I've often been tempted to install an interesting giveaway but am deterred when trying as instructions are not clear enough to encourage us enthusiastic, but less experienced, computer users. Step-by-step installation instructions would go a long way towards considering future buying of the full program. If programmers only aim their products at competent users they'll lose business if their instructions are not clear for the rest of us. Less knowledgeable users aren't stupid people, they just need better guidance. I know I'm not alone thinking this; just read the comments left by other GOTD subscribers who also have installation difficulties.
INSTALLATION HELP NEEDED
(7 posts) (5 voices)-
100percent
MemberPosted 12 years ago # -
mikiem2
ModeratorI've often been tempted to install an interesting giveaway but am deterred when trying as instructions are not clear enough to encourage us enthusiastic, but less experienced, computer users. Step-by-step installation instructions would go a long way towards considering future buying of the full program.
IMHO we tend to fear the unknown, imagining it to be worse than it really is. With 99% of the GOTD apps/games there's really nothing to explain, nothing hidden etc. Unzip the download -- I use the free 7Zip but you can use any similar utility, or Windows itself, copying the contents of a zipped file to another folder. Double click the always included readme.txt, which will open it in Notepad -- maybe 8 times out of 10 it'll either say run setup.exe or run setup.exe & use this key to register. Otherwise it may say run a 2nd included app, Activate.exe, to register, or very rarely it'll give more detailed instructions -- in the few cases where the developer wants you to sign up or into their web site, those more detailed instructions are very seldom necessary, & you can usually skip them since you'll be taken to whatever site anyway when setup.exe completes.
I know I'm not alone thinking this; just read the comments left by other GOTD subscribers who also have installation difficulties.
As above we tend to fear the unknown, & for lots of people PCs are scary -- they're afraid of doing something wrong, and feel safer when they can see some sort of roadmap of what they'll encounter beforehand. It's common -- many (most?) software &/or hardware help files, manuals, &/or directions I've read contain [IMHO totally unneeded] pictures of every minor step along the way.
Problem is it would be hard to create that sort of roadmap for GOTD, because there's nothing to show -- no sequence of multiple steps or anything. It's not that the GOTD folks are too lazy [far from it], but there's really nothing for them to take snapshots of to show you -- you see a message box that either setup.exe or activate.exe is connecting to the GOTD server, & another one once it's connected & completed, done it's job. Anything else is the installation windows for the day's GOTD app, & those (C) images are usually on the app's site.
Posted 12 years ago # -
pavid
gamer extraordinaire & knowledgeable computer nerd who likes to argue, but is still a very nice guyStep 1 - Download giveaway by clicking on appropriate link
Step 2 - Extract the downloaded file's contents using 7zip, Izarc, or some other file extraction program.
Step 3 - Open the readme file using Notepad, Word, or any other text editor program
Step 4 - Read the readme file.
Step 5 - Follow the instructions in the readme file
Step 6 - Enjoy your giveawayPosted 12 years ago # -
Suze
MemberFor those who use Symantec's Norton products (Antivirus or NIS): there are too many times when SONAR thinks its "saving" us from doom, so it removes the setup file, resulting in our not being able to install a GotD product. Here's how I get around this (in NIS 2012):
a) Create a subfolder called, for instance, “GotD” within a ‘Downloads’ folder (my designated folder for downloads).
b) Open NIS > Settings > Computer > Antivirus & SONAR Exclusions: Items to Exclude from Scans: click on ‘configure’
c) "Add" the entire path of this new subfolder; click Add, Apply, OK
d) Next, NIS > Settings > Computer > Items to Exclude from Sonar: click on ‘configure’
e) Again, add the entire path of this subfolder; click Add, Apply, OK
f) Continue with pavid's steps (above)Whenever you download a GotD program (or have another file zapped by SONAR), download it into this subfolder. NIS will exclude anything in that folder from being scanned.
Hope this helps!
Posted 12 years ago # -
100percent
MemberThanks to all for taking time to offer advice. I'll keep a copy of your comments to use for future giveaways. Thanks again . . .
Posted 12 years ago #
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