Better method to update software already installed

[shans]

Which is the better method to update a software, to uninstall completely from the system and re-install the updated version or install the updated version as it is over the old version.
Thanks.

[Hoser Rob]

Generally it's better to uninstall before updating. It may not be as important if it's an update from, say, version 1.12 to 1.13 as if it were to 2.0, that is, a minor versus major update. But I'll usually do it anyway. Especially with those freeware programs.

It's a good habit and it can't hurt. It shouldn't really be necessary but, well ...

You may want to uninstall other programs too if the one you're updating is a front end for a series of utiliities, that is, it runs a chain of other programs to do something.

I had trouble updating avstodvd once and I think that was the problem. They recommend uninstalling avstodvd before updating but he never mentioned that you should also uninstall most of the other programs it calls and installed previously if you didn't already have them.

This seriously ticked me off because avstodvd is the only dvd authoring program that works with a wide variety of codecs and has a decent interface. I highly recommend it, as do many others here who are much more serious video geeks that I am. Even though I think burning videos to dvd is kind of pointless nowadays and I rarely do it anymore.

Some programs don't properly uninstall either. I tried winamp last year and when I uninstalled it (quickly ... it may have been decent once but it's junk adware now) the system still thought it was the default program for opening a number of file types. Fortunately it's easy under under windows to change default programs. I usually won't touch adware anymore.

There are a lot of hackers in the world of freeware. The user ratings in the tools/software section are pretty useful but be careful. The users posting there don't necessarily know what they're doing, and the old versions may be good but the newer one may be crap.

[jagabo]

It depends on the software.

[ranchhand]

There are two circumstances: upgrade with patches an existing installed program on your computer, or (more commonly) a completely new version of the installed program on your computer. In the first, installing the patches which will upgrade to a higher but identical number: (eg) ABC program 3.0 to ABC program 3.1 with only patches to fix bugs, etc. The second, upgrade-install ABC program 3.0 to ABC program 4.0. which involves a total installation procedure. In the second case I always uninstall the existing program and even search the registry for entries, which I also delete, then install the new package. This does two things: it makes sure that there will be no driver or program file or old registry entries conflicts, and prevents "bloat" of old files which are not used any more but take up space on the hard drive and bloat the registry. case in point: I recently uninstalled (for a friend) his versions and upgrades of Roxio burner utility; in so doing I edited his registry and removed over 3000 (yep, that number is correct not a typo) entries from his register, plus hundreds of others from programs he wasn't even using any more. His lap began running faster like new again. See graphic of the edit screen.

[shans]

Generally it's better to uninstall before updating. It may not be as important if it's an update from, say, version 1.12 to 1.13 as if it were to 2.0, that is, a minor versus major update. But I'll usually do it anyway. Especially with those freeware programs.

It's a good habit and it can't hurt. It shouldn't really be necessary but, well ...

There are a lot of hackers in the world of freeware. The user ratings in the tools/software section are pretty useful but be careful. The users posting there don't necessarily know what they're doing, and the old versions may be good but the newer one may be crap.

Thanks a lot. I will follow your suggestions during upgradation in future.

ranchhand

There are two circumstances: upgrade with patches an existing installed program on your computer, or (more commonly) a completely new version of the installed program on your computer. In the first, installing the patches which will upgrade to a higher but identical number: (eg) ABC program 3.0 to ABC program 3.1 with only patches to fix bugs, etc. The second, upgrade-install ABC program 3.0 to ABC program 4.0. which involves a total installation procedure. In the second case I always uninstall the existing program and even search the registry for entries, which I also delete, then install the new package.

I don't know to correct the registry entries. If i get the software "RegSeeker" and read the help file, can I do the registry entries.

Thanks jagabo.

[epsilonalpha]

It depends on the software.

This, really.

[shans]

ranchhand

There are two circumstances: upgrade with patches an existing installed program on your computer, or (more commonly) a completely new version of the installed program on your computer.

even search the registry for entries, which I also delete, then install the new package. This does two things: it makes sure that there will be no driver or program file or old registry entries conflicts, and prevents "bloat" of old files which are not used any more but take up space on the hard drive and bloat the registry.

Thanks. I have no knowledge about correcting the registry entries, but keen to know and learn. Have seen "RegSeeker" program in your attachment. If I get this software and read help files, can I learn to edit registry.

[ranchhand]

Shans: Link to Regseeker free download: http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
Use "Alternate Download" link just below the second screenshot graphic.
Note there is no tutorial with this product; I learned it by using a "beater" hard drive and experimenting. If I damaged the OS I just reinstalled and went on from there. If you are a total newb to the registry, I recommend doing this before the real thing. Be sure to keep a dependable image backup of your system so you can re-image if you nuke your operating system. At the very least back up your registry with a utility that will restore from outside Windows if the worst happens. Regseeker operates on all versions of Windows including W7.
Regseeker has several features, I only use the search feature, "Find In Registry" at the top left. Never, repeat Never, use an auto-scanner product that automatically scans your register and "cleans" it, and that includes Regseeker. I never saw one yet that eventually did not damage the registry and cause problems.
Regseeker works by typing in the name of the program in the searchbox that the installer used. Then click "Search!" It will scan through your registry and pull up all entries that have that name in it, and the name is hi-lighted in blue. Wait until the Action progress box at the bottom reads "0". During the scan it will count up to 100%, but do nothing until it defaults back to "0", then it is finished. At times it will stop, and you think it has hung; it hasn't. Just wait. After completion, all entries in your registry will be displayed, with the name of the search word in blue. If you double-click on that entry, Regedit will launch and take you to the actual entry in your registry for further inspection or editing. Be sure "Backup before deletion" is enabled in lower left. To delete, click on the top entry, scroll down to the bottom, hold Shift and click on the last entry. All will hi-light. Press delete.
Word of Caution: be very careful how you form your search word! Example: if you want to delete all entries for Microsoft Powerpoint, and you type in the search word "Microsoft", Regseeker will pull up all entries using "Microsoft". If you delete all those you will nuke your operating system, because you will be deleting all critical Microsoft system file registry entries! So you want to specify "Powerpoint" only as your search term, don't even use the term "Microsoft" to be safe.
I have been using Regseeker for over 10 years and never damaged any system I used it on.

[shans]

Shans: Link to Regseeker free download: http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
Use "Alternate Download" link just below the second screenshot graphic.
Note there is no tutorial with this product; I learned it by using a "beater" hard drive and experimenting. If I damaged the OS I just reinstalled and went on from there. If you are a total newb to the registry, I recommend doing this before the real thing. Be sure to keep a dependable image backup of your system so you can re-image if you nuke your operating system. At the very least back up your registry with a utility that will restore from outside Windows if the worst happens. Regseeker operates on all versions of Windows including W7.

Thank you very much for explaining me in detail step by step procedure. Now, I have a fair idea to edit the registry. Anyway, I will try later after getting myself fully equipped according to your instructions.

[Hoser Rob]

Shans: Link to Regseeker free download: http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
... Be sure to keep a dependable image backup of your system so you can re-image if you nuke your operating system. At the very least back up your registry with a utility that will restore from outside Windows if the worst happens....

I don't consider editing the Windows registry to be newbie stuff. At all. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

If you want to try it, I'd say the above quote is the most important thing to know.

There's at least one tool available for tweaking the Win7 registry for ffdshow. Not a good idea. A number of professional programmers I know will literally wince at the very idea.

Re small incremental upgrades, if you use freeware (and I certainly do ... you can quite often find free programs that are better than what you'd pay for), you'll find a lot of beta releases. I don't generally do betas. They often introduce as many problems as they solve.

A lot of things are technically "open source", which makes it sound like it was developed by a lot of passionate geeks. That may be true, but often it's really just one person, with participation 'invited' but never taken up on. That stuff tends to be hacky. You definitely don't want betas from them.

A lot of these people seem to think there's an implicit contract with freeware ... you get free software, I get free testers. I'm a lot more likely to try another program than post a log file on a support site.

[shans]

Shans: Link to Regseeker free download: http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
... Be sure to keep a dependable image backup of your system so you can re-image if you nuke your operating system. At the very least back up your registry with a utility that will restore from outside Windows if the worst happens....

I don't consider editing the Windows registry to be newbie stuff. At all. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.

If you want to try it, I'd say the above quote is the most important thing to know.

Thanks Hoser Rob. I understand well that it is very dangerous to meddle with the registry data with a little knowledge. That's why I said, I will try later after getting thorough knowledge.