Mike,

Thanks for your recommendation to check out the Windows Installer SDK. I was hoping that there might be a lighter (simpler solution), but in thinking about the big picture, I think your recommendation makes the most sense. I'll check it out!

Malcolm

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>I don't think it's too paranoid to want to make sure your software will work correctly. I think that Windows Installer can address most of your concerns, though, because it can be used for upgrades, updates, and patches, not just initial installations.
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>a. You should be able to handle ActiveX, DLL, & runtime file updates with a patch. A patch updates all components of an existing installation to their new versions.
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>b. WI gives you the ability to repair an existing installation by going to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. If you suspect a problem, you can manually run the WI repair option to restore all the components of the installation to their latest version. I thought that WI was also capable of detecting and repairing out-dated or corrupted components automatically, but I'm not sure about that, nor do I know how that behavior is triggered. I haven't taken the time to do any testing in that area.
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>Anyway, the bottom line is that you can download the Windows Installer SDK from Microsoft's web site for free. I recommend that you look through the help file(s) to decide for yourself if it might accomplish what you want.