diff --git a/docs/perf/winv2/TASK10_CHECKLIST.md b/docs/perf/winv2/TASK10_CHECKLIST.md
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+# Task #10 — validate the winv2 changes on the REAL signed Windows build
+
+Do not call winv2 "done" until a **code-signed, downloaded, installed, launched**
+build passes this. Unit tests + dry-runs are necessary but not sufficient — the
+build-script changes (asar exclusion, node_modules pre-extract) and the cold-start
+wins only exist in a packaged EXE.
+
+## 0. Produce the signed build
+- Tag the winv2 HEAD and push: `git tag v1.3.86 && git push origin v1.3.86`.
+- This runs `.github/workflows/release-windows.yml` (Azure code-signing) and creates
+  a **draft** GitHub release (drafts do NOT auto-update existing users).
+- Watch it: `gh run watch` / `gh run list --workflow=release-windows.yml`.
+- If `build-app-win.ps1` errors on the new step 4b (pre-extract) or the asar
+  `files` exclusion, fix and re-tag (delete the draft + tag first; never force-push
+  an existing release tag).
+
+## 1. Download + verify the signature (must be real signed bits)
+- `gh release download v1.3.86 --pattern "*Setup*.exe" --dir .` (or from the draft release page).
+- Verify Authenticode: `Get-AuthenticodeSignature .\OpenSwarm-Setup-x64.exe` → Status must be `Valid`, signer = the Azure Trusted Signing cert. NOT "NotSigned"/"UnknownError".
+
+## 2. Install + first (COLD) launch — the headline metric
+- Install the downloaded EXE (Squirrel → `%LOCALAPPDATA%\openswarm`).
+- Launch once and let it fully load. This is the COLD launch (Defender scans fresh files).
+- Then run the automated checker: `pwsh docs/perf/winv2/validate_packaged.ps1`.
+- Acceptance (perf): cold `backend-http-ready` should be **far below the 54-138s baseline**
+  (target: well under the 10s goal even cold, given the 639MB asar read is gone +
+  fewer files to scan). Relaunch once for the warm number (target ~2-3s).
+
+## 3. Automated structural checks (validate_packaged.ps1 must be all PASS)
+- app.asar < 50 MB (was ~607 MB) — #9 item 4.
+- app.asar does NOT contain python-env / build-staging — #9 item 4.
+- `resources/python-env/python.exe` present (still shipped unpacked).
+- `resources/node/x64/node.exe` present.
+- `resources/backend/apps/skill_registry/skills_snapshot.json` present — Bug #1.
+- webapp_template_cache has a pre-extracted `<digest>/node_modules/vite/bin/vite.js`
+  (#9 item 2) — or a `.tar.gz` fallback.
+
+## 4. Manual GUI checks (can't be automated)
+- **Skills (Bug #1):** open the Skills page on a fresh launch → the catalog shows
+  immediately (NOT empty). Run onboarding step 6/8 "Install a skill" → it finds the
+  pdf skill (no `waitForSelector "skill-item-pdf" 15000ms` timeout).
+- **App Builder (Bug #2):** create an app → the preview goes LIVE. No `[WinError 2]`,
+  no "backend exited with code 1". First app should be quick (pre-extracted nm + vite).
+  Bonus: test on a machine WITHOUT Git Bash to confirm the no-bash vite path.
+- Sanity: send an agent message (9Router now starts in the background → first message
+  may wait a moment for it; confirm it still answers).
+
+## 5. Optional cold-start levers (only after 1-4 pass)
+- #9 item 1 (`zip-python-stdlib.ps1 -Apply`) and item 3 (`strip-py-to-pyc.ps1 -Apply`)
+  on a build copy, then re-run 1-4 + re-measure. Enable in the build only if green.
+- #9 item 5 (`add-defender-exclusion.ps1`) is a user opt-in, validate separately.
+
+## 6. Sign-off
+- All of 1-4 green on the signed build → publish the draft release (un-draft) to ship 1.3.86.
+- Record the real cold/warm numbers in `boot_breakdown.csv` / README "Results (AFTER)".
diff --git a/docs/perf/winv2/validate_packaged.ps1 b/docs/perf/winv2/validate_packaged.ps1
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+++ b/docs/perf/winv2/validate_packaged.ps1
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+<#
+.SYNOPSIS
+  Task #10 automated checks: run AFTER installing the signed build. Confirms the
+  winv2 structural fixes landed in the packaged app and reads the REAL cold/warm
+  backend-http-ready from the app's own perf log. Manual GUI checks are in
+  TASK10_CHECKLIST.md (App Builder preview, Skills list, onboarding).
+.USAGE
+  pwsh docs\perf\winv2\validate_packaged.ps1
+#>
+param(
+    [string]$InstallRoot = (Join-Path $env:LOCALAPPDATA 'openswarm'),
+    [string]$BackendLog = (Join-Path $env:APPDATA 'openswarm\data\backend.log')
+)
+$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
+$pass = 0; $fail = 0
+function ok($m) { Write-Host "  PASS  $m" -ForegroundColor Green; $script:pass++ }
+function bad($m) { Write-Host "  FAIL  $m" -ForegroundColor Red; $script:fail++ }
+function info($m) { Write-Host "  ..    $m" -ForegroundColor DarkGray }
+
+$app = Get-ChildItem $InstallRoot -Directory -Filter 'app-*' -EA SilentlyContinue | Sort-Object Name | Select-Object -Last 1
+if (-not $app) { throw "no app-* under $InstallRoot (install the build first)" }
+$res = Join-Path $app.FullName 'resources'
+Write-Host "Validating packaged build: $res`n"
+
+# #9 item 4: asar trimmed
+$asar = Join-Path $res 'app.asar'
+if (Test-Path $asar) {
+    $asarMB = [math]::Round((Get-Item $asar).Length / 1MB, 1)
+    if ($asarMB -lt 50) { ok "app.asar = ${asarMB} MB (trimmed; was ~607 MB)" } else { bad "app.asar = ${asarMB} MB (expected < 50)" }
+    $insp = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot 'inspect_asar.js'
+    if ((Get-Command node -EA SilentlyContinue) -and (Test-Path $insp)) {
+        $out = & node $insp $asar 2>&1 | Out-String
+        if ($out -match 'python-env|build-staging') { bad "asar STILL contains python-env/build-staging" } else { ok "asar excludes python-env + build-staging" }
+    }
+} else { bad "app.asar not found" }
+
+# still shipped unpacked (runtime reads these)
+if (Test-Path (Join-Path $res 'python-env\python.exe')) { ok "python-env shipped unpacked" } else { bad "python-env\python.exe missing" }
+if (Test-Path (Join-Path $res 'node\x64\node.exe')) { ok "node bundled" } else { bad "node\x64\node.exe missing" }
+
+# Bug #1: skills snapshot
+if (Test-Path (Join-Path $res 'backend\apps\skill_registry\skills_snapshot.json')) { ok "skills snapshot shipped (catalog never empty)" } else { bad "skills_snapshot.json missing" }
+
+# #9 item 2 / Bug #2: webapp node_modules pre-extracted or archive
+$cache = Join-Path $res 'backend\apps\outputs\webapp_template_cache'
+if (Test-Path (Join-Path $cache '*\node_modules\vite\bin\vite.js')) { ok "webapp node_modules PRE-EXTRACTED (zero first-app extract)" }
+elseif (Test-Path (Join-Path $cache 'node_modules.*.tar.gz')) { info "webapp node_modules shipped as .tar.gz (extract path, not pre-extracted)" }
+else { bad "no webapp node_modules tree/archive in resources" }
+
+# perf: real cold/warm backend-http-ready from the app's own log
+if (Test-Path $BackendLog) {
+    $m = Select-String -Path $BackendLog -Pattern 'backend-http-ready t=(\d+)' -AllMatches
+    $vals = @($m.Matches | ForEach-Object { [int]$_.Groups[1].Value })
+    if ($vals.Count) {
+        $recent = ($vals | Select-Object -Last 6 | ForEach-Object { [math]::Round($_ / 1000, 1) }) -join 's, '
+        info "backend-http-ready recent: ${recent}s   (baseline: warm ~9-10s, cold 54-138s)"
+        info "latest: $([math]::Round($vals[-1]/1000,1))s  -- first launch after install = COLD; relaunch for warm"
+    } else { info "no backend-http-ready markers yet" }
+} else { info "no backend.log yet (launch the app once first)" }
+
+Write-Host "`n$pass passed, $fail failed. Manual GUI checks: TASK10_CHECKLIST.md (App Builder, Skills, onboarding)."
+if ($fail) { exit 1 }