I have a different point of view.

Once a pc has been set up and desired software has been loaded, users should be discouraged from downloading anything further. Nothing should be needed. There are literally thousands of free utilities available to download. Most add little value and downloading as a general practice not only exposes the PC to needless risks but also fills the machine full of unnecessary garbage that can be the source of slowdowns and diminished performance.

A download to assist with downloads almost sounds like a joke.

Every user, even nervous beginners, should know how to look for boxes to uncheck when doing updates, for instance, of already loaded software. It's a basic but needed skill.

Those dumb old seniors. ;-(

Regardless of experience or knowledge level a user must act within his/her limits or be prepared to face the negative.

Yes, it is entertaining to test and try new things. However, and this hurts me every time I have to, I agree with S. Most of the available downloads are unnecessary or redundant. So if a user plays he/she must be prepared to pay.

I personally dislike when seniors, or any other group of individuals, are compartmentalized.

DA

Don't install anything off the internet as a general rule ?

Taking an overabundance of caution when downloading and installing anything would be the best advice for the unaware and unfamiliar but I've downloaded and installed tons of programs and utilities off the internet - that I find extremely useful - and just paid attention to unclicking the "extras".

I think only one time in the last ten or fifteen years did I add something unintended, wherein I just uninstalled and reinstalled what I wanted.

But the "Unchecky" utility looks like a good prophylactic for those who might not understand the process and the general caveats involved. Personally I don't think I'd need it but I mean, if it works and you could benefit by it, why not ?

I have 5 PC's in my home and every new PC I immediately uninstall all those unneeded trial installs of software the mfg. makes deals on and makes money on like Norton, McAfee, even MS Office, so unsuspecting folks like newbies, dumb seniors or dumb middle agers etc. can be enticed or prompted to pay later.. Not me I pay for nuthin when I can download a much better software Free online, like AVG2015 and being a writer, I use Libre open office Free and it's great! so ya'll can pay all you want I will stick with Free any day, and also I will download them for the seniors who I help and they number in the hundreds by now and all over the world as I do remotes. I know I have saved them loads of $$$ since I do it all for Free.

Some I know, if you were to install UnChecky on their computers they would be checking a lot of boxes. They want the fun free smileys, and grocery coupons, and their registry fixed so they can have fun saving money while going 10x faster.

To say "this is what I always do" only suggests that you're consistent.

Just curiosity here. In the occurrences that a box is checked by default to allow an action in addition to what the user is looking for, how does this help?

DA

If you are doing a download and they put additional offers in before you hit install or fail to hit decline, unchecky will remove the tics/check marks for you. That is what I am referring to things like speed booster, toolbars or whatever?

The focus of your post was clear. Though I do not support the need for it I found it interesting and just had the one question.

I have this MajorGeeks' page bookmarked so I can share it with users if needed, and unfortunately it does become necessary on a too often basis.

Though it is MG oriented it provides plain-speak information as to third party issues along with some polite, but rigid, guidance. I am posting for reader review.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/third_party_programs_and_toolbars_what_you_need_to_know.html

DA

I have a list of the extra software that makes computer life easier, and always install it (from a trusted source like tucows ) right after I get the OS running.

It might be the BIG stuff like Firefox for a Windows machine, GIMP and OpenOffice for them all, Irfanview for quick photo editing, and these little utilities ... and NetHack.

OpenOffice is a free, good bundle of document/spreadsheet software. Even takes MS-office files & converts them to its own style/extension files, but they look/work exactly as before.

I prefer Libre open office and Free as well, being a writer (a hobby) this is what I use.

Yes, OpenOffice is a bit of a dead fork - many more developers actively working on Libre.

Other than a bug in an inopportune place or someone experiencing difficulty or non-functionality of a needed feature, most users wouldn't see a significant difference between Open Office and Libre Office. Same is true for updates - that's what keeps developers busy, but not always meaningfully for users.

Libre arose as somewhat of an "anti-establishment" or renegade alternative. Projects like that are what draw the flies in the Open Source world. It's true that Open Office seems to have lost most of its momentum, and that could be reason enough to switch over at a later date or if problems arise that aren't fixed.