Installing Free/Trial Software

Free or Trial Downloadable Software .

We all do it, we find what we think is a nice peice of usable software, something free, and we go ahead and download it. After it downloads we install and attempt to use it. We get one of the following.

Ussually the software works, and with or without some adware or minor spyware you are at least
able to USE it.

Then there is the software which you install, and loads your computer down with so much extra crap that you'd swear you never made the last upgrade.

Then there is the software that you take the time to download, install, and then you try to use it...

It craps out.

This is what I have just experienced, to be sure its not the the first time, and it most certainly probly will not be the last time. Not by a long shot I am sure.

Driver Detective. This program I downloaded from DriversHQ.com, and thought it would be rather handy as we often have a peice of unknown hardware come in that has no drivers for it.

Install it I did, and then came the moment of truth, I expected it to load up, and with a mild learning curve for the software find the manufacturer of the hardware making it possible to find drivers for it.

WRONG

I was suprised when the splash screen came up and began initializing, and kept initializing. Now, I know I feel like my system is slow at times, however this was uncalled for. I even left it for 2 hours, came back and no change.

Then I noticed it, right behind the splash screen for the software was another window formed. Checking the taskbar quickly it was obvious there was ANOTHER INSTALL program running behind it. I would love to assume it was just bad judgement on the writers of the program to have the configuration window come up under the splash screen and have it so small that you can no grab it an move it to read it. I would really love to assume that. At this point I really can't.

Hiding a install window behind the splash screen for a program to me can mean only ONE thing. Dirty pool, attempting to install software, or more specifically Spyware, Adware, or another type of MalWare on the computer.

So much for a simple download as an answer to simple problems.

Always monitor your computer carefully for what is being installed. Its no joke why you should not be running other programs while installing new software. You will be able to monitor for sneak installed like this instance.