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What is a setup wizard? What does it do?
Everyone used or tried to use a setup wizard at least once. Some are designed properly, while others leave you wondering what to do next. In the following, I will try to make you understand what each step of a wizard means, and how it should be handled. Hopefully, after you read this, you'll be one step closer to installing applications on your own.
The first obvious step for installing an application is getting hold of its setup program. Chances are that you'll find it on our website, available for download. Many applications are distributed on CDs, DVDs, or other storage media. Producers use two types of installation packages. Some applications are distributed inside a single executable file (EXE, MSI - Windows Installer File), while others are compressed into an archive.
If you got an archive (usually RAR, ZIP, or ACE) from the producer, you should decompress it. I recommend WinRAR because it supports all the well known archive formats. Depending on the compression format, you could also try other tools like WinZip, WinAce, and so on. After decompressing the archive, you should have at least one executable file.
Like I said, most applications are packaged into a single executable. However, the fact that you can execute a file doesn't necessarily mean it's not an archive. Some publishers distribute their applications as self-extracting archives. When you run this kind of archive, you'll see a dialog asking you to specify a "temporary folder" for extracting files. Usually the setup wizard starts automatically after decompression is complete. If nothing happens after decompressing the self-extracting archive, you should navigate to the "temporary folder" and run the setup wizard yourself.
Once you start the setup wizard, a window (usually maximized) appears. If you can't see the taskbar anymore, you can press the "Windows" button on your keyboard to display it. The first step of a setup wizard shows you the name of the application, the details of the producer, and sometimes provides extra information (changes, bugs, or the release date). Certain setups provide a special button, which you must click in order to continue the setup. This button has a install icon displayed on it.
Some applications ask you to choose the language used during setup.
Next, most setup wizards display the "Licence Agreement" or the "Terms of Licence". This disclaimer is usually accompanied by a checkbox, which you must select in order to continue the setup process. If this checkbox is disabled, you probably need to scroll down to the end of the text. You should read the disclaimer carefully, because some software producers use it to hide annoying details about their applications.
The next step should be choosing whether you want a typical setup or a custom one. A typical setup is enough most of the times. If you want to install only certain components of an application, you should select the "custom setup".
A setup wizard should also ask you where to place the installed application on your computer. This dialog is usually entitled "Choose a path", or "Select a path". The default path should work without any problems. Usually a program is installed by default on your Windows drive, inside the "Program Files" folder.
The setup progress is displayed next. Some setup wizards also show the remaining time until installation is complete.
After the installation is complete, a message is displayed. This certifies the fact that the application was installed succesfully.
Please be aware that certain setup wizards also ask you whether you want to install additional applications. Unless you know these additional applications, don't install them. They might be spyware, unuseful browser toolbars, or shortcuts to questionable webpages.
Registration is sometimes required during setup. If this is the case, you probably won't be able to install that application unless you get a registration code. Other times, registration is not required at all or is an optional step of the setup wizard.
Most setup wizards are straight-forward. If you read the information they display carefully, you shouldn't get into trouble. Wizards use step-by-step dialogs, allowing you to undo the previous operation just by going back. This makes them easy to use, even when leading the user through a complex task. Depending on the application you want to install, the setup wizard may show other steps beside those described above. If this happens, just read the dialogs carefully.
A common problem during installation is that an older file is trying to overwrite a newer one. The question is whether you should allow the overwriting. Most of the times, the answer is no. However, if the application you are installing doesn't work after the setup is complete, you could try re-installing it and overwriting the newer files. This should be safe if you are using Windows XP and WFP (Windows File Protection) is turned on.
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