How do I configure my Windows® settings for Ascend?

Windows® settings must be configured separately on each computer running Ascend. To get started, open up your computer’s Settings: just click on the Start menu (Windows Symbol) and start typing Settings into search or click the Settings icon (gear icon).

Windows® Updates

Complete all required Windows® updates before installing Ascend. The Ascend Installer may not complete if Windows® is not up-to-date.

Update Active Hours

Setting your Active Hours in Windows helps prevent unexpected or inconvenient PC restarts that interrupt your work day.

1. Click the Start menu
2. Click Settings (gear icon) or enter Settings into the Search box.
3. Click Windows Update in the lefthand toolbar.

4. Click Advanced Options.

2. Click Active Hours < Adjust Active Hours > Select Manually.

3. Click on Start and End time to adjust the time for your Active Hours (click Save if prompted).

Check and Run Windows Updates

Windows® updates may not be cumulative. Additional updates may be required after another is installed.

1. From within Windows Updates, Click Check for Updates.

2. Click Install Updates and restart as prompted.
3. Repeat the process until no more updates are available.

Power & Display

Update Power Mode

1. From Settings, Click System in lefthand toolbar.
2. Select Power & battery.

3. Click Power Mode.
4. Click the dropdown and select Best Performance.

Update Sleep Settings

1. From within Settings > System > Power & battery, Click Screen, sleep, & hibernate timeouts.
2. Set Turn my screen off after time.
3. Set Make my device sleep after to Never.

Update Hard Disk Settings

1. Click Start menu, type Control Panel into search box.
2. Click Control Panel under Best Match.

1. From All Control Panel Items > Power Options > Edit Plan Settings > Change advanced power settings. 

1. Expand Hard Disk, then expand Turn Off Hard Disk After.
2. Set all options to Never minutes and click Apply.
3. Expand Sleep, then expand Sleep After.
4. Set all options to Never minutes and click Apply and then OK.

Disable USB Settings

1. Click USB settings > USB selective suspend setting.
2. Change the setting to Disabled.

Windows® Defender (Firewall) Settings

Turn Off Windows Defender

1. Click Start menu > Settings > Privacy & security > Windows Security.

2. Click Open Windows Security Center.

3. Click Firewall & network protection, Select your network profile.

4. Toggle the setting to Off under Microsoft Defender Firewall.

Firewall & network protection

1. From Windows Security Center, Click Firewall & network protection.
2. Click Firewall notification settings.

3. Click Notifications > Manage Notifications.
4. Under Firewall & network protections notifications, turn the toggle ON under Notify me when Microsoft Defender Firewall blocks a new app.

Disable Block all incoming connections

1. From Windows Security Center, Click Firewall & network protection.
2. Click Firewall notification settings.
3. Select your network profile.
4. Under Incoming Connections, uncheck Blocks all incoming connections, including those in the list of allowed apps.

File and Printer Sharing

1. From Windows Security Center, Click Firewall & network protection.
2. Click Firewall notification settings.

3. Click Allow an app through firewall.
4. Click Change settings and then check the box next to File and Printer Sharing to allow it through the firewall for your network type.

Network

Set to Private Network

1. Click Start menu > Settings > Network & internet.
2. Select either Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
3. Click on your Network's properties and change the Network profile type to Private.

Configure Sharing Settings

1. From Network & internet, click Advanced network settings.
2. Click Advanced sharing settings.
3. Click on Private networks.
   1. Turn on Network discovery
   2. Turn on File and printer sharing
   3. Check Set up network connected devices automatically.

Turn Off Password Protected Sharing

1. From Network & internet, click Advanced network settings.
2. Click Advanced sharing settings.
3. Click on All Networks.
4. Click the toggle off on Password protected sharing.

Prevent System Time Changes

1. Click the Start menu > Settings > Time & language.
2. Toggle on Set time automatically.

Devices & Printers

Windows 11

1. Click the Start menu > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & Scanners.
2. Under Printer preferences, Uncheck Let Windows manage my default printer.
    

KB22-081