Steps you should take before you Install Software.

• You should run Scan Disk(link to a picture of it) to check the Drive for Errors. Also you may want to check to see if the disk is Fragmented, if it is more then 80%, you should Defragment the drive.
• Scan Disk and Disk Defragmentor(link to a picture of it)--Go to -Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools, run Scan Disk first, then run Defragmentor, (do the shut down, 5th paragraph), before you Defrag.
• It wouldn't hurt to run System File Checker( link to a picture of it ) Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information-Tools-File Checker, this is a Windows Utility that scans Windows files for corrupted files, if it finds one it will ask for the Windows Disk or your Restore Disk to fix the file. After you install software, you may want to run this. Installs will sometimes replace Windows files or entries, this utility will restore them the way Windows wants them, helps to keep Windows Happy ( :
• Turn off any Virus Software you have running in the background.
• Here is a shut down short cut, press and hold down, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, this will take you to Windows-Close Programs Utility (link to a picture of it ), highlight the virus program and click End Task and wait for a End Task Window to pop up, you may have to do this twice to turn it off. The programs will start up again when you reboot or restart your Computer, you will need to know the name of your Virus program so you know what to disable. Actually you can End Tasks on all those Programs, Except, SysTray and Explorer these run your desktop.
• Now your ready to Install the software
• After the Install is done, you should Reboot your system, if the program didn't, some do not require you to, but I do, just to be safe.
• Next, you need to go to the Software Manufactures Web site, go to the Support Section and check for Update Patches for your software, if there is one, download and install it, then Reboot. Some Programs have Update Utilities built into them, check first before you go to the site.
• Other Factors: most problems with software are usually because of Drivers and Direct X, you can check on your DirectX in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (link to a picture of it ) Start-Programs-Accessories-System Tools-System Information-Tools-DirectX Diagnostic. Most newer programs now need Direct X 9,0c. , there is a lot of talk about not being able to Uninstall DirectX 9.0c, I guess my question is, why would you want to. Next check for updates for your Video and Sound Cards. This site has a pretty comprehensive database of card manufacture drivers, DriverGuide.Com, you should check your Computer Manual to find out what cards you have on your system and then go to the manufactures site.
• You may also need to configure the video and sound in the software program, usually just in Games.
• For Software to run faster Put in more Ran 512 megs is now the recommended amount for most Programs.

Uninstalling Software

• The Number One reason people have problems with Windows, is because they Uninstall Software improperly. You can't just go to Windows Explorer and delete a program, I mean you can, but you will not Remove the Registry Entries, thusly, Windows will read the Registry Entries, you did not remove and will look for the removed files, Bingo, ERROR MESSAGES.
• Most Good Software Products come with a Uninstall Link. It will be in the Control Panels, Add/Remove Utility, Start--Settings--Control Panel-- Add/Remove Programs(link to a picture of it), if it isn't in Add/Remove it may be in the Programs Menu under that Programs Name, it will say Uninstall ----. Find the Program in the list Add/Remove, highlight it, click on the Add/Remove button, if it asks you, if you would like to leave shared files usually .dll files, say yes to all, leaving them will not bother anything .Besides the next steps will remove them if they are a problem.
• Next, assuming there was a Removal Program. Go to Start--Find, type in the name of the Software you uninstalled, delete any entries or folders for that Software, BE careful ! make sure they are that program, I always find files with a programs name, but it belongs to some other Software, usually when you use the Add/Remove Program (link to a picture of it), if it can't remove a folder or file it will tell you and give you Details of what it left behind write the info down.
• If the Company did not give you a removal program, use an Uninstall Program like Revo Uninstaller which is free revouninstaller.com I have never used this software but I could not find anything bad about it on the web.