diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 6edeac1c..cfd67a28 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -18,4 +18,3 @@ floppy/_packer_config_*.cmd
 *.*.json
 floppy/*.*.*
 script/*.*.*
-
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 53a284ce..bf9f8320 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+
 # Packer templates for Windows
 
 ### Overview
@@ -146,6 +147,19 @@ You can add additional `floppy/_packer_config_*.cmd` files.  These files will be
 
 `floppy/_packer_config*.cmd` will be executed in alpabetical order during initial install and at the beginning of each shell provisioner script if the script supports loading them.
 
+#### Proxy Configuration using `floppy/_packer_config_proxy.cmd`
+
+Create a file called `floppy/_packer_config_proxy.cmd` with the below contents:
+
+```
+set http_proxy_user=[proxy_user]
+set http_proxy_password=[proxy_password]
+set ftp_proxy=http://[proxy_host]:[proxy_port]
+set http_proxy=http://[proxy_host]:[proxy_port]
+set https_proxy=http://[proxy_host]:[proxy_port]
+set no_proxy=127.0.0.1,localhost,[no_proxy_hosts]
+```
+
 ### Acknowledgments
 
 [Parallels](http://www.parallels.com/) provides a Business Edition license of
diff --git a/floppy/01-install-wget.cmd b/floppy/01-install-wget.cmd
index 4087ed2a..6a45ab4a 100644
--- a/floppy/01-install-wget.cmd
+++ b/floppy/01-install-wget.cmd
@@ -10,24 +10,12 @@ if not defined WGET_URL set WGET_URL=https://eternallybored.org/misc/wget/curren
 
 for %%i in ("%WGET_URL%") do set filename=%SystemRoot%\%%~nxi
 
-if not exist "%~dp0\_download.cmd" goto _download_cmd_not_found
-
 copy /y "%~dp0\_download.cmd" "%SystemRoot%\"
 
 call "%~dp0\_download.cmd" "%WGET_URL%" "%filename%"
 
 if exist "%filename%" goto exit0
 
-:_download_cmd_not_found
-
-echo ==^> Downloading "%WGET_URL%" to "%filename%"
-
-:powershell
-
-powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%WGET_URL%', '%filename%')" <NUL
-
-if exist "%filename%" goto exit0
-
 if defined DISABLE_BITS (
     if "%DISABLE_BITS%" == "1" if not exist "%filename%" goto exit1
 )
diff --git a/floppy/_download.cmd b/floppy/_download.cmd
index 1c650eee..066e5d5a 100644
--- a/floppy/_download.cmd
+++ b/floppy/_download.cmd
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
 
 if not defined PACKER_SEARCH_PATHS set PACKER_SEARCH_PATHS="%USERPROFILE%" a: b: c: d: e: f: g: h: i: j: k: l: m: n: o: p: q: r: s: t: u: v: w: x: y: z:
 
-set url=%~1
+set "url=%~1"
 
-set filename=%~2
+set "filename=%~2"
 
 if not defined url echo ==^> ERROR: _download.cmd called without URL parameter. & goto exit1
 
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ echo ==^> Copying "%found%" to "%filename%", skipping download.
 copy /y "%found%" "%filename%" && goto exit0
 
 :download
-
-echo ==^> Downloading "%url%" to "%filename%"
+REM IT IS JUST CLEANER WITH THIS WGET IS REALLY PICKY.  POWERSHELL - NOT SO MUCH
+if defined http_proxy goto powershell
 
 set wget=
 
@@ -46,15 +46,37 @@ if defined wget goto wget
 
 if not exist "%wget%" goto powershell
 
+echo ==^> Downloading "%url%" to "%filename%" using "%wget%"...
+
 if not defined PACKER_DEBUG set WGET_OPTS=--no-verbose
 
+if defined http_proxy (
+  if defined http_proxy_user if defined http_proxy_password (
+      set WGET_OPTS=%WGET_OPTS% --proxy-user='%http_proxy_user%' --proxy-passwd='%http_proxy_password%'
+  )
+)
+
 "%wget%" --no-check-certificate %WGET_OPTS% -O "%filename%" "%url%"
 
 if not errorlevel 1 if exist "%filename%" goto exit0
 
 :powershell
+echo ==^> Downloading "%url%" to "%filename%" using "Powershell"...
 
-powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%url%', '%filename%')" <NUL
+if defined http_proxy (
+    set "ps1_proxy=$wc.proxy = (new-object System.Net.WebProxy('%http_proxy%')) ;"
+    if defined http_proxy_user if defined http_proxy_password (
+        set "ps1_proxy_auth=$wc.proxy.Credentials = (New-Object System.Net.NetworkCredential('%http_proxy_user%', '%http_proxy_password%')) ;"
+    )
+
+    if defined no_proxy (
+        set "ps1_no_proxy=$wc.proxy.BypassList = (('%no_proxy%').split(',')) ;"
+    )
+)
+
+set ps1_script="$wc = (New-Object System.Net.WebClient) ; %ps1_proxy% %ps1_proxy_auth% %ps1_no_proxy% $wc.DownloadFile('%url%', '%filename%')"
+
+powershell -command %ps1_script% >nul
 
 if not errorlevel 1 if exist "%filename%" goto exit0
 
@@ -70,7 +92,9 @@ for %%i in (bitsadmin.exe) do set bitsadmin=%%~$PATH:i
 
 if not defined bitsadmin set bitsadmin=%SystemRoot%\System32\bitsadmin.exe
 
-if not exist "%bitsadmin%" goto powershell
+if not exist "%bitsadmin%" goto exit 1
+
+echo ==^> Downloading "%url%" to "%filename%" using "BITS"...
 
 for %%i in ("%filename%") do set jobname=%%~nxi
 
diff --git a/floppy/bitvisessh.bat b/floppy/bitvisessh.bat
index 5b54a246..b0b0bef0 100644
--- a/floppy/bitvisessh.bat
+++ b/floppy/bitvisessh.bat
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ pushd "%BITVISE_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%BITVISE_URL%" "%BITVISE_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%BITVISE_URL%" to "%BITVISE_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%BITVISE_URL%', '%BITVISE_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%BITVISE_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/floppy/cygwin.bat b/floppy/cygwin.bat
index f950488f..c785a88e 100644
--- a/floppy/cygwin.bat
+++ b/floppy/cygwin.bat
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ pushd "%CYGWIN_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%CYGWIN_URL%" "%CYGWIN_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%CYGWIN_URL%" to "%CYGWIN_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%CYGWIN_URL%', '%CYGWIN_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if errorlevel 1 goto exit1
 
diff --git a/floppy/hotfix-KB2842230.bat b/floppy/hotfix-KB2842230.bat
index 6727c143..be5a828f 100644
--- a/floppy/hotfix-KB2842230.bat
+++ b/floppy/hotfix-KB2842230.bat
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@ pushd "%HOTFIX_2842230_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%HOTFIX_2842230_URL%" "%HOTFIX_2842230_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%HOTFIX_2842230_URL%" to "%HOTFIX_2842230_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%HOTFIX_2842230_URL%', '%HOTFIX_2842230_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if errorlevel 1 goto exit1
 
diff --git a/floppy/openssh.bat b/floppy/openssh.bat
index cec19dc0..c672f547 100644
--- a/floppy/openssh.bat
+++ b/floppy/openssh.bat
@@ -17,9 +17,6 @@ pushd "%OPENSSH_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%OPENSSH_URL%" "%OPENSSH_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%OPENSSH_URL%" to "%OPENSSH_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%OPENSSH_URL%', '%OPENSSH_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%OPENSSH_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/floppy/upgrade-wua.bat b/floppy/upgrade-wua.bat
index 4ac8a74d..9fce7042 100644
--- a/floppy/upgrade-wua.bat
+++ b/floppy/upgrade-wua.bat
@@ -22,9 +22,6 @@ mkdir "%WUA_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
     call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%WUA_URL%" "%WUA_PATH%"
-) else (
-    echo ==^> Downloading "%WUA_URL%" to "%WUA_PATH%"
-    powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%WUA_URL%', '%WUA_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%WUA_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/script/01-install-handle.cmd b/script/01-install-handle.cmd
index c13cae58..422a3e75 100644
--- a/script/01-install-handle.cmd
+++ b/script/01-install-handle.cmd
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ pushd "%HANDLE_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%HANDLE_URL%" "%HANDLE_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%HANDLE_URL%" to "%HANDLE_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%HANDLE_URL%', '%HANDLE_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%HANDLE_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/script/cmtool.bat b/script/cmtool.bat
index 49bf8dd3..5c7a6c3c 100644
--- a/script/cmtool.bat
+++ b/script/cmtool.bat
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ set url="https://omnitruck.chef.io/%OMNITRUCK_CHANNEL%/%OMNITRUCK_PRODUCT%/metad
 set filename="%TEMP%\omnitruck.txt"
 
 echo ==^> Using Chef Omnitruck API URL: !url!
-powershell -command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('!url!', '!filename!')"
+call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" !url! !filename!
 
 if not exist "%TEMP%\omnitruck.txt" (
   echo Unable to download metadata for %OMNITRUCK_PRODUCT% %OMNITRUCK_VERSION% on the %OMNITRUCK_CHANNEL% channel for %OMNITRUCK_PLATFORM% %OMNITRUCK_MACHINE_ARCH%
@@ -136,9 +136,6 @@ pushd "%CHEF_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%CHEF_URL%" "%CHEF_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading %CHEF_URL% to %CHEF_PATH%
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile(\"%CHEF_URL%\", '%CHEF_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%CHEF_PATH%" goto exit1
 
@@ -215,9 +212,6 @@ pushd "%PUPPET_DIR%"
 :: todo support CM_VERSION variable
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%PUPPET_URL%" "%PUPPET_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading %PUPPET_URL% to %PUPPET_PATH%
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%PUPPET_URL%', '%PUPPET_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%PUPPET_PATH%" goto exit1
 
@@ -259,8 +253,9 @@ set SALT_URL=http://raw.githubusercontent.com/saltstack/salt-bootstrap/%SALT_REV
 set SALT_PATH=%SALT_DIR%\bootstrap-salt.ps1
 set SALT_DOWNLOAD=%SALT_DIR%\bootstrap-salt.download.ps1
 
-echo ==^> Downloading %SALT_URL% to %SALT_DOWNLOAD%
-powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%SALT_URL%', '%SALT_DOWNLOAD%')" <NUL
+if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
+  call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%SALT_URL%" "%SALT_DOWNLOAD%"
+)
 
 if not exist "%SALT_DOWNLOAD%" goto exit1
 echo ==^> Patching bootstrap-salt.ps1 at %SALT_DOWNLOAD%
@@ -301,7 +296,7 @@ if "%CM_VERSION%" == "latest" (
 set SALT_PATH=%SALT_DIR%\Salt-Minion-Setup.exe
 
 echo ==^> Downloading %SALT_URL% to %SALT_PATH%
-powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%SALT_URL%', '%SALT_PATH%')" <NUL
+call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" %SALT_URL% %SALT_PATH%
 
 echo ==^> Installing Salt minion %CM_VERSION%-%SALT_PYTHONVERSION% with %SALT_PATH%
 
diff --git a/script/sdelete.bat b/script/sdelete.bat
index 26dc7e21..6943ea6c 100644
--- a/script/sdelete.bat
+++ b/script/sdelete.bat
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ pushd "%SDELETE_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%SDELETE_URL%" "%SDELETE_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%SDELETE_URL%" to "%SDELETE_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%SDELETE_URL%', '%SDELETE_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%SDELETE_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/script/ultradefrag.bat b/script/ultradefrag.bat
index 1c05bae4..6225afc7 100644
--- a/script/ultradefrag.bat
+++ b/script/ultradefrag.bat
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@ cd /d "%SEVENZIP_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%SEVENZIP_URL%" "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%SEVENZIP_URL%" to "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%SEVENZIP_URL%', '%SEVENZIP_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%SEVENZIP_PATH%" goto return1
 
@@ -131,9 +128,6 @@ pushd "%ULTRADEFRAG_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%ULTRADEFRAG_URL%" "%ULTRADEFRAG_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%ULTRADEFRAG_URL%" to "%ULTRADEFRAG_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%ULTRADEFRAG_URL%', '%ULTRADEFRAG_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%ULTRADEFRAG_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/script/vagrant.bat b/script/vagrant.bat
index 56a84967..95c4cb0a 100644
--- a/script/vagrant.bat
+++ b/script/vagrant.bat
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ pushd "%VAGRANT_DIR%"
 
 if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
   call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%VAGRANT_PUB_URL%" "%VAGRANT_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%VAGRANT_PUB_URL%" to "%VAGRANT_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%VAGRANT_PUB_URL%', '%VAGRANT_PATH%')" <NUL
 )
 if not exist "%VAGRANT_PATH%" goto exit1
 
diff --git a/script/vmtool.bat b/script/vmtool.bat
index 6d394095..d9aaa33c 100644
--- a/script/vmtool.bat
+++ b/script/vmtool.bat
@@ -38,12 +38,7 @@ set SEVENZIP_PATH=%SEVENZIP_DIR%\%SEVENZIP_MSI%
 echo ==^> Creating "%SEVENZIP_DIR%"
 mkdir "%SEVENZIP_DIR%"
 cd /d "%SEVENZIP_DIR%"
-if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
-  call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%SEVENZIP_URL%" "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%SEVENZIP_URL%" to "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%SEVENZIP_URL%', '%SEVENZIP_PATH%')" <NUL
-)
+call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%SEVENZIP_URL%" "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
 if not exist "%SEVENZIP_PATH%" goto return1
 echo ==^> Installing "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
 msiexec /qb /i "%SEVENZIP_PATH%"
@@ -126,12 +121,8 @@ if defined VMWARE_TOOLS_ISO_PATH for %%i in (%VMWARE_TOOLS_ISO_PATH%) do set _VM
 if %_VMWARE_TOOLS_SIZE% EQU 0 set VMWARE_TOOLS_ISO_PATH=
 
 if defined VMWARE_TOOLS_ISO_PATH goto install_vmware_tools_from_iso
-if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
-  call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_URL%" "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_URL%" to "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_URL%', '%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_PATH%')" <NUL
-)
+call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_URL%" "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_PATH%"
+
 if not exist "%VMWARE_TOOLS_TAR_PATH%" goto exit1
 call :install_sevenzip
 if errorlevel 1 goto exit1
@@ -202,12 +193,8 @@ set _VBOX_ISO_SIZE=0
 if exist "%VBOX_ISO_PATH%" for %%i in (%VBOX_ISO_PATH%) do set _VBOX_ISO_SIZE=%%~zi
 if %_VBOX_ISO_SIZE% GTR 0 goto install_vbox_guest_additions_from_iso
 
-if exist "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" (
-  call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%VBOX_ISO_URL%" "%VBOX_ISO_PATH%"
-) else (
-  echo ==^> Downloading "%VBOX_ISO_URL%" to "%VBOX_ISO_PATH%"
-  powershell -Command "(New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('%VBOX_ISO_URL%', '%VBOX_ISO_PATH%')" <NUL
-)
+call "%SystemRoot%\_download.cmd" "%VBOX_ISO_URL%" "%VBOX_ISO_PATH%"
+
 if not exist "%VBOX_ISO_PATH%" goto exit1
 
 :install_vbox_guest_additions_from_iso