Unlike documents, which you can freely copy to your hard disk and use on the spot, most new programs you acquire must be installed before you can use them. The installation process configures the software to work with your particular hardware and software. The process also creates an icon or program group on the Windows 10 Start menu so that you can start the new program as you would any other.
You need to install a program only once, not each time you intend to use it. After you've installed a program from a disk, you can put the disk away for safekeeping. You need the original installation disk to reinstall the program only if you accidentally delete the program from your hard disk or if some sort of hard disk crash damages the program.
This chapter explores the common methods and issues you may experience when installing programs for Windows 10. Keep in mind that the installation process, although similar across different programs, can vary from one program to the next. So, the examples in this chapter are general, rather than specific.
Programs you buy in a store aren't likely to contain any malicious code such as viruses, worms, or spyware. Those things tend to be spread by e-mail attachments and free downloads from the web. However, you face an outside chance that the new program is incompatible with Windows 10 or a hardware device on your computer. So, sometimes you need to uninstall a program and then get all your system files back into shape to undo any changes made to your system by the new program.
Non-technical people often assume that updates and upgrades are the same thing. They aren't. An update is usually something you do online. You have nothing to buy at a store, no disk to insert in a disk drive. Updates are generally free, and often automatic (many programs scan for updates and offer them to you automatically). You don't have to make an effort to seek those out and install them.
Updates for some programs may not be quite so automatic. But you can often find out if any updates are available right from the program's Help menu or similar area.
Unlike updates, upgrades are usually not free. You have to purchase them and install them. For example, say you have Microsoft Office 2013 installed on a computer. You want to get Office 2016 on that computer. In that case, seek out Office 2016 or Office 365. Then install that upgrade over your existing version. For software that is delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS), you may be required to upgrade or pay an additional subscription fee when upgrading to Windows 10. Contact your subscription service for details on upgrading to Windows 10. For example, Adobe Photoshop is subscription-based software.
Before you begin installing and upgrading from a disk, you must have administrative privileges to install a program. You need to know the password for an administrative account on your computer. If you have a limited user account and don't know the administrative password, you need an administrator to install the program for you.
Most programs that you purchase are delivered on a CD, DVD, or via an Internet download. Always follow the installation instructions that come with such a program. But just so that you know what to expect, here's how the process usually works, after you have the installation files or CD/DVD in hand:
.exe
file extension. Double-click that file to launch it.That's installation in a nutshell. You're presented with some questions and options along the way. Exactly what you see varies from one program to the next, but some common items include the end-user license agreement (EULA) and the option to choose a folder in which to store the program, which we discuss in a moment.
For programs on a CD/DVD, sometimes your Windows setup may not launch the installation program automatically. If nothing happens within half a minute or so after you have inserted a program's installation CD/DVD into your computer's CD/DVD drive, you may need to start the installation program manually. Here's how:
That should be enough to get the installation program started. From there you can follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
The onscreen instructions and prompts you see during the installation vary from one program to the next. The next section discusses some common things you're likely to come across when installing just about any program.
Even though every program is unique, you're likely to encounter some common elements during a program installation. When you install a program, you likely won't see all the prompts described in the sections that follow, so don't be alarmed if your installation procedure is much simpler. (Be thankful instead.)
Shortly after you insert the installation disk for a program, you may see a prompt like the one in Figure 23.1. This is a new setup feature. Click this message to display the actions you can take with the installation disk. Figure 23.2 shows examples of setup options Windows 10 provides. The most common option is Run SETUP.EXE, which is what you would click.
Only people with administrative privileges can install programs in Windows 10. If you're signed into a limited account, you see a dialog box asking you to enter an administrative password. If you're already logged on with an administrative account, Windows 10 asks you if you want to allow the program to make changes to the computer. Click Yes to continue with Setup.
Many programs (including ones published by Microsoft, Adobe, and Apple) require that you enter a product key or serial number to install the program. That number is usually on a sticker on the case or sleeve in which the program was delivered.
If you need to enter a product key or serial number, you see a prompt asking you for the product key, license number, or similar title. Type the product key exactly as it is provided by the software manufacturer, and click Continue (or whatever button the installation program offers to continue the installation process).
If you're installing an upgrade of a new program and you already have the older version installed on your computer, the installation program likely will detect the existing product and move through the upgrade. In other situations, particularly where you don't already have a previous edition of the program installed, you may be prompted to insert the CD/DVD for the old version and/or enter the product key for the old version. This process depends entirely on the requirements of the application's upgrade program. Follow the prompts displayed by the upgrade program to provide the requested information.
Some programs offer prompts that ask for your username or initials. These are optional but useful. The username is automatically entered as the author name in any documents you create with the program. The initials are used in settings where multiple people edit documents to identify changes you made to the document.
Just about every commercial program and most freeware and open-source programs require that you accept the end-user license agreement (EULA) as part of the installation process. Figure 23.3 shows an example. The agreement is a legal document that defines your rights to the program, as well as the developer's retained rights.
The EULA differs from one program to the next. In most cases, the EULA gives you the right to install a program on one computer. However, that is not always the case. The EULA for Microsoft Office 2013 applications, for example, allows you to install the software on a licensed device (such as your desktop computer) and one portable device (such as your notebook PC). The intent of this clause is that you'll use the software on only one computer at a time. In addition, you can access and use the software on the device remotely from any other device. For example, this means you can connect to your office PC from home and run the Office application remotely on your office PC (or vice versa).
Although many people never read the EULA when installing a program, you should take the time to do so. You'll discover interesting bits of information (such as the fact that you can install Office on more than one computer) and also potential problems. For example, we've seen EULAs for shareware and commercial programs that explain that the Setup program installs other, third-party applications along with the program, and that by accepting the EULA you're indicating your acceptance of those other programs. These programs may have nothing to do with the program you're installing, such as weather monitors, web browser add-ons, toolbars, and so on. Often, the installation program gives you the option of not installing these additional programs, but that isn't always the case. So, our best advice is to always read the EULA.
You can't install the program if you don't accept the terms of the agreement, so assuming you're happy with (or at least resigned to) the terms of the EULA, check the I Accept option and click Next, Continue, or whatever button continues the installation process.
Sometimes you're given some choices as to how and where you want to install the program. Figure 23.4 shows an example from Microsoft Office Professional 2013. Unless your computer is low on disk space, generally you should install the program with all features. Otherwise, months later you may try to use some advanced feature of the program and get an error message saying it isn't installed.
As to the where to install the program, you rarely have any reason to change the suggested location, which is typically some folder in C:Program Files
. Don't change that location without a good reason. Whatever you do, don't make the common newbie mistake of installing a program in your Documents folder. You aren't installing a document. You're installing a program. The Documents folder is intended to store documents for easy retrieval later. And we recommend keeping all your programs in subfolders under C:Program Files
.
The installation procedure may give you a summary of the options you chose along the way. Typically, you have a Back button or some other means to return to previous screens and make changes if needed.
The last page of the installation options may offer a couple of final options, as in the example shown in Figure 23.5. Whether you choose these options is relatively unimportant. You can check the web for updates and additional downloads at any time, whether through the program itself or by visiting the software company's website (or the Microsoft Update site).
Some applications give you the option of keeping installation files on the computer rather than deleting them. Keeping the installation files can simplify the process of changing program settings or installing missing components in the future. Installation files usually don't take up any significant amount of disk space. Click Finish, remove the CD/DVD from the drive, and put it someplace safe in case you ever need to reinstall.
You may also be prompted to shut down and restart Windows after the program is installed. If prompted, you can click Yes to restart now or click No to restart later. In any event, you must restart at least once before running the program for the first time.
After the program is installed, you can run it from the Windows 10 Start menu. The preceding steps installed Microsoft Office Professional 2013. To run the program, show the Windows 10 Start menu, click All Apps, scroll over to the application you want to start, and click its tile.
Installing programs from files, CDs, or DVDs is easy. It's a matter of running the executable file, or putting the program installation disk into your CD or DVD drive and following the onscreen instructions. Here's a quick summary of the main points presented in this chapter: