Are there known problems with the program in C#.NET

Maker Quick Response Code in C#.NET Are there known problems with the program

Figure 4-1. Select each item in the list of currently installed programs for detailed information; note the link to additional support information.

Tip Set a restore point first Even if you re absolutely convinced that a new program is well tested and completely safe, it s always a good idea to manually create a System Restore checkpoint first. Give the restore point a descriptive name that clearly identifies it. If you run into unforeseen problems, uninstall the program and then use System Restore to remove any leftover program files and registry entries. For more details, see Undoing Configuration Mistakes with System Restore, page 1132.

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Thoughtful software developers embed links to support resources and tools directly in the program s listing in the Add Or Remove Programs dialog box. If you ve installed Office 2003, for example, the support link leads to the dialog box shown here. Programs that use Windows Installer (including all recent versions of Office) might also include a Repair button like the one shown here, which can be used to quickly fix problems caused by missing or damaged program files.

Virtually all modern 32-bit Windows programs start the setup process through a file called Setup.exe. Windows can track down the proper setup file automatically when you use the Add New Programs tab on the Add Or Remove Programs dialog box, shown in Figure 4-2. Click the CD Or Floppy button to search removable media. Use the Browse button in the resulting dialog box to search in other locations (including your default downloads folder or a shared network folder). On corporate networks, the Add New Programs tab also lists applications that a network administrator has made available to authorized users and groups over a network built around Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 servers. Using Windows Installer, administrators can configure a program so that it installs automatically when the user needs it. A program installed this way will appear in either of these two configurations:

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the user s Start menu or desktop, and relevant file types are preassociated with the application. As soon as the user chooses the menu item, activates the shortcut, or opens an associated document, the application is installed. An application assigned to a specific user is available to that user wherever he or she logs on. An application can also be assigned to a computer, in which case the application is automatically installed when

Installing, Uninstalling, and Managing Programs the computer starts up. (If someone uninstalls the assigned application, it is automatically reinstalled at the next logon.)

To learn more about the second option on the Add New Programs tab Add Programs From Microsoft see Keeping Your System Secure with Windows Update, page 190, for information about using Windows Update to automatically install new features or drivers.

Tip Turn off Start menu notifications After you install a program, Windows announces additions to the Start menu with a pop-up balloon and highlights the changes on the menu itself. Some folks like the extra guidance, but if you find it distracting and condescending, turn off this notification. Right-click the Start button and choose Properties. On the Start Menu tab, click Customize, and then click the Advanced tab. Clear the Highlight Newly Installed Programs check box.

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Figure 4-2. Click the CD Or Floppy button to quickly locate setup files. The network programs section at the bottom of the window appears only if you re part of a domain, and programs appear in this section only when configured by a network administrator.

This type of message often appears with setup programs, but it can appear when you launch any type of executable program. You might wonder why you get the warning with some programs, but not others. Here s what s going on: When you download a file using Internet Explorer and you save it to an NTFS volume, Internet Explorer creates an alternate data stream that is stored with the file (more about data streams in a moment). This data stream identifies the file as one that was downloaded from the Internet. Because many viruses, worms, and other nasties arrive in program files downloaded from the Internet, beginning with Service Pack 2 Windows displays the extra warning message that also includes information about the program s publisher and digital signature. (Of course, before you download a program using Internet Explorer, you must successfully run Internet Explorer s gauntlet; by default, it blocks program downloads and displays a message in the Information Bar. For more information, see Protecting Your System from Unsafe and Unwanted Software, page 293.) If the security warning appears when you run a setup program that you re going to run only once, it s not too intrusive. But if it appears on a program that you run more often, you ll want to get rid of the warning once you re sure that the program is safe. You can do that by clearing the Always Ask Before Opening This File check box, of course. But you can also disable the warning by right-clicking the program s icon in Windows Explorer and choosing Properties; then click the Unblock button. Either action removes the alternate data stream from the file.