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Post by Randy_Cain on Feb 13, 2009 18:20:33 GMT -5
Hi, To those of you who are now using "installers" for your product (freeware and payware), PLEASE stop using installers that write to the registry. Thank you. Yours,
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 13, 2009 18:26:16 GMT -5
Hi, The Clickteam installer can write to the registry, but I disable that.
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Post by Wolfgang on Feb 13, 2009 18:33:01 GMT -5
Hi,
I agree with you Randy
Wolfgang
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Post by stansdds on Feb 13, 2009 20:37:18 GMT -5
I hate it when more stuff gets written to the registry. I agree!
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Post by sunny9850 on Feb 13, 2009 22:32:35 GMT -5
I agree..because some of the registry entries are not properly cleaned up by cleaners. While the installers do make it easier for some less PC-savy users to get the software configured, there is no need to clog up the registry with garbage.
And while I am at it....can we also request that all VC yokes be made "user selectable". Sure they look cool. But 90% of them are blocking important panel gauges.
Stefan
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Post by emfrat on Feb 14, 2009 3:43:31 GMT -5
Too right, Stefan -
I have had too many bad experiences with auto-installers to trust more than a few designers. With those very few exceptions, I always install to a holding area and then transfer the files manually - not least because I have two installations. My Pet Hates: Designers who won't use the Clickteam installer features properly, which stops me placing the files where I want them. There are few things more annoying than an installer which will only work to a folder with FS9.exe in it. ReadMe files that say "Just unzip to your FS9 main folder, making sure 'preserve folder names' is checked", when the designer has not used a folder structure in the zip archive. I could go on, but I think we all know whose instructions need to be checked very carefully...
ATB MikeW
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Post by Col7777 on Feb 14, 2009 5:08:20 GMT -5
Hi Mike,
Funny enough I installed something the other day, I do as you do and install to a holding area, but this time I wasn't thinking and just clicked NEXT. I couldn't see the aircraft in the aircraft folder, what the installer did was create another folder called Flight Simulator 9/Aircraft/aircraft name I eventually found it a put the downloaded aircraft in the right folder.
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Post by johnhinson on Feb 14, 2009 6:38:24 GMT -5
I wish they wouldn't use self-installers AT ALL.
You do not know what is being done to your machine by an amateur masquerading as a software developer.
I know of installers that write over your default textures with ones of their own, altering every airport in the world so that their own looks pretty.
I have heard that twice an "installer" has been uploaded to a download site which did nothing other than install a trojan on your system. Hastily removed, of course.
I know of "beta" software that "call's home" and relays information about your use of it. Do we know what it really tells them? No. Keystrokes, passwords etc maybe? Ouch.
Quite frankly, I believe that if anybody wants to meddle with their Flight Simulator setup, they should make sure they are competent enough to extract and manually install files from a zip file first.
Sorry if this offends you, Tom - not intended to do so and I know your files are not in question.
John
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qar02
ConvairLiner
Posts: 77
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Post by qar02 on Feb 14, 2009 8:13:18 GMT -5
A hearty THANKYOU to whoever started this discussion: I am embarassed to admit that I didn't know any of this and this discussion explains so many HD crashes!!!
This string aught to be mandatory reading for everyone!!!
Thanks, again...again CalClassic is worth it's weight (TOW?) in gold!!!
v/r qar02
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Post by sunny9850 on Feb 14, 2009 12:38:58 GMT -5
It's one of those things John, there are quite a few people that love FS and are quite capable pilots but completely computer illiterate. The repaint threads of any forum are filled with their cries for help.
As for Trojans and other unwanted things being hidden in files.....I am afraid manually copying does not protect you from that threat completely. A cleverly hidden bug can be hidden in something as simple as a jpg thumbnail......that is why you need proper protection software.
So there is a place for these Auto-Installers and it is a fact that they can be done "right" so that they don't copy stuff in the wrong places, insert entries into the reg and so on.
Personally I don't let ANY of them install directly to my FS installation. If the installer needs an FS9.exe I'll get it one in my temp folder.
And finally....I do have a complete HD backup for my FS drive....but honestly that is probably more often usedto recover from my own mistakes ;D ;D
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Post by Willy on Feb 15, 2009 2:22:09 GMT -5
I do know that there's a payware developer that I'll not purchase any more of their products because their installer will not let you install anywhere but directly into the main FS folder. I personally don't care for their new splash screen that's also installed and wonder about what else "custom" stuff is being installed.
Just a pet peeve of mine.
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Post by railrunner130 on Feb 15, 2009 10:16:40 GMT -5
I install to a temporary directory before I put anything into flightsim. That way, I know exactly what I'm installing.
Some developers tend to put a lot of extra stuff in their installations, which burns up hard drive space and slows down the operation.
I understand why freeware developers do it. 1. It avoids the e-mails from the FS illiterate wanting to know how to install the files. 2. It prevents some piracy.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Feb 15, 2009 11:16:11 GMT -5
I was getting about 1 email a week about installation issues before I went with the installer. This often led to a week's worth of work figuring out what he did wrong, and how to fix it. I now get almost no messages about installation. Well, about MY installations, anyway.
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Post by johnfromoz on Feb 15, 2009 18:43:24 GMT -5
If developers take note of sheer numbers, add my vote. I take Tom's last point, but as long as a developer chooses to use an installer, at least let it be one that allows us to select a temp folder as target.
Often, the ones which actually demand a legitimate Flight Sim target can be fooled by a dummy with a copy of FS9.exe (or even just a blank text file of that name!) but some seem to be quite precious.
And in my humble opinion, installers that demand I go online and jump through hoops - or worse, only let me jump through hoops if I switch off my firewall and uninstall my virus protection (yes, Flight1, I mean you, and I know I am not alone!) when their products are already out on the torrent sites are focussing too little on paying clients.
I have occasionally seen good installers for fairly complex addons which are in fact helpful, can be trusted, and are responsibly set up. I always like to install manually, firstly for control, secondly because I often discover some easter egg, like an AI vehicle I can use for my own personal amusement (look at all the Bill Lyons goodies!).
I have never yet posted such a request to developers, it seems too much like biting the hand that feeds me. But folks, let me join the voices against bad or unnecessary installers.
While I am griping, could we also refrain from packaging huge EZ libraries with otherwise tiny scenery addons? We only need one installation of the libraries, and those of us still retro enough to be on dialup only want to download your five libraries at 3mb each once! And I need not say "don't edit someone else's library"?
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Post by railrunner130 on Feb 15, 2009 21:30:36 GMT -5
I believe Jens B. Kristensen has done wonders with getting the most options out of installers. My hat is off to him in that reguard. Also thanks to Jens for all his works!!
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