Theres a handy website, Ninite.com or something like that.
While I did have a small issue with how it dosn't let you decide where to put all the stuff(that I could find anyway), the website gives you an installer for all kinds of stuff and automatically says no to all the bullshit. Very helpful for setting up a new computer.
While I haven't tested the functionality myself yet it will apperantly update any pre existing installs you have too, again saying no to all the bullshit.
Let's Learn Computer Stuff!
For most Windows programs, installers come in one of two basic forms. The first is an MSI file, which Windows Installer reads and does what it says to install the program. The second is an executable, which is in actuality a self-extracting archive that puts the files where they need to be, and sometimes runs one of the files in the archive. Sometimes you'll get a blend of these, where a self-extracting archive contains an MSI. Here's how to make them less annoying, using the Windows command prompt:
For MSI files, the process is simple. Run msiexec.exe (Windows Installer) like so:
msiexec /i <installer.msi> /qb /promptrestart
All you'll see is a status bar, and possibly a prompt to reboot, if the installation requires it.
Another popular installer brand is InstallShield. These installers are simple self-extracting archives that contain one or more MSI files, and usually some other files necessary for the installation. Quiet installation:
<installer.exe> /s /sms /v" /qb /promptrestart"
The
/s tells InstallShield not to display anything, the
/sms tells the program not to exit until the install is complete, and the
/v passes in the quoted flags to msiexec.
If you're installing some old software, you might see a Wise installer. Those are dealt with like so:
<installer.exe> /s
For most other executables, you can extract their contents with a tool like 7zip or PeaZip, and then run the MSI.
A word of warning: it's hit-or-miss as to whether or not third-party software will be installed if the installer contains the option. A lot of times, it won't (see: Java), but it can still occasionally happen, if the software vendor is shady.
Ninite probably has a database of setup.iss files, which are used in InstallShield installers to specify which options to pick. They are created by using the
/r switch in the command, which makes InstallShield install the program and record the options chosen in a file called setup.iss, which will by default be placed in the root directory of your Windows drive (typically C). By using the
/f1 flag, immediately followed by a fully-qualified file path, future installations will use those same options.