then this PowerShell command is all you need. If you need to switch the Hyper-V services on/off to avoid interference with other hypervisors and without removing the Hyper-V role then download Hyper-V Switch.

#Enable Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

#Disable Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

#The Long Story…

#Continue reading if you are having issues or are using a conflicting hypervisor or emulator and getting the dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

#Having Issues Enabling Hyper-V Role In Windows 10 Professional, Enterprise Or Education?

Check Requirements

  • Windows 10 Enterprise, Professional, or Education
  • 64-bit Processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
  • CPU support for VM Monitor Mode Extension (VT-c on Intel CPU’s)
  • Minimum of 4 GB memory

NOTE: The Hyper-V role cannot be installed on Windows 10 Home.

Many users have experienced issues with Android-based virtual machines and emulators, especially BlueStacks and Andy Android Emulator, which crash on startup when the Hyper-V role is active. This problem seems to have arisen after the Anniversary Update, which broke compatibility between Hyper-V and these emulators. Fortunately, recent updates to BlueStacks have addressed this issue. As of June 2023, BlueStacks now supports running with Hyper-V enabled when using Android 9 Pie instances. This means you can enjoy both Hyper-V functionalities and BlueStacks without having to constantly toggle Hyper-V on and off.

In my previous attempts to find a workaround, I installed the x86Android Android Emulator in Hyper-V. Although I managed to get an older version running, I found its touchscreen support and controls inadequate for my needs. Given BlueStacks’ user-friendly interface and overall better experience, I prefer to switch between Hyper-V and BlueStacks setups as necessary. Previously, I would remove and reinstall the Hyper-V role whenever needed, but this approach has a significant drawback: it results in the loss of Hyper-V Virtual Switch Manager settings. Each time I reinstall Hyper-V, I have to recreate these settings and reattach them to each virtual machine, leading to numerous orphaned network adapters. For those who want a seamless experience without the hassle of managing Hyper-V settings repeatedly, keeping up with the latest version of BlueStacks that supports Hyper-V might be the best solution.

!!!Hyper-V Switch To The Rescue!!!

Calm down. This utility doesn’t allow Hyper-V to run simultaneously with VMWare, VirtualBox or BlueStacks, but this great tool I found at least saves a reboot (it takes two reboots if you add and remove the Hyper-V role). Also, I don’t have to reconfigure Virtual Switch Manager every time I do it. This program automates a bcdedit process to disable Hyper-V without removing the Hyper-V role as part of the process.

Use Hyper-V Switch to toggle Hyper-V support on and off when using other emulators like VirtualBox or Andy Android Emulator to keep it fast and simple. I saved it to my Desktop and edited the executable file to Run as Administrator just to be sure it has the rights needed. You can also single right-click on the executable file or shortcut and then single left-click on Run as Administrator every time.

https://github.com/ygoe/HyperVSwitch – Download from GitHub

http://unclassified.software/apps/hypervswitch – Hyper-V Switch Website

#Enable The Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell manually or for the first time

#For the first and if the only time enabling the Hyper-V role then the command  below is all you need.

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

#Enable Hyper-V and all features.

#Type y and press Enter

#Disable The Hyper-V Role Using PowerShell

#Disable Hyper-V and all features

#Type y and press Enter

Manually Enable Hyper-V From The GUI

Windows Key-R to bring up the Run box.

Type optionalfeatures.exe and single left-click OK to execute (just means to run) optionalfeatures.exe. This method actually allows for more control of the Hyper-V installation since you can deselect unneeded features. For example, some people may not have any need for the Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell module if they don’t use PowerShell  or PowerShell Direct to administer any virtual machines.

Single left-click to select the Hyper-V option. Single left-click the Plus sign to expand if you need to select or deselect any of the default features. I use all the Hyper-V features so PowerShell for this installation works just fine for me. The end goal is to avoid moving my mouse as much as possible.

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