Installing software on XP MCE

[Guest]

When I installed software on my old Windows 98 SE computer, I would
'Start...Run...msconfig'. In the System Configuration Utility...Startup tab
I would write down the name of every checked Startup Item so I could recheck
them after I got through installing software.

Then I would go to the General Tab and uncheck 'Load Startup Items', pick
Apply and Ok. After restarting the computer I would install the software.
When that had completed, I would 'Start...Run...msconfig' and recheck the
boxes in the Startup tab from the list I had made. Then click Apply and Ok.
Computer restart here.

I understand that programs like Antivirus, Media Players, and ICQ are bad
for writing to other progams if they're not shut off.

My main question is [finally ) ] whether it's necessary to go through all
this with XP MCE? Or is it only necessary to turn off/disable my antivirus
and Spy Sweeper? Are there any issues with Windows' Firewall?

(The only dumb question is the one you DON'T ask!)

 

[DL]

With 'most' software it makes no difference as to whether you disable
AV/Malaware apps, though there is allways one that will baulk
I dont use winxp Firewall but a third party one, if the new software has any
internet connection requirement the first time it is run the firewall will
pop up an authorisation msg

 

[Ayush]

A good antivirus program will protect you. It will not create problems.
AND Even if you disable the entry in Startup program, the antivirus will
contine to run as service.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

When I installed software on my old Windows 98 SE computer, I would
'Start...Run...msconfig'. In the System Configuration
Utility...Startup tab I would write down the name of every checked
Startup Item so I could recheck them after I got through installing
software.

Then I would go to the General Tab and uncheck 'Load Startup Items',
pick Apply and Ok. After restarting the computer I would install the
software. When that had completed, I would 'Start...Run...msconfig'
and recheck the boxes in the Startup tab from the list I had made.
Then click Apply and Ok. Computer restart here.

I understand that programs like Antivirus, Media Players, and ICQ are
bad for writing to other progams if they're not shut off.

My main question is [finally ) ] whether it's necessary to go
through all this with XP MCE? Or is it only necessary to turn
off/disable my antivirus and Spy Sweeper? Are there any issues
with Windows' Firewall?

It wasn't necessary with Windows 98 and it isn't necessary with Windows XP.
In general, most software installations tell you to shut down all running
software before you install. That's because they want to make it unlikely
for there to be any issues with, for example, the installation trying to
install a new version of a dll that's already open. If that happens (no
matter how unlikely it is), they don't want the installation to fail and be
bothered by a telephone call from you.

But the fact is that such a problem is unlikely to happen even if you shut
down nothing. In general, I don't shut down *anything* before doing an
installation, and I can't remember ever having a problem with that. And if I
ever do, all I would have to do is shut down everything and redo the
installation.

You can shut down running foreground programs if you want to (even though
it's hardly ever necessary), but as far as I'm concerned, going to all that
trouble to shut down running background programs is *way* overkill.

Some people use a little freeware program called enditall before software
installation, but as I said, I don't bother.