Q I've heard that before installing software in Windows 95, you should press <Ctrl>-<Alt>-<Del> and then close everything you have running except Explorer and Systray. Yet other sources say that closing everything is unnecessary and can actually cause problems. Which advice is correct? Also, if you should close everything except Explorer and Systray, why don't any applications tell you that in their installation instructions?

A The opening screens of many ù perhaps most ù installation programs say something like: "To prevent unintended disasters, please close all open applications and leave yourself at our mercy." Well, something like that.

Nonetheless, whoever advised you to close everything except Explorer and Systray was being overly cautious.

It makes sense to close your regularly running applications, since these apps could be using shared files that the installation program needs to replace with newer versions. But you don't have to knock out every last background task before you set to work.

Try this instead:

Prior to installing a program, select StartûShut Down. What you should do next depends on your system's Shut Down Windows options.

If your options include Close all programs and log on as different user, select it and click Yes.

Eventually you'll get the Enter Windows Password dialogue box. Type in your password if you have one; then hold down <Shift> as you press <Enter>, and continue to hold it down until the hourglass turns into an arrow.

If your Shut Down Windows box doesn't offer the Close all programs option, select Restart the computer. Hold down <Shift> as you click Yes, and keep holding it down as Windows closes and restarts, and your desktop icons reappear on screen.

Don't release it until the hourglass turns into an arrow.

Both options leave many more tasks running than just Explorer and Systray, but probably nothing that will interfere with an installation. For instance, your antivirus program may still be running in the background, but, unless the application specifies otherwise, that's not a bad thing when you're installing software.