Every time I set up a new laptop, for myself or for a family member, I go through the same little ritual. Windows boots, the desktop looks clean and empty, and then I spend the next hour installing the same list of programs I always install. My mum calls it “making the computer normal.”
After doing this maybe a dozen times now, the list has settled. It’s not fancy. It’s just the Windows software that ordinary people actually need: something to watch videos, open documents, stay safe and keep things tidy. If you’ve just bought a PC, or yours feels like it’s missing something, this is roughly where I’d start.
First, a quick word on where to get things
Before the list, one rule I stick to. I only download apps from the official developer website or the Microsoft Store. Search results for “free download” are full of copycat sites, bundled installers and “full version” packages of paid apps, and a lot of them carry adware or worse. I’ve helped a neighbour clean up after one of those, and it took a whole Saturday. Official sources, every time.
A tool that installs the rest for you: Ninite
This one’s a bit of a cheat code. On Ninite’s website you tick the apps you want, download one small installer, and it quietly installs all of them with no toolbars or extra junk sneaking in. When I’m setting up a PC from scratch it saves me a good half hour of clicking “Next, Next, I agree.”
Windows also has its own command line installer called winget now, if you’re comfortable typing a command or two. Most people won’t need it, but it’s there.
VLC for anything video or audio
The built in Media Player has got better, but sooner or later you’ll hit a video file it refuses to play. VLC plays basically everything. Old AVI files, odd formats from a phone, a DVD if you still have a drive. It’s free, open source and has been around forever, which is honestly part of why I trust it.
Small tip: you can speed up lecture or tutorial videos with the ] key. I watch most how-to videos at 1.5x now.
An office suite: LibreOffice (or Microsoft 365)
Not everyone wants to pay for Microsoft 365, and that’s fine. LibreOffice is free and opens Word, Excel and PowerPoint files without much fuss. Complex formatting can shift a little sometimes, so if your job runs on heavy Excel sheets, the Microsoft version is probably worth paying for. For letters, school work, a household budget? LibreOffice does the job.
A lightweight PDF reader
Your browser can open PDFs, and for many people that’s enough. I still keep SumatraPDF installed though. It opens files almost instantly, it’s tiny, and it doesn’t nag you to sign up for anything. If you need to fill in and sign forms, Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader is the safer bet since some government forms only behave properly in it.
Notepad++ for quick notes and text files
Regular Notepad is fine for a shopping list. Notepad++ is what I use for everything else. It remembers your open tabs even after you close it, so I treat it like a scratchpad for phone numbers, half written emails, random ideas. People who do a bit of coding love it too, but you really don’t need to be technical to find it useful.
Security: Windows Security plus a second opinion
Good news here. The antivirus that comes with Windows, Windows Security, is genuinely decent these days, so most home users don’t need to buy anything. Keep it switched on and let Windows update.
I do keep the free version of Malwarebytes around as a second opinion. It’s not running all the time, I just run a scan every month or so, or whenever a PC starts acting strange. It’s caught a few browser hijackers on family laptops that nothing else flagged.
A proper uninstaller
When you remove a program the normal way, it often leaves bits behind. Folders, registry entries, startup items. Revo Uninstaller’s free version cleans up those leftovers after the regular uninstall runs. I don’t use it every day, but it’s one of those computer utilities that’s great to have when a stubborn app just won’t go away.
Backups, because one day you’ll need them
I learned this the painful way when a hard drive died and took two years of photos with it. Now I keep things simple. OneDrive syncs my Documents and Pictures folders, and Windows File History copies files to an external drive once a week. Pick one method if two sounds like too much. Any backup is better than none.
A simple image editor: Paint.NET
Photoshop is overkill for cropping a photo or blurring out a number plate. Paint.NET is free, easy to pick up, and handles layers and basic effects. I use it for resizing images, adding text and fixing screenshots. It feels like regular Paint that grew up a bit.
Don’t forget Night light
Not an app, but worth a mention. Windows has a built in Night light setting that warms the screen colour in the evening. Search “Night light” in Settings and schedule it. My eyes definitely feel less tired after late work sessions since I switched it on.
Keeping your PC software tools under control
- Install only what you’ll actually use. A crowded PC is a slower PC.
- Go through Settings > Apps a couple of times a year and remove anything you’ve forgotten about.
- Turn on automatic updates where you can. Old software is one of the easiest ways in for malware.
- If an app asks to install a “partner offer” during setup, untick it.
Wrapping up
None of this list is exciting, and that’s sort of the point. Good Windows software should just work in the background and let you get on with your day. A media player that plays anything, an office suite, a PDF reader, solid security and a backup plan cover nearly everything most people do on a computer.
Start with the basics, add the useful Windows apps you find yourself reaching for, and skip the rest. Your PC will feel faster, and you’ll spend a lot less time fighting with it.
