How to install or update multiple Windows apps cleanly

A perennial problem with looking after Windows PCs is how to keep track of those useful applications that you’ve collected and installed along the way – as well as re-installing them consistently on a different/replacement PC.

Well, the guys at PC-Pro magazine came up with a good suggestion that I have since used and can endorse whole-heartedly. It’s hosted on a site called ninite.com – don’t be put off by the cutesy name!

The site lists a selection of popular apps, categorised by the following types:

• Web Browsers
• Messaging
• Media
• Runtimes
• Utilities
• Imaging
• Compression
• Documents
• Developer Tools
• Security
• File Sharing
• Online Storage

Among these are such free classics as: Skype, Thunderbird, Audacity, QuickTime, ImgBurn, Gimp, LibreOffice and Dropbox.

It also includes standards from Microsoft and Adobe, including: Office, Reader and SkyDrive.

You make your own choice and it creates a downloadable/savable customised link that you can re-use.