General Guidelines for Windows Software Installation

While many people believe that installing a new software program is as simple as clicking "Next" a few times, you do need to be aware of some important overall concepts. Incorrect installation of a program can result in the program not functioning correctly and may even cause other programs to malfunction. Here are some general guidelines to follow when installing a program in Windows:

• Read the vendor's instructions: If you are installing a program that gives you many different installation options, it is a good idea to read the vendor's instructions to determine which installation method is right for you.
• Log on as the administrator: If you are running Windows 2000 or XP, log on as the administrator before installing a new program. Even if the program seems to install correctly when you are logged in as a general user, it may not function correctly later.
• Exit all running programs: While certain programs such as Windows Explorer must be running at all times, it is always recommended to exit programs such as your e-mail client, Web browser, instant messaging program and audio or video players before installing a new program. Disabling your antivirus program is also strongly recommended.
• Install from downloaded file or CD: If you are installing a program you downloaded from the Internet, locate the file you downloaded and double-click it to begin the installation.
  If you are installing your new program from a CD and you have autorun enabled, an installation menu will likely come up when you insert the CD. If autorun is disabled or no menu pops up, refer to Manually Starting Installer on CD if Autorun is Disabled in Windows 95/98/2000/Me/XP.
• Read the onscreen instructions carefully: Once the installation is running, follow the instructions carefully. In general, you will have to accept a license agreement, specify a few options and possibly enter a license key to verify that you purchased the product.
• Choose whether or not to receive e-mail notifications: Many programs downloaded from the Internet will allow you to receive e-mail announcements about other products or updates to the product you are installing. Many of these options are checked by default and it is recommended that you remove these checks, if you prefer not to receive e-mail advertisements.
• Register your product: In doing so, you will have access to full technical support. Registration is almost always optional, but some newer programs have a feature known as Windows Product Activation (WPA), which requires you to contact the vendor over the Internet or by phone. If the program is not activated within a specified number of uses, it stops functioning. This is an effort by the company to curb piracy of the product.
• Choose the default option for program location: If the program you are installing allows you to specify a location for the program installation, choose the default one. While the program will likely function appropriately in any path you specify, future updates and support are more easily attained if you use the default path.
• Do not install an older file over a newer file: If the program says that it is trying to replace a file that is newer than the version it is installing, it is recommended that you keep the previous version. Installing an older file over a newer file may cause other programs to stop functioning correctly, while keeping the newer file will likely work just fine.
• Restart your computer, if prompted: Many programs require you to restart your computer when the installation is complete.
• Re-enable your antivirus software: Be sure to re-enable your antivirus software, if you disabled it during the installation process.