A new Windows PC setup should not begin with a marathon of software downloads. On October 21, 2026, How-to Geek published a list of seven free apps that its writer installs on every new Windows machine, while ZDNet offered a separate guide for moving files, apps, settings, and credentials.
At a glance:
- Review installed apps on the old PC and remove programs you no longer use.
- Sync important files or copy them to external storage before migrating.
- Use Windows Backup when your files are already synced to OneDrive.
- Install utilities only when they solve a recurring problem.
- Microsoft PowerToys includes FancyZones, PowerRename, and other useful tools.
- UniGetUI provides a graphical way to install and update Windows programs.
Start with cleanup, not installation
ZDNet’s migration advice begins before anything reaches the new computer. Open the Installed Apps section in Windows Settings, review what is on the old PC and remove programs you no longer use. Unused software creates extra work because it may need to be reinstalled, updated, and configured again.
There is no reason to carry forward every old utility merely because it was installed years ago. Migration should preserve the tools that still earn their place, not create a second collection of clutter.
Data deserves a separate plan. ZDNet recommends syncing files to a cloud service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. If cloud storage is not an option, copy the files to external storage instead.
The less glamorous part is preserving the working environment. If the old PC uses a Microsoft account and its files are already synced with OneDrive, ZDNet says Windows Backup can save details about installed apps, settings, and credentials. That information can reduce the amount of manual rebuilding required after the switch.
Free utilities that do real work
How-to Geek’s list focuses on tools that remain useful after the novelty wears off. PowerToys is the clearest example. The writer originally installed it for FancyZones, which allows windows to be arranged in custom layouts. Over time, other utilities in the same package became valuable enough to keep.
PowerRename is another named feature. It handles batches of file renaming, including photos transferred from a phone with unhelpful names. The writer also uses it to add a sensible prefix without losing the numbering. This is not glamorous work, but badly named files create friction whenever someone needs to find them.
PowerToys also includes Light Switch, which changes Windows between light and dark themes around sunset and sunrise, and Find My Mouse, which helps locate the cursor across two screens. Peek and Always On Top are other features the writer uses more often than expected.
The lesson is straightforward: judge software by repeated utility, not by its feature list. A small utility that solves an annoying task can be more valuable than a productivity system that demands constant maintenance.
Comparing the useful additions
These tools solve different stages of the setup process, so each has a clear role.
| Tool | Main job | When it is most useful |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft PowerToys | Provides FancyZones, PowerRename, Light Switch, Find My Mouse, Peek, and Always On Top | After the core setup works and you can identify recurring desktop problems |
| UniGetUI | Installs and updates Windows programs from different sources through a graphical interface | When rebuilding the applications that form part of your normal workflow |
| Bulk Crap Uninstaller | Selects multiple installed programs, sorts and filters the list, and creates a restore-point option | During later cleanup, when several unwanted programs need attention |
The ordering matters. Migration tools solve immediate continuity problems, while utilities such as PowerToys should earn their place through repeated use. Cleanup utilities are best kept available without making them the center of the setup.
Rebuilding the application workflow
ZDNet recommends UniGetUI for installing and updating Windows programs from multiple sources. It describes the application as a free, open-source package manager and a graphical wrapper around Microsoft’s WinGet command-line tool.
For readers rebuilding a Windows 11 machine, that can reduce the repetitive work involved in managing applications. The practical advantage is not a radically different desktop. It is the ability to handle program installation and updates through a familiar interface rather than downloading and installing each program one by one.
UniGetUI is optional, however. If the existing Windows installation process already meets your needs, adding another utility merely for consistency can be counterproductive. The right question is whether application management becomes a recurring frustration during the move.
Our analysis: install less, then keep what works
Most “essential apps” lists invite exactly the problem How-to Geek’s writer describes: software that looks useful for a week and then disappears. A new Windows PC setup becomes bloated when every promising tool is installed before its usefulness has been tested.
The better process separates migration from preference. First confirm that files, credentials, and essential programs are transferred correctly. Next, identify recurring annoyances such as messy filenames or inconvenient window placement. Only then install a utility aimed at one of those problems.
This approach also reduces risk. Windows Backup and cloud synchronization help preserve the old working setup, while UniGetUI can assist with rebuilding it. Optional utilities should remain secondary to the software you already know you need.
The win is not a desktop filled with attractive features. It is a faster return to a usable routine. The loser in a bloated setup is the person who must update, configure, and eventually remove software that never became essential.
A worked example for a fresh laptop
Suppose a new Windows 11 laptop arrives with important files spread across a messy Downloads folder and multiple cloud services. Start by removing unused programs from the old machine and choosing where the important files should live. Run Windows Backup if a Microsoft account and OneDrive are already in use.
Next, install the applications required for normal work. Use UniGetUI if a graphical package manager makes that process easier. Then install PowerToys and test FancyZones against your usual window arrangement. Use PowerRename to clean up phone photos with unhelpful names.
Keep Bulk Crap Uninstaller in mind for the first cleanup pass after setup. It can select multiple unwanted programs, review the list, and offer a system restore point first. Individual programs may still launch their own uninstallers, so some clicking can remain.
That order produces a machine built around actual tasks rather than a showroom full of utilities.
What to watch next
The best new Windows PC setup is not the one with the most software. It is the one that reaches a workable daily routine quickly and avoids reinstalling tools that no longer earn their keep.
Watch the first week of use rather than the first hour. If you repeatedly ignore a utility, remove it. If a missing feature sends you back to the old PC, add the tool that solves it. Cleanup should remain part of every major Windows move, not merely a task for setting day.
Key takeaways
- Remove unused apps before migrating so they do not return to the new PC.
- Back up files, settings, app details, and credentials before the hardware switch.
- PowerToys offers both window-layout and bulk file-renaming tools.
- Add optional utilities only after identifying recurring problems.
- Keep a cleanup routine available for the first few weeks of use.
Frequently asked questions
What free app does How-to Geek install on every new Windows PC?
The reference names Microsoft PowerToys. It was first installed for FancyZones window layouts, with PowerRename becoming another regularly used feature.
How can I transfer files to a new Windows PC?
ZDNet recommends using a cloud service such as OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. If cloud storage is unsuitable, copy the files to external storage instead.
What is UniGetUI?
ZDNet describes UniGetUI as a free, open-source package manager for installing and updating Windows programs from different sources. It acts as a graphical wrapper around Microsoft’s WinGet.
How should I choose utilities for a new Windows PC?
Begin with the transfer of files, credentials, and essential programs. Then install optional tools only when they address a recurring problem you can identify in normal use.