Without them, it takes me an extra second or two to figure out what’s what.

Specifically, I miss the text labels that accompany each running program. I like most of what Windows 7 brings to the table, but there’s one thing I definitely don’t like: the new taskbar. When you’re ready, run that file and sit back while Ninite goes to work. Once you’ve made your picks, click Get Installer to download a small executable file. The service offers the most current versions of nearly every popular mainstream program, including Firefox, Skype, OpenOffice, iTunes, Picasa, Steam, and Revo Uninstaller.

Thankfully, I’ve found salvation in the form of Ninite, a new service that automatically downloads and installs popular software.Īll you do is scroll through Ninite’s list of 70-odd apps, check-marking the ones you want. I’ve always hated this part, as it involves digging out CDs, downloading apps from lots of different sites, and then manually installing everything. Now that you’ve got Windows 7 up and running on your newly partitioned, dual-boot PC, it’s time for the next big step in any OS migration: reinstalling your software.

Last week I told you how to migrate to Windows 7 at your own pace-there’s no need to jump into the deep end right away.

Ninite open office