update to IrfanView V4.20

[CatSailer]

I'm currently running Irfanview V3.98 and want to update to V4.20.
Is it necessary or recommended to UNinstall V3.98 first . . or, will V4.20 automatically install over V3.98.

I'm not (obviously) very experienced and consequently a bit hesitant about doing the installation myself (Zip file) so I lean toward the 'installer' option.




Toshiba Satellite
Windows XP Media Center Edition aka Windows Professional SP2

[Skippybox]

Is it necessary or recommended to UNinstall V3.98 first . . or, will V4.20 automatically install over V3.98.

You can install/update a new version over any older version. Uninstall is not required. While you should have no problem, in some rare instances, you could encounter a problem after updating, requiring you to uninstall and try again. I would just go ahead and install over the old. But do be careful not to use old plugins with a new version.

I'm not (obviously) very experienced and consequently a bit hesitant about doing the installation myself (Zip file) so I lean toward the 'installer' option.

IrfanView is one of the easiest/fastest programs to install because it doesn't use the registry. In fact, you could even just delete it if you wanted. That is why the ZIP file is available. IrfanView is portable, so you can move it around like almost any file/folder. You can easily just unzip to almost any place you want. You can even have more than one copy on your computer at a time, even different versions. Therefore, if you wanted to keep 3.98, you could, and install 4.2 someplace else.

You might find the installer easier, since it guides you through the process and makes all your shortcuts, and configures your settings. However, if you go the ZIP route, you can make shortcuts yourself both in Windows and in IrfanView. All settings, like associations are configurable in IrfanView as well.

The only thing you might not like, is that it is more tricky making the default shortcuts on the Start>Programs menu. If you don't use those shortcuts then it isn't a problem for you. Otherwise, you need to navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs (right-click All programs, choose Explore All users and choose the Programs folder) and create a folder for IrfanView. In that folder, you need at least shortcuts to the program and thumbnails, plus any other file in the installation folder you want. IrfanView can help you make program and thumbnail shortcuts on your desktop, or you can do it yourself.