Automatically download and install software

Whenever you do a fresh install of Windows or buy new PC you have to go through one tedious task. Which is to download and install software that are essential to run your PC. Downloading and installing latest version of each software takes a lot of time. Moreover some software installers are like riddles. One wrong move and your home page will be replaced by a shady search engine, computer will be filled with toolbars you  don’t want or other crap-ware.

Thankfully there is great software called Ninite which do all the work for you. You just have to visit its homepage. Select your favourite softwares. Download the multi application installer and run it.  Now just sit back and relax. It will install and update everything without any interrupts.

Here is the summary of the steps:

Step 1:

Visit www.Ninite.com and select you favourite applications. (Ubuntu users go here www.ninite.com/linux )

Step 2:

Download the installer and run it.

Step 3:

There  is no step 3. Were you expecting one ? Just relax or do some other work and let the installer install the softwares.

What we liked about it

1. No interrupts, completely automated.
2. If you already have a software it will update it.
3. It parallely downloads one software and installs the other. Hence its fast.
4. No need to worry about unwanted toolbars. It will automatically skip it for you.
5. 64 bit version of the software will be installed if it is available when you are on a 64 bit OS.

What we didn’t like

1. Software setups are deleted after install. Not an ideal solution for people with slow connections.
2. Both 32 and 64 bit Java are installed on a 64 OS. Maybe a pro for some people.
3. Limited selection of softwares. We could not find our favourite PotPlayer.

Bonus

To save you time even more. Here is a link of applications I normally install on a new PC. It will instal chrome, everything, firefox, foobar, imgburn, java, klitecodecs, notepadplusplus, opera, picasa, revo, skype, sumatrapdf, teamviewer, utorrent, windirstat, and winmerge. Download

How to Create Windows 8 Bootable USB Drive

If you want to install Windows 8 and don’t have a  DVD drive then don’t despair. Windows 8 can be installed from a USB drive. You just have to create a Windows 8 bootable USB drive. There are many ways to do it. You can even do it from command line without any software. But here I’m going to tell the easiest method that requires only a few clicks of mouse.

Note: This method works for both Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Step 1:

Download Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool and install it. This tool is designed for windows 7 but works well for Windows 8. For some reasons they have chosen a weird name for this tool. I always  forget the name of this tool.

Step 2:

Click Browse and select the Windows 8 ISO file.

Step 3:

Click Next.

Step 4:

Click USB device and select your USB drive from the list. You will need at least 4GB or larger drive.

Step 5:

Finally click Begin copying and files will begin to copy. Now wait and relax till the files are copied. When it’s finished boot the computer from USB and start installation.

Note:

If you are running a 32-bit OS you can only make 32-bit bootable Windows 8 USB drive. 64-bit users can make both 32-bit and 64-bit bootable windows 8 USB drive.

Install Windows 8 without product key

Unlike windows 7, Windows 8 does not offer a 30 day trial and you have to enter product key at the time of installation. This can be problematic if you do not have key ready. You can bypass this while installation. But you have to enter the key later.

Step 1:
Create a file in notepad with the following content:

[EditionID]
Professional
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

Step 2:
Save it as “ei.cfg” in sources folder of the USB drive created above. Make sure file name is inside double quotes while saving.

Additional tip:
If you wan’t the choice of version( Professional or Core) during setup use following “ei.cfg”

[EditionID]
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

What Next ?

After you have installed windows 8 you have to install a lot of essential softwares. Installing each software on by one is a very tedious task. Would you like to automatically download and install all the softwares just with a single click of mouse ? If yes then read this article:

• Automatically download and install software

Windows 8.1 Download Link and Product Key Working

Update: The key given in this article is for preview version of Window 8.1. It will only work with the ISO images of preview version given below.

Update 2 (Oct 17,13): The final version is out for general public ! Go get windows 8.1. If you have installed the preview version then upgrade instructions are given here. If you are on Windows 8 device just click this link to upgrade. If for some reason you are not getting the upgrade option in live store read this.

Microsoft has just released the Preview edition of Windows 8.1 codenamed Windows “Blue”. For the uninformed this is an updated version of Windows 8 that was released  back in 2012. The version number 8.1 here indicates that it not a new OS but more of an update. This update is free for all Windows 8 users.

This is a preview version and may have some rough edges. So it is not recommended for production use. So don’t install it on your main system. The final version will be release later this year. The changes in this update are subtle. Many existing features are refined. Here are the major changes:

What’s New

Apps

1. New calculator, sound recorder, video editing app.
2. Internet Explorer 11 and powershell v4.0.
3. The skydrive app is revamped and is much more usable now.
4. The search app provides integrated search result from PC, web and apps.
5. Improved App Store that can update the installed apps automatically.

Usability

1. Live tiles can now be resized to smaller size. New extra large size for desktop tile.
2. The colour of start screen can be changed to any colour instead of selecting from predefined colours as before.
3. The biggest improvement in usability is that the the apps can be snapped to half of screen instead of either 25% or 75% earlier.
4. There is now a visible start button.
5. Now you can boot directly to desktop.
6. The hot spots in the upper right and left corner of the screen can now be disabled via settings.

New Technologies

1. Support for DirectX 11.2 and Resilient File System (ReFS)
2. Full support for 3D printers.

Windows 8.1 Download Links

Windows 8.1 ISO

English 64-bit (x64)

English 32-bit (x86)

For other languages visit official download site from Microsoft.

Windows 8.1 Product Guide

Microsoft has also release a beautiful product guide that explains the new features. Click the link below to download.

Windows 8.1 product guide

Product Key

NTTX3-RV7VB-T7X7F-WQYYY-9Y92F

How to install windows 8.1 ?

You can install Windows 8.1 following this very simple article. Although it is written for Windows 8  it works equally well for Windows 8.1. You don’t need to burn a DVD. Just a 4GB or larger USB drive.

• How to Create Windows 8 Bootable USB Drive