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PCSetup — Help
The short version: you tick the apps you want, PCSetup writes you a small text
file, and that file installs them. Nothing is uploaded, and you can read the file
in Notepad before running it.
What am I actually downloading?
A plain text file called PCSetup.cmd. It is a list of install commands, one per
app you ticked. Right-click it and choose Edit (or open it in Notepad) to read
every line. There is no hidden or scrambled code: that is the entire point of this tool
versus a black-box installer.
Where do the apps come from?
From winget, Microsoft's own official app installer that is built into Windows.
PCSetup does not host, repackage, or modify any app. It just tells winget which ones you
picked, so every download comes straight from Microsoft's catalog and the original
publisher.
Windows says "Windows protected your PC"
Click More info, then Run anyway.
This blue box (SmartScreen) appears for any file that has not been bought a code
signing certificate. It means "this file is not common yet", not "this file is
dangerous". If that makes you uneasy, open the file in Notepad first and read it.
Why does it ask for administrator permission?
Installing software for the whole PC requires admin rights. PCSetup asks once,
at the very start, and then installs everything under that single approval. Without it,
you would get a separate prompt for nearly every app.
It says winget was not found
Some older Windows 10 machines, and freshly-imaged or LTSC systems, do not have winget
yet. The script will open the Microsoft Store to App Installer. Install that,
then double-click PCSetup.cmd again.
A window popped up and is asking me questions
A small number of installers ignore the "install silently" instruction and show their
own setup wizard. Answer it as you normally would, and the script carries on to the next
app afterwards. Check on the window occasionally during a long run.
Some apps failed
Look at PCSetup-Log.txt on your Desktop. It lists every app as installed or
failed. A failure does not stop the rest of the run.
The usual causes: the app is already installed, the publisher pulled that version, or
the connection dropped. Running the file a second time is safe and will retry.
App IDs can change. Publishers occasionally rename or withdraw their winget
packages. A file you generated months ago may have a line or two that no longer resolves.
Generate a fresh one from the website if several apps fail at once.
Can I run it on more than one PC?
Yes. The file has no licence, no key, and no expiry. Copy it to a USB stick and run it on
as many machines as you like. It is a normal way to set up a batch of identical PCs.
Does it uninstall or change anything else?
No. This version only installs the apps you ticked. It does not remove software, change
Windows settings, or leave anything running in the background when it finishes.