No Need to Reboot - Really?

[Bob]

Since Windows 2000 was released, and even more so with Windows XP, it seems
like I am prompted less and less to reboot after installing new software.
IIRC I can install .NET Framework, MS Office, and many others - with no
prompt to reboot after the installation process is completed.

Why is this? I tend to reboot anyway just because I got in the habit of it
so long ago. Is is *really* unnecessary to reboot - with absolutely no
benefit to be realized from rebooting after installing new software?

Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Since Windows 2000 was released, and even more so with Windows XP, it
seems like I am prompted less and less to reboot after installing new
software. IIRC I can install .NET Framework, MS Office, and many others -
with no prompt to reboot after the installation process is completed.

Why is this? I tend to reboot anyway just because I got in the habit of it
so long ago. Is is *really* unnecessary to reboot - with absolutely no
benefit to be realized from rebooting after installing new software?

Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

It depends on the software, its purpose and the levels it runs at.

Most software does not require reboots if in-use system files don't have to
be replaced - the reboot allows this. Things like Office won't need to do
this, but things like low-level system utilities or drivers might.

HTH
-pk

 

[John John]

Since Windows 2000 was released, and even more so with Windows XP, it seems
like I am prompted less and less to reboot after installing new software.
IIRC I can install .NET Framework, MS Office, and many others - with no
prompt to reboot after the installation process is completed.

Why is this? I tend to reboot anyway just because I got in the habit of it
so long ago. Is is *really* unnecessary to reboot - with absolutely no
benefit to be realized from rebooting after installing new software?

Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

In addition to what Patrick has said, reboots are not generally
necessary unless changes are made to the registry's CurrentControlSet.

John

 

[Lil' Dave]

Since Windows 2000 was released, and even more so with Windows XP, it
seems like I am prompted less and less to reboot after installing new
software. IIRC I can install .NET Framework, MS Office, and many others -
with no prompt to reboot after the installation process is completed.

Why is this? I tend to reboot anyway just because I got in the habit of it
so long ago. Is is *really* unnecessary to reboot - with absolutely no
benefit to be realized from rebooting after installing new software?

Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks!

Ditto here. 95 and up experiences has programmed many of us users to
reboot, irregardless of prompt to reboot or not. Such oversights may still
exist not prompting for needed reboot for full utilization. Certainly harms
nothing to reboot (restart in XP).
Dave