The staff here at NEKLS are always looking for ways to do more with less time – this is an admirable goal for anyone, especially those in the technical support field. One of the ways we’ve been doing that is using a program called Ninite to install and keep the programs on our computers up to date.
Windows Update for everything else
If you are in charge of running updates for the computers in your library, what do you run? You may run Windows Updates, which covers the operating system, and Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office, but what else? If you want to update Firefox, Flash, etc. you’d normally have to go to the developer’s website, download a copy of software, double-click the installer, and click Next until it finishes. But not anymore!
How Ninite works
Visiting the Ninite website presents you with a simple web page, allowing you to select the apps you want to install/update. You just click the boxes for your favorite programs, and click the “Get Installer” link at the bottom of the page. It then downloads a small program that handles the time-consuming task of downloading the program, and installing it. But wait, there’s more! Ninite also:
- Strips out any spyware/toolbars that come bundled with the software.
- Automatically performs the installation, allowing you to do something else.
- Detects when a new version of your favorite program is available, and updates the installer
- Ninite on a portable USB flash drive is a powerful mobile update and software installation tool.
- Create offline installers for those times when you don’t have internet acccess.
Available to NEKLS members
NEKLS has acquired a professional license, which covers all of the computers in the library consortia that we offer support for. If you’re interested in learning more about how to get a copy of this super useful tool let us know!
-Author, Thatcher Rea
