Installing and Uninstalling Software

This article is mainly for those parents who are teaching their older children how to install and uninstall software. Of course if you have children that are a little younger and you think that they could handle these instructions then you should go ahead and teach them. This is a skill they will eventually need. This will also be a good article for parents who are not completely comfortable with this task.

The first thing you should do is make sure you do not have any other programs open at the time of installation. If you do have a program open close it out. This could interfere with the setup of the new software. Go to the Start Menu and click on Settings, then click on Control Panel. Look for the Add/Remove icon and click on this. When the Add/Remove Programs Properties menu comes up click on the install button. You will then get a Install Program From Floppy Disk or CD-ROM message. Insert your disk for the new software and click Next. Windows will automatically look for and locate the disk and begin to install it. From here you should get an install wizard and simply follow the instructions as it appears on the screen. When you get to a screen that has a button that says Finish just click it. There you go. Your new software is installed and ready to be used. It is really simple isn't it?

You also have the option of using the Run command with some software programs for installation. This is even more simple than using the Add/Remove Programs Properties menu. To do this you simply insert your disk to be installed and click on the Start menu and click on Run. You will get an install wizard and simply follow the directions.

One thing to note, if you have an option to register your software take advantage of this. Once your software is registered you may eligible for updates online for free depending on the type of software and the publisher. You will also have a better chance of having technical help if you experience a problem with your software. Software companies also have a tendency to keep records and send out information on new things they have available. With current users they will sometimes offer a discount or some other type of promotion that is not available to everyone.

In order to remove a software program that you no longer need or want you simply go to the Add/Remove Programs Properties message following the same directions for installing in the above paragraph. When this Add/Remove menu is on your screen you simply go to the list below the install button and scroll down until you find the software you want to remove. Click on the name of the software and click on the Add/Remove button. Windows will provide all of the directions and you simply follow them. There you go. Your old software is uninstalled. That is simple too. When you are removing software it is truly best if you use this feature instead going through the My Computer feature. Software programs often locate files in many different folders as well as share files with other programs. If you try to go through and delete these files through the My Computer feature you could accidently delete something that another program needs in order to run. Talk about a headache trying to figure out why a program you know worked fine the last time you used it but now won't give you the time of day. This Add/Remove feature that Windows provides does the uninstall safely without hurting any of your other programs.

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