SOFTWARE INSTALLATION Installation (or setup) of a program (including drivers) is the act and the effect of putting the program in a computer system so that it can be executed. Most programs are supplied in a condensed form intended for sale and distribution. In order to be used, they must be 'unpacked' and the relevant information placed correctly on the computer, taking account of variations between computers, and any customized settings required by the user. During installation, various tests are made of system suitability, and the computer is configured to store the relevant files and any necessary settings required for that program to operate correctly. Because the requisite process varies for each program and each computer, many programs (including operating systems) come with a general-purpose or dedicated installer – a specialized program which automates most of the work required for their installation. Some software is designed to be installed simply by copying their files to the desired location, and there is no formal installation process. This was once usual for many programs of MS-DOS, Mac OS, Atari TOS, AmigaOS since early versions of these operating systems and actually it is very common and "de facto" standard in Mac OS X applications and is also used for many Windows applications. Operating systems also exist which don't require installation, and can therefore be run directly from a bootable CD, DVD, or USB drive, without affecting other operating systems installed on the machine.  |
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