Select Create Basic Task from the Start Menu and you'll get a new wizard. Next run Task Scheduler from the Windows Start Menu. To do this, we recommend copying your installer file to a folder on your hard disk, such as c: inite. While you can run Ninite manually, a better option is to schedule your file to run.

This will download a small executable file to your computer. All you have to do is tick the boxes next to the applications that you want and then click the Get Installer button. Go to the Ninite site and you'll see a list of applications, organised by category, such as Web browsers, Messaging, Documents and Security. If these aren't reasons enough to use it, if you run the installer again at a later date, it will check for updates and automatically install them. In other words, Ninite is the hassle-free and safe way to install free software on your computer.

Cleverly, it selects the correct version for your computer (32-bit or 64-bit) and deselects any options to install additional software or toolbars.

This clever web-based utility creates you a custom, unattended installer for all of the applications you want on your new computer (see page 2 of this article for a list of our top picks). Fortunately, there's a better way using Ninite. There are so many useful Windows freeware applications that should be installed on any new PC, but installing any of it manually often leaves you with a computer that's full of toolbars, adware, spyware and other utilities that you really don't want.

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