There are four (4) steps necessary to install Miktek on your PC.  The first three can be done in any order, but the fourth one must be done as the last step

Step 1:  Obtain LaTeX package from MiKTeX

    Hint: Save the download file to your Desktop, then right click to Install.  This will get the registry done         correctly which is a big help.   Do this for all downloads.

Step 2: Obtain PostScript viewer (download both Ghostscript and GSViewer)

Step 3: Obtain PDF viewer.  Two possibilities, either GSViewer which you obtained in Step 2 or Adobe Reader

Step 4: Obtain WinShell

When you start WinShell for the first time it will search the registry to find the executable file (in particular the ones we obtained in Steps 1-3.  This is why installing WinShell is the last step of this procedure.

Hint: I found that when these packages were installed on my computer that I could not get a LaTeX file to compile.  I always got an error message to check `Options'.  If this happens to you, check 'Options', then 'Program Calls'.  You need to tell Winshell where the exe-File for LaTeX is located.  Use Browse to help enter the correct path.