Upgrading LAbVIEW - all the time the same problem.

[pawel]

Every time I install new version of LabVIEW it creates another directory and feed it will 500MB of data. I do not use the old directory, and most of the things are anyways in the new installation. So I need to uninstall old stuff.
What do you think about installing LV into one common directory. Insted of creating every time new directory LV7, LV 7.1, etc, make one directory where LV will be installed. Is there any issue, which will cause aproblems?

regards
Pawel

[LucaP.]

Hi Pawel

The main reason why different directories are created, is because there are a lot of developers which must have different LV versions installed. This programmers have customers which are using LV 5.x, LV 6.x, LV 7.x. This programmers wouldn't be happy if they've to use a different PC for every LV version.
A second reason are the drivers. Not every driver works with every LV version (e.g. DAQmx). Giving different directoy names allows the driver to place the functions only in the LV folder where it works.

Regards,
Luca

[Dennis_Knutson]

If you're really confident that there won't be any bugs in the new version and if you don't have a whole lot of existing programs that you have to maintain, then go ahead and uninstall your old version first. I prefer to keep it safe and do a slower, planned transition with a new release. Once upon a time, LabVIEW did install to a common directory and most users didn't like that. NI listened to the complaints and changed the behavior of the installer. I much prefer the current method.

[pawel]

Hi Luca

Thank you for the answer. I understand. I my situation I would prefer to have the latest version installed. I can live with some different directories, but 90% will be overwritten with the new version. So do you think I can overinstall the new version to the old one?
What about the unsinstall information in system registry and all keys? Will they be overwritten, or stay there to the end of times? Prbably they will stay and only stuff the registry. If so, I guess that uninstalling first, and then instaling a new version is the right choice.
Well it looks like I have answered my question as well :))
Thanks
regards
Pawel

[pawel]

Hi Dennis

As in most of the LV-related things, also here I think you are right.

kind regards
Pawel