Manual

PC Werkbank bundles many Windows jobs into one program. The sidebar with all sections is on the left. Hover over a button in the program to see what it does at the bottom. Everything PC Werkbank does is shown in the log window at the bottom and written to a log file.

Always first: start PC Werkbank as administrator (this happens automatically) and make a backup or restore point before major changes. Where possible, PC Werkbank does this itself.

Starting and activating

  1. Download PC_Werkbank.exe and start it. Confirm the administrator prompt.
  2. Enter the activation code from the email. The code fields fill in automatically when you paste the whole code. The license is tied to this PC.
  3. Choose a username and PIN and keep the 10 recovery codes in a safe place.
  4. Log in with your PIN. Forgot your PIN? Click Forgot PIN? and use a recovery code. You can then also change your username, and you receive 10 new recovery codes.

Language

PC Werkbank starts in Dutch. Click EN at the top of the program to switch to English (and NL to switch back). The program restarts in the chosen language and remembers your choice. Some log messages may still appear in Dutch.

Overview

The start screen with the most important information about the PC: processor, memory, graphics card, drives with SMART health, network, Windows version, BIOS and the security status (Defender, firewall, BitLocker, TPM, Secure Boot).

Live temperature and load
Load of processor, graphics card, memory, disk and network, refreshed every few seconds. For temperatures click Enable sensors; this downloads the free LibreHardwareMonitor. Which sensors work depends on the hardware and drivers: not every value is available on every PC.
Copy buttons
Next to the PC name, IP address, MAC address and serial number there is a small button to copy the value.

Data Migration

Move user data from an old PC to a new one.

Export
Copies the user folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Downloads and more) to an external drive or network folder. You choose which folders.
Import
Puts a previously made export back on the new PC, in the correct folders of the selected user.
Free copying
Copy any folders or files with progress, speed and time remaining.
Check
Afterwards you can compare source and destination and get a proof (txt) of what was copied.

Standard folders

Moves Desktop, Documents, Pictures and other standard folders to another drive (for example D:), including their contents. Windows then uses the new location. Sign out and back in afterwards.

Browser profiles

Export and import bookmarks, extensions and settings of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Vivaldi and Opera. Close the browser first.

Mail Tools

Account details
Shows mail accounts with servers, ports and security per mail program and saves them to a text file.
Mail files
Finds PST and OST files and mail folders and sets them aside safely (backup).
Calendars
Show Outlook calendars, export them to .ics and import them into Outlook, Thunderbird, Google or Outlook.com.
Outlook
Close mail programs, open the mail configuration screen, start Outlook in safe mode and repair PST files with scanpst.

Check & backup

Compare folders (source and destination), view the summary of the last migration, make backups that only copy changes, restore backups and export a software list.

System

Search for and install Windows updates, check and update drivers, back up and restore drivers, system information, disk space, SMART, recent errors, services, restore points, SFC and DISM, time and region, power plans, Windows features and removing unnecessary Windows apps.

Personal settings

Set up the taskbar (Start button left or centre, widgets and task view off, search as an icon), choose a wallpaper and File Explorer options such as showing file extensions and the classic right-click menu. Applies to the user PC Werkbank is running as.

PC Cleanup

First click Scan to see how much space will be freed, then choose what to clean up: temporary files, Windows Update cache, Delivery Optimization cache, old logs and crash dumps, browser caches, thumbnails, recycle bin and old Windows installations. The log shows what was removed per item.

Windows Optimizer

Two profiles: Standard (cleaned up, faster, without ads; suitable for any PC) and Gamer (everything from Standard plus performance and latency settings and the PC Werkbank power plan). A backup is made automatically before every change, which you can restore. You can also manage and export power plans.

Game profiles BETA

Finds installed games (Steam, Epic and other launchers) and adjusts the settings files to a chosen profile. The original file is always saved first. Note: this section is in beta; results are not guaranteed and may differ per game, PC and driver. A game update may reset settings.

Users

Show, create, delete and rename local accounts (including the profile folder), reset passwords, grant or remove administrator rights, create your own admin account, clean up old profiles and manage OneDrive (status, stop, reset, block or remove).

Passwords

A generator for strong passwords and a place to record a customer's account details in a text file.

Printers

Show printers, clear the print queue, repair or restart the spooler, print a test page, choose the default printer, add printers by IP address, manage drivers and export and import printers.

Network

Scan the network (IP, name, MAC), test ports, IP configuration and network test, public IP address, export and import Wi-Fi passwords and profiles, flush the DNS cache, set DNS servers and DHCP or a static IP, reset adapters and map network drives.

Dynamic DNS

Keeps a domain name (for example from DuckDNS, Dynu, No-IP, FreeDNS, dynv6 or deSEC) linked to your changing internet IP. Enter provider, domain and token, click Save + check and then Create task. The task then runs in the background, even without a signed-in user.

Security

A security overview, Defender (status, update, quick scan), firewall, BitLocker (status, enable, show recovery key), Remote Desktop on or off, check SMB1 and set the UAC level.

Software

Install Chrome and Edge, check or repair winget, search for and install software, install standard programs in one go, update all software, show and export installed software, find and remove unwanted software.

Quick actions (sidebar)

Bottom left: refresh the overview, save a report, battery report, memory test, disk check, customer report (html and pdf), DISM + SFC and reboot straight into the BIOS.

Portable Technician Edition

  1. Copy PC_Werkbank.exe to a USB stick from a well-known brand (with a unique serial number).
  2. Start PC Werkbank from the stick and enter your activation code. The license is tied to the stick.
  3. Set your username and PIN. Account, PIN and license are stored in a hidden folder on the stick.
  4. Take the stick with you and start PC Werkbank from the stick on any PC. Nothing needs to be installed on the PC.

If PC Werkbank does not work from your stick, you will get a message. Some cheap sticks have no unique serial number and therefore cannot be used.

License and account