There’s no need to waste hours installing and removing apps from a new computer when you can do it with a few clicks.
It’s always exciting to take a new computer out of the box, but setting everything up can be a tedious task. Firstly you need to create a user account and install the latest Windows updates, then you need to remove the bloatware and install the applications you actually need.
Thankfully there are two free tools which can make this process much less painful on a Windows machine; PC Decrapifier and Ninite. Together they can have you up and running in a few minutes.
As the name suggests, PC Decrapifier cleans out all the detritus which typically comes pre-installed on a new computer and can be difficult to remove. When you run PC Decrapifier it identifies all the applications which people typically want to remove, such as a free antivirus or Microsoft Office trial, and lets you uninstall them with a single click.
You can also dip into the full list of applications but proceed with caution, as you don’t want to delete something important. When in doubt, a quick Google search will reveal what each application does and whether you need it.
The next step is to look in your computer’s Start Up folder and disable applications which don’t need to run automatically – which will free up more memory and help your computer boot more quickly.
Once you’ve got everything running smoothly you’d usually start the long and tedious task of downloading and installing all your favourite applications. This is where Ninite can save the day.
On the Ninite home page you can select all the applications you want to install on your computer, from web browsers, messaging apps and media players to photo editors and office suites.
Once you’re done you simply download one file, which runs through every installer automatically while saying no to toolbars and other junk. It even ensures that you install the correct version of all your applications if you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows.
If you’re upgrading from an old computer, or simply adding another computer to your personal fleet, you can also use the sync features built into browsers like Chrome and Firefox to copy across all your settings – they even work between PCs and Macs.
Straight away you’ll have all your bookmarks, browser history and browser extensions at your fingertips, so you can get straight down to business. They’ll stay in sync, making it easier to jump between devices during the day and pick up where you left off.
Buying a new computer needn’t be a hassle when it’s easy to get everything just how you like it.
