diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index 13a5dc3..f422c61 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -62,20 +62,27 @@ if (-not (Ensure-Tool python "Python.Python.3.12")) {
 }
 $haveGit = Ensure-Tool git "Git.Git"
 
+$env:GIT_TERMINAL_PROMPT = "0"   # fail fast instead of interactive y/n prompts
 if ($haveGit) {
-  if (-not (Test-Path (Join-Path $dir ".git"))) {
-    if (-not (Test-Path $dir)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $dir -Force | Out-Null }
-    git -C $dir init -q
+  # Preserve local config across a clean re-clone.
+  $cfgTmp = $null
+  $cfgPath = Join-Path $dir "config.ini"
+  if (Test-Path $cfgPath) { $cfgTmp = Join-Path $env:TEMP "eve-config.bak"; Copy-Item $cfgPath $cfgTmp -Force }
+  # In-place git updates can lock .git pack files (Defender / EVE patcher scanning the
+  # drive) -> "Unlink of file ... failed". Avoid it: re-clone fresh into an empty dir.
+  if (Test-Path $dir) {
+    Get-Process git -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Stop-Process -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+    Remove-Item -Recurse -Force $dir -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
   }
-  if (-not (git -C $dir remote)) { git -C $dir remote add origin $repo } else { git -C $dir remote set-url origin $repo }
-  git -C $dir fetch -q origin
-  if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) {
-    git -C $dir checkout -q -B main origin/main
-    git -C $dir reset --hard -q origin/main      # config.ini gitignored -> untouched
-  } else {
-    Write-Warning "git fetch failed - using zip download instead."
+  if (Test-Path $dir) {
+    Write-Warning "old folder is locked (AV/EVE scan?) - using zip instead."
+    Ping("git folder locked on **$env:COMPUTERNAME** - zip fallback")
     Download-Zip
+  } else {
+    git clone --depth 1 $repo $dir
+    if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Warning "clone failed - using zip."; Download-Zip }
   }
+  if ($cfgTmp -and (Test-Path $cfgTmp)) { Copy-Item $cfgTmp (Join-Path $dir "config.ini") -Force }
 } else {
   Write-Host "Git not available - installing without it (zip mode)."
   Download-Zip