When installing new software you usually get a message telling you to close all other applications. I do this which I suppose is to avoid conflicts but I'm unsure whether I should also close programmes like my antivirus and antispyware. I usually close them after disconnecting from the internet but some programmes want to connect to a website as a part of the installation process.
What's the right approach to this?
I always leave my security software on. I'd be particularly suspicious if an installer told me to specifically switch off my AV or firewall!
TEk
It depends, and more on your virus/spyware stuff than the app you're installing.
What you don't want to happen is for one of those protective programs to break part of the installation but let the rest succeed -- the app won't work properly, and you could well have trouble uninstalling or reinstalling it.
An antivirus app -- one that's just an antivirus app -- shouldn't give you any grief unless it decides that part of the installer or program is a virus. That's rare enough that I wouldn't worry about it.
Anything that monitors your system (IE preferences, registry, filesystem etc.) for "dangerous changes" is more likely to be a problem. All it has to do is decide that the installer looks a bit sus and you have a broken app.
Personally, I'd kill any real-time antispyware stuff; I just don't trust it to be accurate enough. I'd keep the AV on, but if it's an AV plus a bunch of other stuff then you might still run into problems.
All that assumes that you've done your research and you trust the software you're installing. But if you haven't, then you wouldn't be installing it, right? :)
Your best bet is always to install from a downloaded file and scan the file with your A/V first before doing anything else. Once that shows clean, disconnect from the internet, turn off your A/V and A/S apps and do the install. No reputable software should need immediate online access; you should be able to wait until you reboot and reconnect to the internet if updates need to be installed.
There's really no one RIGHT way of doing installs, I suppose, but this procedure has worked well for me for a long time with no problems.
EDIT: I sure am typing slowly today! As you see, there are many approaches to the issue.
Any download was checked by my A/V.
I set a restore point and stop any unrelated apps (word processor, graphics, etc) but leave all security apps running and remain connected to the net.
Most apps do want to call home and I find it is less trouble to let them do it at install time. The worst "problem" I've had with security apps is for them to ask if I want to allow the new app to start automatically at boot, or to call home. I just answer "yes" or "no" and go on with the install.
Just a couple AV program will break a install now as they see a change being made.
Other than them, leave the av and the like running.
I agree with Tuttle that it depends. I normally let my NOD32 antivirus, free ZoneAlarm firewall, WinPatrol and such run as is. The only app I temporarily kill is ThreatFire. It seems to be touchier than my other security apps and in some cases, I could see it causing an issue. So I usually shut it down until the installation is finished...
I would also add that you shouldn't have Spybot's TeaTimer running, unless you want to be clicking allow/deny all day long.
TEk
I suppose one day something terrible will happen to me because I do nothing . I have been tempted to follow "those" instructions but haven't. That which lgbpop reported is the practice I have always followed and I have not had a known problem to evolve that I could associate with the suggested way to install the app. Well, reflecting back, I have occasionally done a System Restore before installing.
Since Windows 2K, I've never closed anything while installing. I believe any NT-based Windows doesn't need it.
I surely used "CloseItAll", or whatever that program was called with Win 98.
Broni makes a good point. I should have qualified my post as applying to Vista and XP.
"End it All" was the program, I think Broni. It did a good job in closing those running programs.
Like buf, I do nothing. Never had problems, including XP and Vista. Had problems galore with 95 and ME, whether I installed anything or not. Sometimes problems arose with those two when my coffee grew cold.
Thanks for the input; very helpful.