MS Windows tricks and tips

Accessing temporarily zipped files from installation archives


Many hardware manufacturers still offer only large all-in-one programs for installing sound
or graphics cards drivers that also install some applications that you don't need. You want to
update only one driver. More installers first unzip their contents to
a temporary folder and then follow the remaining steps. You can manipulate the process here.

• Start the setup and wait till the welcome dialog appears, but don't click 'Next' when prompted.
• Under XP, open Windows Explorer, enter “%userprofile%” in the address bar and press [Enter]. Navigate to the hidden folder “Local Settings\Temp”. 
• Click “View | Details” and look for a folder with the “.TMP” extension, which shows the current time in the “Modified on” column. You will find the unzipped files here.

• You can use Vista task manager; open it with [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del]. Look for the installation which has started in the “Applications” tab. 
• Right-click it and select 'Go to process'. 
• The task manager now selects the relevant entry in the next tab.
• Right-click this process and select the “Open
• file path” context command. Windows Explorer
• opens the temporary folder. 
• Then just browse through the files for the installer file you need.