Installing Ashampoo Snap 6

This is what I did to install Ashampoo Snap 6 onto my PC

1. Double-click the .exe file you download from Ashampoo’s website.



That’ll open up the installer.



2. Click the “End User License Agreement” link to cause the window to display the license agreement in a small box below the Cancel button. I skimmed the agreement and did not see anything about Privacy, which is the only thing I wanted to read; so I moved on. Click “I agree, proceed.”

3. The next screen gives you a few more options: create a desktop icon, install for all users or just the current one, and use touch-optimized controls. I don’t know what the touch-optimized controls are—I think these are for computers that have touch interfaces. It was selected by default, so I’m going to leave it that way and travel with the herd. I’m hoping I can change it later anyway. Click “Next” to proceed.



4. In the next screen, the installer asks whether you want to download some ridiculous system driver program. I don’t like downloading software on a whim, and this is what I see offers like this as. I see this as nothing more than an ad. It’s even in the product’s name: “Advanced Driver Updater. “ I select “No, thank you,” and click “Next” to proceed without downloading that program. You know, I'll give this to them: at least they let me decide for myself (some other programs install extra stuff regardless of what the user wants... *ahem* every consumer electronics device I've ever purchased *cough cough*).



5. The installer then installed Ashampoo Snap 6 onto my PC. This step took less than 1 minute.



6. Finally, the installer showed me a bunch of social media links and a link to “more free software.” No thanks. But again, thank you for not automatically sending me to those links, and instead asking me first. And my answer is no thanks. Click “Finish” to close the installer.



7. Uh-oh! The installed crashed after I clicked “Finish.” This is what we call an un-graceful shutdown! Off to a rocky start, Ashampoo. I click “Close the Program” option.



8. In the background (after I clicked “Finish” in the installer), an “Activate your free full version now!” window appeared. Here’s where I entered the license key I got from Ashampoo. In case you forgot yours, you can log into your Ashampoo account on their website, and retrieve it there. They make that part easy in my opinion. After entering your key, click the green “Activate Now” button.



9. Here’s what the program showed after I clicked the “Activate Now” button. On this window, I clicked “Continue.”



10. All of a sudden, an Ashampoo Snap 6 welcome screen appeared. I unmarked the “Show this help window next time” checkbox, then clicked “Close.”



11. Finally, the program is installed and up and running!

12. One of the first things I did after installing it was change some General Configuration options. I unmarked “Start with Windows,” unmarked “Show splash screen at startup,” and unmarked “Show Touch-Screen Gripper on bar.”



And there you have it. Ashampoo Snap 6 is installed on my PC. I’ll let you know if I observe any behavior I think is weird.

Conclusion

I am a little frustrated that the installer crashed at the end; but at least it didn't happen during the heart of the installation process (at least not during the part I consider to be the heart of the installation process, but who really know what last few clean-up steps, if any, were skipped when the program crashed).

I also wonder where their Privacy terms are. I didn't see anything about Privacy in the License Agreement. I am frustrated about that also.

However, so far I'm happy with the program itself (I haven't talked about the actual program here--this isn't a review; rather; this is a documentation of my experience installing the program). I hope the company that makes Ashampoo Snap 6 (the company name itself is "Ashampoo") continues to enhance it--not necessarily with extra features--but with a more stable installation process (i.e. no crashing), with clear Privacy terms in the license agreement shown during installation, and with bug fixes.

Extra info: 

• My computer is running Windows 7 32-bit.
• Link to purchase Ashampoo Snap 6.

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