diff --git a/.github/workflows/windows.yml b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
index 115b0c4..c9818db 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/windows.yml
@@ -17,26 +17,31 @@ jobs:
       run: choco install -y llvm
       if: runner.os == 'Windows'
 
-    - name: windows vcpkg shit
-      # https://vcpkg.io/en/getting-started.html
+    - name: Download protobuf
       run: |
-        git clone https://github.com/Microsoft/vcpkg.git
-        ./vcpkg/bootstrap-vcpkg.sh
-        vcpkg install protobuf protobuf:x64-windows
-        vcpkg owns protobuf
-        ls vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake
+        Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/protocolbuffers/protobuf/releases/download/v21.12/protoc-21.12-win64.zip" -OutFile protoc_x64-windows.zip
+        dir
+        mkdir protoc_x64-windows
+        7z x protobuf_x64-windows.zip -oprotoc_x64-windows
+        dir
+        Invoke-WebRequest "https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/te9p80zrzcwgswrkw21en/protobuf_x64-windows.zip?rlkey=btmzjokhh256xxns348o3re7m&dl=1" -OutFile protobuf_x64-windows.zip
+        dir
+        7z x protobuf_x64-windows.zip
+        dir
+
     - name: CMake generate
       env:
         ARTIFACT_NAME: ppc2cpp-${{ runner.os }}
       run: |
-        echo $WINDOWS_FLAGS
         cmake --version
         cmake -B build \
           -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=$ARTIFACT_NAME \
           -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
           -DBUILD_TESTING=OFF \
           -DCMAKE_C_COMPILER=clang -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=clang++ \
-          -S . -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=vcpkg/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows-static -DCMAKE_GENERATOR_PLATFORM=x64
+          -DEXTERNAL_LIBPROTOBUF_PATH=protobuf_x64-windows \
+          -DEXTERNAL_PROTOC_PATH=protoc_x64-windows \
+
       shell: bash
     - name: Build
       run: cmake --build build --target install -j
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index d584446..0f110cb 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,15 @@ CPMAddPackage("gh:fmtlib/fmt#10.0.0")
 
 set(Protobuf_USE_STATIC_LIBS ON)
 
+if(DEFINED EXTERNAL_LIBPROTOBUF_PATH AND DEFINED EXTERNAL_PROTOC_PATH)
+  # In case protobuf location is defined externally
+  find_package(Protobuf)  # fails but defines protobuf_generate_cpp lmaoooo
+  link_directories(${EXTERNAL_LIBPROTOBUF_PATH}/lib)
+  set(Protobuf_LIBRARIES protobuf)
+  set(Protobuf_INCLUDE_DIRS "${EXTERNAL_LIBPROTOBUF_PATH}/include")
+  set(Protobuf_PROTOC_EXECUTABLE "${EXTERNAL_PROTOC_PATH}/bin/protoc.exe")
+  set(protobuf_MODULE_COMPATIBLE ON)
+else()
 find_package(protobuf CONFIG)
 if(NOT protobuf_FOUND)        # Legacy protobuf support
   message(STATUS "Trying legacy method of finding protobuf")
@@ -41,6 +50,7 @@ if(NOT protobuf_FOUND)        # Legacy protobuf support
   include(FindProtobuf)
   find_package(Protobuf REQUIRED)
 endif()
+endif()
 
 # Generate Protobuf files
 set(PROTO_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto")