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Installation ​

Learn how to install and set up Novadesk on your Windows system. This guide walks you through installing Novadesk on Windows.

Table of Contents ​

System Requirements ​

  • Windows 7 or later (Windows 10/11 recommended, 64-bit)
  • At least 20 MB of free disk space

Novadesk Installation Guide ​

Step 1: Download the Installer ​

Visit the official website at https://novadesk.pages.dev/ and download the latest installer for Windows.

Step 2: Run the Setup ​

Locate the downloaded installer (e.g. Novadesk_Setup_vX.X.X.X_Beta.exe) in your Downloads folder and double-click it to start the setup wizard.

Installer File

User Account Control (UAC)

The installer starts with standard user permissions. If you select Standard installation, administrator privileges are requested seamlessly when you click Install, displaying the Windows UAC shield on the button.

Step 3: Welcome Screen ​

The welcome page introduces the setup process. It is recommended to close any active applications before continuing so that relevant files can be updated smoothly without requiring a system restart.

  • Click Next > to continue.

Welcome Screen

Step 4: License Agreement ​

Review the GNU General Public License terms before proceeding with the installation.

  • Click I Agree to accept the license terms and proceed.

License Agreement

Step 5: Choose Installation Type ​

Choose the installation mode that best fits your workflow:

  • Standard (recommended): Installs Novadesk to your system with full integration:
    • Creates an uninstaller in Windows Settings > Installed apps / Control Panel.
    • Installs core executables (novadesk.exe, manage_novadesk.exe, ndpkg_installer.exe, and nwm.exe) to Program Files.
    • Adds Novadesk and nwm to your system PATH for command-line access.
    • Creates Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts.
    • Registers the .ndpkg widget package file association.
    • Stores user widgets and addons in Documents\Novadesk\ and user settings in AppData\Roaming\Novadesk\.
  • Portable: Installs a self-contained copy without writing to system registry keys, shortcuts, or system directories:
    • Widgets, addons, and manage_novadesk_settings.json are placed directly alongside the executables.
    • Ideal for running from flash drives or custom local directories.
    • Note: Portable mode cannot be installed into system-protected folders (such as Program Files or Windows).

Select your preferred option and click Next >.

Choose Installation Type

Step 6: Choose Install Location ​

Select the destination directory where Novadesk files will be placed:

  • Default Location (Standard): C:\Program Files\Novadesk\
  • Default Location (Portable): Current installer folder
  • Click Browse... if you want to select a custom destination folder.
  • Click Install (or the shielded button in Standard mode) to begin copying files.

Choose Install Location

Step 7: Complete Installation ​

When the setup finishes copying all required files and configuring system shortcuts:

  • Keep Run Novadesk checked if you want Novadesk to launch immediately.
  • Click Finish to complete setup and close the wizard.

Completing Setup

Uninstallation ​

If you ever need to remove Novadesk:

  1. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Control Panel > Programs and Features).
  2. Find Novadesk and click Uninstall.
  3. During uninstallation, you can choose whether to perform a complete cleanup:
    • Completely Remove Novadesk: When checked, cleans up all user files in Documents\Novadesk and AppData\Novadesk in addition to program files.