New computer setup checklist?

[Hawknc]

My wife is getting a new Win7 laptop tomorrow after her current Macbook started faltering. We're currently wracking our brains to work out what should be included on a fresh install (after stripping out any bloatware that comes with it). What are the programs and bookmarks that are essential to you when starting with a new install? What sort of customisation do you do, i.e. good wallpaper sites, Rainmeter themes etc?

(We've got the no-brainers down - Chrome, office suite, media software (iTunes/VLC), Avast, Adobe Reader, etc. Trying to think of some other bits and pieces that would be useful. This particular laptop will mostly be used for writing and some multimedia rather than gaming.)

[PhoenixEnigma]

I'd suggest checking out ninite.com. It's both a literal checklist of useful software you might want (and some you might forget), and an installer for that software.

Other than that, all I usually do is find a set of desktop backgrounds I like and set up a few programs - email accounts, noScript whitelisting, reloading my Steam library, setting browser homepages, and that's about it I think. Everything else I don't bother with until (or unless) I have a specific reason to.

[Dthen]

+1 for Ninite.

[Hawknc]

ninite.com

Brilliant. Thank you.

[Steax]

Smashing Magazine releases thematic wallpapers monthly which are usually pretty good. I use them every month for my wallpaper needs.

[userxp]

Chrome can be used as a substitute of Adobe Reader.