Installing and Customizing PC Software Applications
A brand-new PC is almost a blank slate. If you like its built-in applications such as Internet Explorer and Outlook Express, it's fine for surfing the Web and sending e-mail. But specific software applications are needed to meet individual needs: word processing, games, virus protection, financial management, music, etc.
Installing software is generally easier than renovating a house or repairing your car, but it can also be challenging and frustrating. And software can be irritating if it doesn't run the way you'd like it to. This article gives tips on installing and customizing applications to ensure maximum satisfaction. Just remember that while installation processes are similar, each application is unique.
The most important rule is to pay attention to decisions made during installation -- they determine how an application runs! Fortunately, many choices can be changed later, by tweaking what are called preferences, options, or something similar.
Software installation processes often advise closing all other applications before continuing. That's a good idea for several reasons: first, it makes maximum PC resources available to run the installation. Second, applications often share files, so if the install needs to update a file already in use, problems may occur or rebooting may be required.
You may have to approve a license agreement. These tedious documents often display as tiny type in small windows. They can be difficult to read and they're rarely interesting. But, and especially for products from non-mainstream vendors, they're worth reading. For example, software that contains nasty bits that may report on your activities or pop up advertisements may admit what it does in the licensing agreement. If you see things you don't like, clicking No or Decline can save you grief later. Next, you may pick the kind of installation to do. Choices include Standard (or Normal), Minimal, Full, Custom, or equivalent terms. For complex applications, these specify whether all facilities are installed or whether only some capabilities will be available, and whether the installation will run automatically or allow further customization.
Installations usually include Help information to explain the different options. "Normal" installations provide middle-of-the-road capabilities, generally a safe choice. "Minimal" installs make sense if your PC may not be powerful enough to run a full application, if the Normal install includes facilities you won't use, or if you want to minimize an application's burden on a laptop computer. Similarly, "Full" installs are best for power users experienced with an application and hungry for new features. Best of all, many applications allow you to add and remove features after installation as needed.
Software downloaded from the Web (rather than installed from CD) may offer multiple download links, for different product versions. These may be described as being best for dial access (smaller version) or broadband access (larger). Or the versions may include descriptions of functions included. If you use a dial connection it's worth downloading only needed functions.
If the choice is available, save a copy of the downloaded install file on your computer (and note where!) rather than simply performing the install. This allows easy reinstallation if necessary. Similarly, it's worth collecting all CD keys, download/installation passwords, and other settings in a notebook. And, of course, back up your PC files, data at least, before running an install, in case something bad happens.
I prefer "Custom" installs. Rather than accepting choices built into Minimal/Normal/Full installations, a Custom install asks you about decisions to be made. This is much simpler than it sounds: for each option, a default choice is presented which can be accepted or changed. Even if I accept every default option, reading the choices shows me useful details about an application I might otherwise not learn. For example, applications such as word processing often allow selecting compatibility with other applications, specifying whether document templates are installed, adding specialized dictionaries, etc.
Custom installation usually allows specifying the program folder in which to install; the default is best unless you have a reason to change it. You'll be offered choices of components to install; defaults may be reasonable but you may want to tailor selections based on your needs. You may be asked whether the application should be added to the System Tray (the set of icons at the right end of Windows' task bar); I vote no, since every app there consumes resources even when not in use. An application may ask whether it should be the default (e-mail client, Web browser, whatever); this may be desirable -- but not if you're installing just to evaluate it! A frequent complaint is that a new application has pushed aside a favorite -- this may happen with a normal install but be avoidable through customization. I often change the location in which applications store data so that all my personal files (as opposed to application files) are in one place, facilitating backing them up or porting them to a new computer.
When an install completes it may offer to show you the ReadMe file. Don't skip this in order to start running the application; ReadMe files often provide important information not available in product manuals or Help files. Finally, don't think that a product's configuration is unchangeable -- application preferences/options/settings can be changed as you become more experienced. These controls may be listed as a main menu pulldown or available under File, Edit, etc. If all else fails, Help will guide you.
