Installing software

Question

In installing new software (or uninstalling something) what is the advisable procedure: close all open programs? Everything in the system tray that can be closed? Most things that come up with a alt-shft-del? Temporary files? Recycle bin? How much of this is necessary?

gryjhnhpe · Answer

Just Close any Minimized Windows by  right click on Tasbar tab & click 'Close'.

msgale · Answer

To install I throw the CD into the drive and let it rip.  If the application neeeds anything stopped or terminated, it, the application being installed will ask you.  This assumes that the application being installed is 'well written'.  To unstall either go to control panel, add/remove programs, and select the program to be uninstalled.  If procedure requires a reboot after, if so they will ask for it.

jakeleg · Answer

Its always a good idea to disable your anti-virus when installing software. Unless, of couse, its something from an uncertain source or a hacked or warez version, which you shouldn't be installing anyway.  Message Edited by jakeleg on 12-05-2003 10:45 PM

msgale · Answer

Why????????????????????? Lets see, I installed on four PCs, Microsoft 2003 Microsoft Visual Studio ,NET 2003, Varitas Backup Exec, Visio, Ad-Adare Spybot, Real Player, WinDVD, Adobe Reader, Weather Bug, MediaFace II, Paint Shop Pro version 5, WinZip, EZCD Creater 6 +...+, never turned off virus checking, never had a problem. P.S. Nor do I turn off anything when I download and install Microsoft updates

Message Edited by msgale on 12-05-2003 11:05 PM

Message Edited by msgale on 12-05-2003 11:07 PM

jakeleg · Answer

While the risk of anit-virus causing problems may be rare, it does exist. It can cause problems with Windows Update control, http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=243787, and with installations of programs that install certain scripts or change system settings.

"When Auto-Protect is enabled, it can interfere with software installation. After all, the purpose of virus protection is to monitor and prevent changes to your system—and when you install software, the installer writes changes to your system files.

Problems with installation may not be apparent until you use a particular feature or set of features that were affected by the virus protection utility. At that point, identifying the cause of the problem can be difficult, and the only solution is to uninstall the application and reinstall it with virus protection software disabled."

http://www.techsoup.org/howto/articlepage.cfm?articleid=512&topicid=2

msgale · Answer

I read the first article, and it is about a single specific issue with I.E and Windows Update Product Catalog under a specific scenario.  It is certainly not a general recommendation.  In fact the article implies that you should not download with anti-virus turned off.  In addition the issue is about viewing a page not doing a installation.  Next the article specifically refers to IE 6.0 and Windows 98 or IE 6.0 and Win ME.  Tracing the references on the page lead me to Windows NT 4.0 references.  There appear to be no references from this century.

msgale · Answer

I read your second reference, and though you quoted the source correctly I disagree. Consider "After all, the purpose of virus protection is to monitor and prevent changes to your system—and when you install software, the installer writes changes to your system files." If the were true then how could you install anything safely. If anti-virus is on then you shouldn't install, and when the anti-virus is off changes to system files are allowed, which makes you vulnerable to viruses. The problem here is the quoted statement is false. System files are protected by file permissions. The key to anti-virus is not looking for changes, but preventation of dangerous changes. You don't want to get a virus and try to remove it, you don't want to get it in the first place. Auto-Protect in Norton sole purpose is to incercept any new file and insure that it is not infected. P.S. Except for required changes in the registry most new software does not change system files.

JRosenfeld · Answer

I have several programs that, on install specifically warn about disbling AV. It depends on the software. I usually disable as a matter of habit. If you know that the install is virus free (you can always scan it first), and you are disconnected when installing, it does no harm to disable AV before install.

msgale · Answer

I really curious, could you supply me with the names of the programs.

msgale · Answer

Thank you for the reply.  I am in the process of digesting it now.

jakeleg · Answer

Well, first of all InstallShield, the makers of the most widely used application installer, recommends that anti-virus be disabled.

http://consumer.installshield.com/kb.asp?id=Q108377

Why? Because it can lead to messed up installations such as this: http://www.leadtek.com.tw/support/n2.asp

Also, nVidia and ATI both recommend that anti-virus be disabled prior to installing their drivers.

(click on the installation help link on the ATI page)

http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_20011116_3824.html

http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/winxp/radeonwdm-xp.html?type=xp&prodType=graphic&prod=productsXPdriver&submit.x=14&submit.y=2

HP also recommends that anti-virus be disabled prior to running their installation software for their printers.,

http://www.hp.com/cposupport/multifunction/support_doc/bpu04835.html

And having reloaded two machines in the last couple of days, I can tell you so do the manuals for installing the software for Epson flatbed scanners and Minolta film scanners.

I should probably state my bias here. I think anti-virus software for the general computer user is the most misued, overused, overhyped, overpriced software there is. If you are really serious about security there are far more important steps to take other than running an anti-virus program. Using it is like grabbing your gun after the burglar is in the house. And you have about as much chance of getting a virus from installing commercial software as getting hit in the head with a meteorite while watching the Cubs win the World Series. But I don't want to sidetrack this thread, so I'll leave it at that.

Frank-M · Answer

I don't know that much about anti-virus software, but when the McAfee anti-virus that came with my Dell computer expired I was negligent about re-newing it, and for two whole months had no anti-virus on my computer. I didn't get any virus.

gudgeon · Answer

Then you were very, very lucky. I presume there are also people who've visited tropical regions without anti-malaria treatment and not developed malaria - not a case for the rest of us doing it, however. Message Edited by gudgeon on 12-07-2003 12:30 PM

RichardLusignan · Answer

msgale, look at this thread : http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=82240 I don't want to be rude, but we've had this conversation before, about disabling AV whilst installing software, and still, you come up with 'if that works for me, it should work for everyone' way of thinking.... kind of like: 'I don't need to look both ways before crossing the street because I've never been hit by a car coming from the left before....' We are talking about best practice here, to ensure a certain degree of stability. Sure, 95% of the time, it will work fine with AV enabled, but what about the remaining 5%? (and the numbers here are verified, can provide you with a link if you want to...). We are just trying to be thorough in our explanation to a novice, and if you find evidence that proves that disabling AV while installing software (not downloading...) is bad practice, I will gladly apologize. Regards, Rick

msgale · Answer

Yes we have been through this before, But many other issues have be explored may times, including but not limited to , "What is this "~" on my desktop", "How to format a disk", "Disk cleanup doesn't work", and my all time favorite "How to reinstall XP". I am sorry, but I will continue to challenge conventional wisdom until I am convinced that I am wrong or until I die. If you had completely read this thread you would see that some responses are from authoritative sources that contradict me, while some others are not. The issue was in the forefront, since I just rebuilt a very old PC I own. The rebuild was required since I needed it for some school work, requiring XP, and Solaris 9 was then on the machine. I installed XP Pro SP1a, all the MIcrosoft Updates, Office 2003, Visual Studio .NET 2003, AOL IM, Symnantec AV Corporate Client, some games, QuickTime, etc. Some of the Microsoft installs suggested that I stop some foreground processes, but interestingly none request AV shutdown. Some of the post are very well written, clean organized, but infortunely are illogical, more than anything those are the ones I am challenging. In closing, I know I am tilting at "Windmills". A little test for anyone reading this post. Part A - If AV software's job was to prevent modification to system files, how can you modify the registry without the AV complaining? Part B - If you turn off AV do the install and then turn on AV, why doesn't AV flag the changes on the next full virus scan?

Message Edited by msgale on 12-08-2003 07:56 AM

Windows General

Installing software

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