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Software
Where can you get good software from? Most people browse the aisles and pick something off the shelves. Usually, because room in the store is at a premium, a lot of people end up 'making do' with what the major retailers have on the shelves. This is not the best way to shop for decent software as you are at the behest of the retailers latest promotion(s), not necessarily what you actually want.
Take for example a certain well known computer retailer found in most large towns, you know, the one where they all wear purple shirts? Anyway, they have a tie-in with Symantec and until recently, AOL. Now they are going to push these products down your throats because they get paid a commission for every one they sell. Nothing wrong with that, and nothing wrong with Symantec products, but is it what you really want?
So what's the alternative? You can buy just about any software online, quickly, easily and in perfect safety, well, as safe as passing over your card to a shop assistant that is! I have certain opinions about shopping online and the rubbish that's spoken about potential fraudulent use of your card details and so on. In my opinion you are more at risk when you hand over your card to a complete stranger in a shop than you are buying online using a secure website. But that's another story which I have covered here, and should be read before you buy online.
There are many online software retailers, here are just a few:
Each of these websites have a search facility that will help you find exactly what you are looking for either by title or description. So if you are looking for Anti-Virus software, that's the search term you should use. You will be presented with an unbiased search return leaving you to pick the one best suited to (a) your operating system (they usually have reviews and/or recommendations to help you), and (b) your budget.
Installing
Installing software on your computer is relatively straight-forward. First of all make sure that the software is compatible with your computer. Read the small print on the back of the cover, if the software has been designed for Windows XP only, then there is no point in loading it onto your Windows 98 computer - it is very unlikely it will work!
Using AutoRun
AutoRun is perhaps the most commonly used and easiest way to install software titles. It was first introduced on personal computers with Windows 95. The principle behind AutoRun is that as soon as you insert a CD into the computer's CD ROM it will either begin installing, or will load to a user friendly menu where you can click an Install button. Once the installation begins a wizard will guide you step by step through the installation process.
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If the CD you are using does not load automatically, or does not support AutoRun, you can use the run command to make the software load.
The user manual for the software will normally give you the file name that will load the software. |
1. Click 'Start' > Run.
2. In the Run window type the CD drive letter (normally D:\) and the file name (normally setup.exe or install.exe). So you would type D:\setup.exe and click OK. The other alternative to is to click Browse and find the file on the disc yourself.
Software manufacturers have made locating an installation file easy by agreeing upon a standard icon. This is a fairly recent development, and in the cases of slightly older software, the icon depicted here may be a small computer with a blue screen. See the diagram on the left for the new icon.
Here on the left you can see the contents of the disc which include an icon called 'Setup'. This is the icon mentioned above that should be clicked to start installing the software onto your hard-drive.
By the way, to view the contents of any disc (CD-ROM / DVD-ROM), go to 'My Computer', select the drive the disc is in, and right-click on the drive. One of the options will be 'explore'. When you click this a mini-window similar to the one on the left will open and you can select the icon manually. Do not attempt to mess about with any of the other icons shown on the explore page as you could upset the installation process!
Add/Remove Programs
There is a facility within Windows to add or remove software automatically from a list containing all the software previously installed. Personally we never use it to install software, but we do use it to take it off again. To access the add/remove programs facility:
- Windows XP:
- Click 'Start'
- Click 'Control Panel'
- Click 'Add/remove programs'
- Select the programe to be uninstalled
- Click 'Uninstall'
- Windows Vista/7:
- Click 'Start'
- Click 'Control Panel'
- Click 'Programs'
- Click 'Programs & Features'
- Select the programe to be uninstalled
- Click 'Uninstall'
Usually your computer will need to be re-started (called re-booting) once the software has been removed as this finalises the removal of the software. Sometimes this is done for you automatically, sometimes you have to close everything down and re-start the computer yourself. For more information about removing software, please click here.
Removing Anti-Virus Software
As sone as you remove your anti-virus software a 'bubble' will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen telling you the obvious - Windows cannot detect any anti-virus software! This is quite normal and you can either click the 'X' in the bubble to make it go away or ignore it. Naturally, we do not recommend removing anti-virus software, especially if you are going online. For more about Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware software, please click here.
Keep the disc safe!
Once you have loaded any software, the chances are you won't need the disc again - unless of course you have to re-install Windows, then you will need to load the software on again. Keep your installation discs somewhere safe, dry and away from children and pets, both are likely to use the disc as a toy!