The Bane of the Internet

[Greg12]

Web based installers. They should be done away with. I would much rather doiwnload an exe than have some program automatically download stuff. I think it takes longer for the scripts to execute and such than to hit "save as"

[Faustus]

Alot of people who use webbased installers if you search around on their site have a downloadable one, OR give you the option to save the files after the install if you need to install on another box.

[tenders]

with windows updates,i don't think you have a choice


ooh always wanted to use one of those "meanie guys" :P

[ChrisX]

I would very much prefer to download .exe files than anything else where possible. This way is great for emergencies. I know with Microsoft's "Windows Update" normally there isn't a choice on how to download; this is web-based dialog box only. This is ok for small downloads only.

I use RealDownload to collect the stand alone files for various computer software updates and this is the easiest way. I usually find a way around, away from web based installers, just look for the full installer on any web site and sometimes you can find it.

Even Microsoft’s "Download Center" would have them as an alternative way to download as an .exe file instead of using Windows Updates. Just look for it and this is great for multiple computers in a network and this saves time.

[zodiac]

with windows updates,i don't think you have a choice

some you can if you know were to download or how to do it,like winxp sp1 or internet explorer 6(that updates nt-winxp)
i have a fast cable so it doesn't mater for me :P

webinstallers do suck,i use realone player and when i format i'm forced into going with the newer ver.

[Greg12]

Their is a website were u can download .exe versions of the Windows updates.

I don't know it but u can search this forum for it.

[zzyzzx]

Besides being able to archive the item on a CD-R, these web based installers rarely work when your using a 56K modem anyway.

And you guys need to vote in the poll!

[ChrisX]

Besides being able to archive the item on a CD-R, these web based installers rarely work when your using a 56K modem anyway.

I agree with the 56k modem comment above as dialup is so slow and at times difficult to download and takes a long time using a web based installers.

This is why I use RealDownload and very helpful for large .exe files such as for example downloading one of Microsoft's WinXP SP1 or Win2000 SP3. Microsoft's DirectX9.0 SDK is another example. These can take a long time, in fact up to 15 hours on a 56k modem.

Backing up these .exe files makes sense and three weeks ago a computer got into an emergency of bug damaged the system. I didn't have to download too much after the computer was re-formatted and this saved me time.

[drewson99]

edit

[vitualis]

with windows updates,i don't think you have a choice

Actually, there sort of is:
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/catalog/en/default.asp



It isn't as well set out as the auto/net-install site but all the downloads are there. Generally, what I do is to go to the auto-update site, note which downloads I need, and then use the above "Catalog" site to download the actual update.

This is great if you have multiple PCs.

Regards.

[Faustus]

You can find an install version of most things like I said before, big things for sure. We have a downloaded copy of XP Service Pack 1 so that we dont have to go though that download ever again. But in general I dont care how it installs long as it does it will and gets it done. Neither are the BANE of the internet. No, everyone knows AOL is the Bane of the internet.