Introduction to Software

Anchored by Inst. Desmond Garrick. 

Introduction to Software

Software is a collection of instructions that enables a user to interact with the computer or have the computer perform specific tasks for them. Without any software the computer would be useless. For example, you wouldn't be able to interact with the computer without a software operating system. Almost all software purchased at a retail store and online is included in a box similar to the one shown to the right, this box usually contains all the disks (floppy diskette, CD, DVD, or Blu-ray) required to install the program onto the computer, manuals, warranty, and other important documentation. In the picture to the right, is an example of what a Microsoft Excel software box would look like.

What are the differences between hardware and software?

Question

What are the differences between hardware and software?

Answer

Computer hardware is any physical device, something that you are able to touch and software is a collection of instructions and code installed into the computer and cannot be touched. For example, the computer monitor you are using to read this text on and the mouse you are using to navigate this web page is computer hardware. The Internet browser that allowed you to visit this page and the operating system that the browser is running on is software.

Question

Can a computer run without software?

Answer

 

In most situations, yes, a computer can run without software being installed. However, if an operating system or interpreter is not found on the computer it would either generate an error or sit at a black screen. Installing additional programs onto the computer after the operating system has been installed will only give that computer additional abilities. For example, a word processor is not required, but will allow you to create documents and letters.

How to install software.

General Tips

• Make sure your computer meets the requirements of the program, game, or utility you are attempting to install.
• The manuals for the program or the readme file located in the same directory as the install commonly contain exact instructions on how to install a program.
• After installing or during the installation, a program may need to install other programs, files, or utilities before it is able to run. If this is the case, the program will commonly prompt you to install the program or you may need to run a separate install before the program can be fully used.
• When installing a program, utility, or game, it is always a good idea first to close or disable any other programs that are running.
• After installing a new program if it prompts you to reboot the computer, do it.

Microsoft Windows users

 

Many software programs, games, and utilities have an AutoPlay feature that will automatically start the setup screen for the software program when the CD is placed in the computer. If your program, game, or utility contains this feature, run the installation through the screen that appears after inserting the disc.

If you are installing a program, game, or utility that does not contain this feature or you are installing a program from a floppy diskette, follow the below steps.

1. Open My Computer.
2. Within the My Computer window, open the drive that contains the installation files. For example, if the files are on a floppy diskette, open the A: drive. If they're on a CD or DVD open the D: drive or the letter of the disc drive.
3. Within the drive that contains your files, locate either a setup or install file. Double-clicking on this file should start the installation for the program, game, or utility. If you see multiple setups or install files, try to locate the Application file or double-click each of setup or install files until you find the file that starts the installation. Many times the icons associated with the installation files have the same name.

An alternate method of starting the installation in Microsoft Windows

1. Click Start and Run.
2. In the Run Window, type x:\setup or x:\install where x is the letter of the drive you wish to start the installation from. For example, if you are attempting to install a program from the floppy disk drive you would type a:\setup or a:\install.

MS-DOS users

Users installing a program from Microsoft DOS should have a basic understanding of the MS-DOS commands. If you are unfamiliar with any of the commands listed below, click the link to get additional information and examples on the commands.

1. Before installing a program in MS-DOS, you must switch to the drive or directory that contains the installation files. If you are installing a program from a CD or diskette, switch to that drive. If the installation files are located in a different directory, use the dir command to list the directories and the cd command to switch into the appropriate directory.
2. Once you are in the directory or drive that contains the installation files, run the executable for the setup. Many times this can be done by typing setup or install at the prompt to start the installation. If both of these commands give a bad command or file name error message, type dir *.exe or dir *.com or dir *.bat. These commands will list any executable files; if any files are listed, execute these files to run the installation or setup of the program. If no files are listed when typing all three of the above commands, it is possible that either you are in the incorrect directory or drive letter, or that the program.