Bulk installing software with Ninite

Posted on 11 Feb 2010 at 15:26

Jon Honeyball finds a handy software tool for installing lots of applications in a batch

Here’s a clever idea: a web service that lets you pick and choose from a range of mainstream software applications, then enables you to bulk install all of them in one go.

Called Ninite, there’s a long list of user-friendly applications in place that you might want to download onto some desktops. For example, you might want to put Firefox, Skype, OpenOffice, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Java onto a set of machines.

Just check those boxes, press the Get Installer button, and then download the configuration tool. When you run this, all the apps that you’ve chosen will be downloaded and installed with sensible defaults – the site claims that it just says “no” to all unwelcome add-ons like browser toolbars and other junk.

You don’t have to sit around and carry out each installation in turn – the whole lot just happens in one go while you do far more important sysadmin tasks like going to the pub

You don’t have to sit around and carry out each installation in turn – the whole lot just happens in one go while you do far more important sysadmin tasks like going to the pub, or even ensuring that last night’s backup worked.

Clearly, this isn’t going to replace a proper application deployment and management system, but a lot of businesses, especially in the SMB (small medium business) space want to put a pile of high-quality free software onto users’ desktops, but don’t want the hassle of sitting there for hours running their setup programs.

Ninite sweeps away all of this tedium and is a superb idea. Hmmm, so what would I pick out for a new laptop or netbook? Firefox, Windows Live Messenger, Skype, iTunes, VLC, Spotify, Office, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Security Essentials, Java, Silverlight, Google Earth and at least another half a dozen on top.

To get this onto my new laptop is just a point-and-click affair, and I can go to bed while it installs.

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User comments

Any consideration for bunging all of these as a download along with the script to install them?

By bubbles16 on 12 Feb 2010

I tried this at the weekend, and it works very well. Initially I was concerned about installing Foxit Reader as I know this is usually bundled with toolbar junk, which I normally opt out of during install. I needn't have worried as it all installed sans merde. A nice little tool...

By renhoek on 12 Feb 2010

This looks brilliant. Would have saved me hours a couple of months ago when I set up new PCs for the wife and I. Lets hope I remember it exists the next time I have to build a new PC!

By Bassey1976 on 17 Feb 2010

@bubbles16

Have you tried it? It creates a downloadable exe file to suit the applications you required by ticking the boxes. You then run the exe and it does all the downloads sequentially and the script steps through the install.. It's brilliant - I used it twice last weekend after putting Win7 on 2 machines. Chose 17 apps, ran the exe, went away. It just works.

By rollsg on 11 Mar 2010

magic download

. I myself use magic-downloader for my software downloads as it saves all the installation time, you can use the app double click right away. No spyware , no system trash ,no changing in Windows registry , my computer is running as fast as its new no matter how many apps I downloads with magic-downloader freely . Amazing!

By bebeliv on 18 Mar 2010

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Jon Honeyball

Jon is one of the UK's most respected IT journalists and a contributing editor to PC Pro since it launched in 1994. He specialises in Microsoft technologies, including client/server and office automation applications.