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Windows 10 (Build 1803) VDI Optimization Script Primer

BrandonWilson's avatar
BrandonWilson
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Mar 20, 2019

 

Hello IT Professionals.  Robert M. Smith, PFE here, with a short blog post regarding Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).  A peer of mine Tim Muessig (also PFE), developed a PowerShell script that can be used to optimize Windows 10 Enterprise, 1803, for use in a VDI environment.

This script goes through and performs the following actions:

·        

  • Remove non-essential UWP apps
  • Disables several services
  • Sets some default user settings
  • Disables several scheduled tasks
  • Disables several Windows “auto-logger” startup traces
  • Applies dozens of GPO settings to local policy using the Microsoft Local Group Policy Object (LGPO) tool
  • Runs disk cleanup using the Disk Cleanup Wizard
  • Changes network interface controller (NIC) settings, to optimize for networking performance

 

The PowerShell script uses core code in the main script to call and enumerate lists in the form of text files, of the various objects that will be changed.  For example, the UWP apps to be removed are in a text file named ‘AppXPackages.txt’.  If you decide that a UWP app on the list should not be removed, simply edit the ‘AppXPackages.txt’ file.

 

Once you download the tree of files, you are free to edit as you like for your environment.

There are a few dependencies of this script:

·        The script calls a number of text files for the various categories of items to remove or disable.  Those files must be in place for the script to work correctly.

·         The script uses the ‘LGPO.exe’ Microsoft tool to import an included LGPO export of GPO settings from a generic Windows 10, 1803 virtual machine (VM).  That tool must be included and in the proper location in your tree of files and folders for the script to function correctly.

·         The script and the text files must be all in the same folder, which can be any folder of your choosing.

 

The VDI script and associated files are publicly available on GitHub, at the following location:

https://github.com/TheVDIGuys/W10_1803_VDI_Optimize

 

This script is based on the same settings in a soon to be released white paper on optimizing Windows 10 1803 in a VDI environment.  This blog post will be updated when that paper is published.  The publication for this white paper will be the ‘Docs.microsoft.com’ knowledge repository.

 

Any comments and/or questions are welcome.  Thank you for visiting the blog and let us know if you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see in future blog posts. posts.

Updated Aug 28, 2019
Version 4.0

5 Comments

  • marcFarmer's avatar
    marcFarmer
    Copper Contributor
    Any Idea why since applying this Script Windows can´t find a Internet Connection and also O365 Apps can´t activate. Internet is available and working, but for some reasons it states that is doesnt have it....
  • jeffstokes's avatar
    jeffstokes
    Brass Contributor

    Hey couldn't respond in the technet one, thanks Robert for getting back to me, didn't see it until now, my bad. Yeah my post on 2012 R2 server and power plan in a VM shows cores parking inside a VM with balanced. Really blew me away.

     

    https://illuminati.services/2017/07/26/server-2012-and-balanced-power-plan/

     

    The image is, uh, here.

     

    https://i2.wp.com/illuminati.services/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/parked.png?w=707&ssl=1

  • jeffstokes's avatar
    jeffstokes
    Brass Contributor

    Should also adjust power plan to High Perf imo..

     

    1. Balanced Power Plan in Windows limits performance of production machines in a negative way;

     

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2207548/slow-performance-on-windows-server-when-using-the-balanced-power-plan

     

    http://www.wservernews.com/newsletters/archives/power-plan-considerations-12679.html

     

    2. This even happens in Virtual Machine environments.

     

    https://illuminati.services/2017/07/26/server-2012-and-balanced-power-plan/

     

    3. Some chipsets are worse than others with it;

     

    https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127395

     

    Great job folks!!!!