Desktop Assistant?

Posted by Thaumiel218@reddit | programming | View on Reddit | 5 comments

Apologies if wrong sub but this seemed most suited.

Currently in the process of sorting my new PC and installing 100’s of programs (virtual instruments), sound banks, libraries for various data, etc. across various different drives trying to keep certain data on certain drives and to eliminate bloat on the main C:/ so it can operate smooth and generally have a tidy PC.

Whilst doing this i wondered if there is any tech that is out there that can do menial tasks like installing files for you, arranging drives and where data is stored, clearing and deleting obsolete files and crap from the registry from uninstalled software or upgrades.

I know there’s registry cleaners and dupe file finders etc but is there one tool that exists yet that can be like a desktop ‘buddy’ which you can ask to do things and it’ll execute them? Seems like there would be a large market for it, even if it was basic as asking it to find a file instead of having to dig into windows explorer and search, or see if a program has updates, new drivers or simply open a program.

Anything like this exist?

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thesomeot@reddit

I just set up a new laptop for live performance, which sounds maybe like what you're doing too?

IMO no assistant is needed. Anything worth cleaning up is easy, and everything else falls into the camp of excessive over-optimization and may actually be detrimental.

My recommendation for a new PC is just to reinstall Windows fresh. If it came with an OEM copy, record the registration key first (there are commands you can run to get it from the install). Make sure you reinstall from newly created Installation Media, and make sure you delete ALL partitions on the existing drive to ensure none of the sneaky manufacturer bloatware makes it back in.

From there, update the BIOS (you can do this before windows install if you want). Then install any relevant drivers, making sure to install only the drivers and not the manufacturer junk that's probably listed alongside it.

After that I like to scroll through the start menu and uninstall anything else I'm allowed to that I don't need. I'll look through startup tasks and disable anything else I don't want.

IMO it's not worth doing much more than that unless you're a power user who really knows what they're doing. You're more liable to break things than help it.

Bonus: on my live performance laptop I have two batch scripts on the desktop that let me switch between normal and high performance power plans, so I can run the high performance mode on battery during my set.

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Thaumiel218@reddit (OP)

Not dissimilar- studio PC so not just me and one instrument but ability to facilitate any instrument bench lots of VSTs, huge Kontakt and output libraries, various drum libraries, keys, synth VSTs, and then of course production stuff on top & utilities like scaler/musescore/guitar pro as they’re used by me for writing and understanding what people are playing (and how it can be improved) also a bunch of hdds - around 10/13 dependent on including plugin external hdds. So it’s just a lot and it’s boring AF, especially unpicking old hard drives which have useful info on but I need to streamline everything - hence why it’d be amazing to have something smart to control and follow some rules to take the hassle out of it all! Also having done this for a while and it being an upgrade I’ve got files and data that’s old but useful.

Scary how much data gets collated I think just my midi library is around 5gb which is ridiculous given how small the files are for various instruments 😂 literally 100’s of 1000’s of the bastards!

I’ve had a bunch of issues with my waves stuff and licenses and uninstalling it but it’s sneaky and seems to find its way into so many folders that fresh reinstalls are a pain in the ass.

Appreciate the advice, and without sounding snarky because I really appreciate the time you’ve taken, I’m following what you’ve outlined im just bored of it and would like to do something more constructive with my time. Especially the delving through hdds which include an old pc that had a split drive system and an old laptop - there’s just a lot of dupes, random folders and things that at the time seem to make sense but years on its wtf material but don’t want to delete as I know there’s stuff I will miss and is only on certain drives.

Appreciate the input, good luck with your gigs and new setup. I’m going to just keep working my way through it.

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thesomeot@reddit

Best of luck to you as well. Honestly what I've done in the past is just dump everything old onto a big drive and then pull things over to the "fresh" drive as needed. Helps to have a good program like Everything.exe to help search too.

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Thaumiel218@reddit (OP)

Yeah I’ve got most in a 8tb holding drive but I’ve still got to sort through the document drives from the 2 old systems which is the major time consumer. Once it’s up and running though it’s going to be a beast. Some of my new VSTs I’ve loaded so far are just mindblowingly good like Arturia Pigments and their Augmented series - highly recommend both!