Thank you for your replies.

I was thinking that a quarantining solution might provide 100% protection, but now see this as folly.

For example, on an isolated (imaged/Ghosted) computer, MS Installation Monitor could reveal any rogue services (spyware) installed by the downloaded program and that ZoneAlarm's "Application Control" could further reveal spyware in the EXE as it attempts to "phone home." But, I suppose there's nothing to prevent that EXE from blowing up on April 1, 2005. ...and no way to foresee it without decompiling the code and picking through it line by bloody line. That pretty much precludes ever moving the software from quarantine to production workstation. Bummer.

What a pain. I'm just looking for a PACE-free version of software I already own. It's out there, but I'm afraid of it.

Thanks again for all of your helpful replies.