TGUP - Unattended applications downloader and installer

TGUP, short for ‘The Great Unattended Project’, is an executable package that downloads and installs the latest versions of commonly used freeware silently in sequence and categorically sorts them into the start menu. After the initial configuration no user input is required, though there is an option to override the silent install with a manual mode.

TGUP can automate the whole process of downloading and installing the software silently, or if the user wishes, it will only download the software leaving the installation to be carried out by the user. The downloaded software packages are converted into silent installers that doesn’t require any user input. The obvious drawback of this tool is that all software are installed on C:\Programs menu.

TGUP initially starts in the command mode. Here you have to choose between two options - download and install or only download the silent installers. Press the appropriate key to select an option.

If you choose the ‘download and install’ option, all downloads will go to Windows temp directory. After the installation is over, TGUP will wipe the temp directory clean. So if you wish to keep the installers for future use, choose the download only option. Here you will be asked to specify the path where you want to save the installers, but then you will have to carry out the installation yourself.

After you have chosen one of these options TGUP will launch the program selection box where you can select the applications you want to download and install.

Once you click on the Next button, everything happens automatically. Just keep your PC connected to the Internet and it will complete the job on it’s own.

TGUP is a good tool to save yourself from those long hours you need to spend before your PC after every Windows install. It would have been even better had it supported a larger number of application. Currently it’s list of supported application is limited and the most awful part is this list hasn’t been upgraded since 2007! Of course, most of these tools are evergreen like Firefox, Thunderbird, Filezilla, Notepad++ etc, but I would have definitely liked to see some newer additions.

Here is the complete list of applications that you can install with TGUP:

System:
Internet Explorer
Java[TM]
.Net Framework
Windows Updates

Graphic:
Adobe Reader
EAGLE
Google SketchUp
Inkscape
IrfanView
Picasa
XnView

Internet:
BitComet
FileZilla Client
Firefox
Adobe Flash Player
Flashget
Google Earth
Thunderbird
TortoiseSVN

Multimedia:
Freez 3GP Video Converter
Freez 3GP iPod Converter
QuickTime
iTunes
K-Lite Codec Pack
RealPlayer
save2pc Light
SopCast
VLC
Winamp
Windows Media Player

Office:
Microsoft Office Excel Viewer
Microsoft Office PowerPoint Viewer
Microsoft Office Word Viewer
Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer
OpenOffice

Tools:
7-zip
Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
eclipse classic
eclipse JEE
FastFontPreview
Folder Size
ImgBurn
InfraRecorder
NetSetMan
Network Stumbler
Notepad++
PDFCreator
PowerMenu
Rainlendar
Spyware Doctor
Unlocker
VCdControlTool
Windows Defender

Chat:
Skype
Windows Live Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger

Tweaks:
Enable/Disable AutoRun on All Drives