GeoShell beta releases are quite often released as simple "patch" zips. This means that you cannot just "install the beta," instead, you have to upgrade to the beta. That is, you have to unzip over an existing install of GeoShell, you can't use these patch versions by themselves.

The beta is meant to be installed over the last version of geoshell to be packaged with an installer. You shouldn't have to install each new beta since the last installer one right after another since the latest beta patch contains ALL of the changes and updates since the last full release verion of geoshell to include an installer. (On occasion though, if a new plugin is included with a patch it has been left out of the next patch. If something like this happens and you notice it, feel free to let us know on the messageboard.)

NOTE
This information was copied over from the old wiki (and expanded) but is outdated. I went ahead and added a few new options because WinShellEx should be able to be substituted for mentions to GeoLoader with little difficulty. Some other changes will need to be made to this page since WinShellEx does not exist in the root of the geoshell directory. I would make these changes myself, but I am worried I would put down incorrect information as no beta patch release has occured since the introduction of WinShellEx (that includes an update to WinShellEx or not..) as of the time this page is being transfered.

Option 1

Use this option if you are already running geoshell and don't want to switch back to explorer or some other shell to install the upgrade...

1. Open a file manager to the GeoShell directory
2. Open the zip file. (you may want to unzip the file to a temporary location, or just keep it open in your zip application)
3. Replace geoloader.exe (if there's a new one)
4. Run geoloader.exe (this is optional, if you have your file manager running)
5. Exit geoshell using WIN-X (for now, ignore the resulting GeoLoader dialog offering to restart it)
6. Rename ShellHook.dll to ShellHook.dll_ (if there's a new one)
7. Copy all the rest of files from the zip over their current versions
8. Click "Yes" on the geoloader pop-up which was asking me if I wanted to restart (if you didn't start geoLoader, you'll need to run "geoshell.exe -noauto")

Option #2

Use this option if you don't mind switching shells. This can help you avoid having to update geoloader first if a new version exists.

1. Switch back to explorer.exe (either by manually editing the registry or system.ini file, depending on what version of windows you are running.. or by running your favorite shell switcher/manager to perform the task). This will probably require you to logoff and back on again (or reboot) for the change to be used and the new shell to be loaded.
2. Open a file manager to the GeoShell directory
3. Open the zip file. (you may want to unzip the file to a temporary location, or just keep it open in your zip application)
4. Copy all the rest of files from the zip over their current versions
5. Change the shell back to geoshell. Whatever method you used in the first step should work again, just remember that when you set your shell back to geoshell you need to use the full path to geoshell.exe (unlike setting the shell to explorer where 'explorer.exe' is all you need). If it required a logoff and back on to change shells before, it will require that again.

Option #3

Use this method if you are running Geoshell, don't want to switch shells, and don't mind running without a shell for a few minutes.

Note: On Windows 9X systems, you can't start a new process from the Ctrl+Alt+Del box, so becareful not to close the explorer window in this process or you might find your self with no way to start your upgraded geoshell. (Although, you might be able to open your file manager back up by right clicking on a folder in the Open dialog of your zipping application and selecting "Open" - if your zipping program is still running.) On XP/2K/NT/ETC. you should be able to reopen anything you need from the Ctrl+Alt+Del box.

1. Open a file manager to the GeoShell directory
2. Open the zip file (you may want to unzip the file to a temporary location, or just keep it open in your zip application). If you use a temporary directory you might want to open a second window of your file manager to display that folder also.
3. Close Geoshell. This can be done with the Win+X hotkey (unless you have reassigned it to a different combination, in which case you should substitute the hotkey combination you replaced it with).
4. Unzip the contents of the upgrade over your existing geoshell directory. (Or if you are using a temporary folder, copy the contents of the temporary folder over your current install of geoshell.)
5. Restart Geoshell by clicking on the Geoshell.exe file in the file manager that is open to your Geoshell directory.