For me, I install all latest Microsoft technologies in first then I install hotfixes. For Microsoft technologies, I don't think there is special order but I use this order : .NET FrameWork 1.1SP1 , 2.0 / DirectX / WMP11 / IE7 For Hotfixes, you can install those in any order because all post-sp2 hotfixe has mechanism to keep latest version of file on the system. In fact I install IE7 after hotfixes because it do many things.