Id like to know if the original OS installed on the computer prior to LiteStep's installation makes a difference on the stability of LiteStep after?

For example windows 98 as opposed to 2K or XP.

Also, seeing how LiteStep replaces the shell, what part of the original OS is untouched? File exploring, web browsing, word processing? Are those affected?

And what happends when microsoft wants you to do a windows update or something?

Your original OS only effects LS in how fast it will operate. Just like if you change from an Intel 1Ghz to an AMD 1Ghz its the same but still different.

LS doesn't touch anything in windows. You change shells not Operating Systems. There are applications out there that depend on parts of explorer and they will be affected. File exploring is changed only if LS isn't setup correctly. Windows Update is affected on some machines and not others. When installing applications I, along with many others, will switch back to explorer just in case the app doesn't like installing with a shell other than exploder.

Hope this helps...if you ahve further questions I suggest joinging one of the irc channels and asking there.

if u use the latest installer, windoze update shouldn't be affected :)
i have installed most of my programs with ls running and i have no problems. the only program that had some issues was stylexp when i was reinstalling it or sth like that. but stylexp ain't a usual program but a skinner which of course can depend on the shell it's skinning ;)