Outline of the process -- use the links to get details...
- Prepare for installing:
- There's always a risk that something will
go horribly wrong when you install, uninstall
or update software. Back up everything you don't want to risk losing before you
install a program. You have to decide what
that is. I make sure that I have recently backed up
my whole system with a disk image before I install programs.
- If you downloaded the software, check the file for any pestilence before you use
it. There's not much risk of getting a virus,
worm or Trojan from "boxed" commercial
software.
- Get your system ready:
- Close any programs you have open. The easy way to do this is
to "logoff" your computer. Just
log back on to the same account when Windows
asks. (Don't enter a password if you usually
don't use one.)
You can also use Task Manager -- Ctrl+Alt+Delete -- to close running programs or you can
do a clean start so that you have no unwanted programs running.
- Disable any antivirus autoprotect processes
that you have running.
- Optional, but strongly suggested: Run System
File Checker to set a clean starting point.
[Click Start > Run > type sfc]
- Alternatively, if you're running Windows
XP, set a system checkpoint.
- You may need to uninstall the old program first:
- If you are upgrading a program to another
version, or hope to solve a problem by reinstalling
a program, it's usually best to uninstall
the old program first. Sometimes you get
instructions with the software that tell
you whether you should or not. If so, follow
them. Otherwise I'd recommend you install
the old program first.
- Click Start > Settings > Control panel
> Add/Remove Programs > scroll down
the list until you find the old program.
Click Add/Remove and answer OK.
- Reboot your computer after you've unstalled
the program. Windows can't delete or replace some files
that need to be changed except during startup.
- Install the program/software:
- Read everything carefully in each dialog
box as the process goes along. Respond appropriately.
- Don't just ignore alert messages during the installation.
- Restart your computer if you are notified
that it's needed to complete the installation.
Windows can't delete or replace some files
that need to be changed except during startup.
- Run System File Checker again to see if anything
bad happened during the installation. [Click
Start > Run > type sfc.] If there are
any potential problems, a dialog box will
open. It's usually safe to ignore or update
the system information if the version # of
the new file is higher, even though the date
of the old file is later. For example, it's
OK if version 3.8.8033 has replaced 3.8.7288,
no matter what dates are shown.
- Keep a permanent record of the action you've taken (for example
-- Installed "Avenger" - version
3.0 on 7/4/2002, along with any relevant
notes or observations).
- Before you install any more software, always
restart your computer -- even if you did
not get a notice that you "Need to restart
your computer."
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete (This means press and
hold down the first two keys and then press
the Delete key for an instant. Often called the 3-fingered salute in deference
to Bill Gates.
In the Close Program dialog box, click the
program that you want to close, and then
click End Task. "AnswersThatWork"
has a comprehensive list of programs to guide you in which programs to start.
Before you install, uninstall or update any
software, make sure you have a current backup of at least your critical documents and
data. You can't afford to lose that. It's
more likely that something will happen to
your system (Windows mostly) though. It's
a good idea to back your system up as well. The Windows XP System Restore function is
an adequate alternative. It can take you
back to a point before the time when the
installation went bad.
System File Checker ^Top^
Whenever you download and install
new software
and application updates, there's
always a
chance that a file that is working
OK will
be replaced by a file that doesn't
work in
your system. The System File
Checker can
help you detect and correct those
changes.
It's challenging for a new user
to use however.
Alert messages during installation ^Top^
A message may pop up during the
installation
process: "File being copied
is older
than the current file".
Programs often
use files in the Windows folders
that are
also used by other applications.
When you
get that message you should take
precautionary
action. Make a copy of the file
that is about
to be replaced -- and save it
in a convenient
folder. [Use Windows Explorer
to make the
copy. Hold down the Windows key
(between
Ctrl & Alt) and press the
E key to open
WE.)] Close WE and proceed with
the installation.
Later, if you find that something
does not
work, you can replace the older
file with
the copyyou made of the newer
one..
A log of each program you install or uninstall
can be invaluable if you run into a problem.
You can easily create a Log file that automatically
enters the date each time you open it. Open
Notepad and create a text file with the single
line ".LOG" (Without the quotes.) Be sure to
include the lead off period. Close and save
the file. Now when you open it, you will
see the current date. You can then complete
your log entry. Put a shortcut for the file somewhere where
you can easily find it when you need it --
on the desktop for example.
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