(Re)building systems can be quite a drag, especially once you get to the part when it's time for downloading all the 3rd party software. This would include: Flash, Java, Firefox, Skype, etc., etc.
Enter Ninite, an amazing, time saving, utility website. It works as advertised, allowing you to choose your choice of applications, whereupon it generates a custom installer that with one-click, installs everything you wanted, without toolbars and crapware that would normally be installed by default.
There's also a corporate option for using with scripts or automated deployments. This is definitely a time saver and worth a look. Did I mention it's free :)