Abstract: A multiple stage installation system for the installation and setup of a suite of applications segregates and organizes the preparation, installation, clean up, optimization, etc. into functional groupings that define the multiple stages of the installation process. These functional groupings include actions to be performed on behalf of and to any and all of the applications to be installed. While different stages may be defined, the system preferably includes a pre-install phase, an install phase, and a post-install phase during which different functional activities are performed. An optimization phase may also be included to allow optimization of applications that have already been installed. In a preferred embodiment, the applications to be installed implement a COM interface that contains a method for each stage supported.