It really depends on the software design of the installation routine. I have some programs that the installer itself will uninstall the earlier version before continuing with the new. Poorly written installations may not properly update all the program files. And of course, there may be files used by the old version that are superfluous in the new, and if you install over the top, those stay behind, as may obsolete registry entries. I have other programs where the instructions specifically say to install over the top. I think the safest course is generally to uninstall first, re-boot, then install fresh. But like Stewart, I almost never do it that way and rarely have a problem. Gary Templeman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stewart Millar" <sm999@tiscali.co.uk> To: <PAF-5-USERS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 02, 2005 7:15 PM Subject: RE: [PAF-5] Match and Merge > Hi Rollei, > > I have noticed past posts that advise uninstalling before installing new > versions - I have never done it & never had a problem - I believe it is > perfectly safe to install over an old version - we are talking program files > here and not data files - the new installation version will only ever use > the new, newer or identically dated program files to the old version. > > If it is a worry, a better alternative I believe would be to install the new > PAF to a differently named program library (can still access the same paf > data file) - and that way you can have immediate access to both versions. > Also, this way - if something unforeseen does go wrong with the installation > of the new version and you have previously uninstalled the old version - you > are well and truly out on a limb with no PAF , old or new, on your pc. > > If the new version creates a change to the database format - normally > handled automatically on first opening of a paf database - a back up of the > old database can still be used by the old version (there is no change to > database format between 5.1 and 5.2.18). > > ==== Stewart > >