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Add/Remove Programs in XP or earlier versions of windows (See Vista Instructions for Vista Add/Remove)
Description:
Add/Remove program is a detailed comprehensive description of how to install and uninstall software on your computer.
Check the box on your new software for the System Requirements to insure it will work on your PC or Laptop. (How to find out information about your PC or Laptop). The System Requirements will also list the minimum requirements to run the software you have just purchased. ...RAM, free hard disk space etc.
Before you install the software there are a few items that need to be addressed.
Locate in the box or on the software, the product ID, Serial number or Authenticity code. Once you find it you will be asked for it during or after the software installation. Keep the ID# and SN# in a safe place to use later if you need to re-Install it..
Make sure there are no programs running in the background. Look at the bottom of your screen and look on the Task Bar, do you see any programs listed there? If so close them.
Do you use a screen saver ? If so you need to turn it off, temporarily or set it to come on after 30 min.. Go to
Desktop, right click anywhere on the screen a small dialog popup will appear, click on properties and then select DISPLAY. Click on the
SCREEN SAVER tab, use the drop down menu that lists all of the Screen Savers,
select NONE and click APPLY and then OK (or) change the time for the screen saver to come on to 30min and then OK. Close the CONTROL PANEL.
At this point you should be back at your DESKTOP.
Disable your Anti-virus program before installing any software.
Some Antivirus and Spyware programs will stop you from installing new software. You have to turn that software off or disable it before you install your new software. (Click here for instructions to shut down or disable your Antivirus and Spyware programs.)
NOW WE'RE READY!
Some Software will start up automatically for installation once you put it into your CDrom. (If you are still installing new software from floppies you will need to follow the instructions for installation that came with the software.)
Adding Programs
There are several ways to install commercial software, we are going to use the
"Add/Remove Programs" icon in the Control Panel. To access it go to START,
SETTINGS, CONTROL PANEL and select ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
IN WINDOWS XP/2000 THERE ARE FOUR ICONS ON THE LEFT SIDE.
(In Windows 95,98 and me, You will see three tabs on the top.) Click on Add New Programs.
Then click on the CD or Floppy Icon. The install Wizard will pop up, click next, it will
scan the floppy drives and the CD-ROM drive looking for an installation file. When it finds one
it will place the path command for the installation in the "Command line for installation program" box.
Click Finish and the computer does the rest for you. The installation
program will lead you through the install process and ask you several
questions. This is usually very straightforward and you can generally
accept the defaults.
If you are installing a new downloaded piece of software, click the browse Icon and find the software that you down loaded. (See downloading software for instructions). Once you find your downloaded software click on the file Setup.exe or install.exe or if it is a Microsoft product it may have an .msi extension.
Click on the Setup.exe file and it will be placed in the command line for installation, then
Click Finish and the computer does the rest for you. The installation
program will lead you through the install process and ask you several
questions. This is usually very straightforward and you can generally
accept the defaults. During the start of the installation of your new software
the Directory box shows where the program will be installed (do not make any
changes but this is where you would make changes if you were not going to put it
in a directory on the C: drive).
Adding windows programs that came with windows. "Add/Remove windows components"
allows you to install or Remove components of
Windows that were not installed by the manufacturer of your computer or are not
installed by Windows during the initial installation.
To see which components are installed click on the Add/Remove windows components.
There is a list of all the components that can be installed and each component can have one or
more sub-components. There is a box to the left of each component. If the box is
gray with a check it means that some of the sub-components are installed. White
with a check means all of the sub-components are installed. White and blank
means nothing has been installed. The amount of hard disk space required to install
each component is listed to the right of the description.
A single click on a description will highlight it and at the bottom of the window
you will see what the component does and how many of the sub-components are
installed. Clicking on Details will bring up a box that will show you what has been
installed (the box to the left of the item will have a check in it).
Installing a Window component
1) To add all of the sub-components of a component, click the check box and then
click Apply.
2) To remove all of the sub-components of a component, clear the check box and
then click Apply.
3) To add or remove some of the sub-components of a component, highlight the
component name, and then click Details.
Check or clear the sub-components to be added or removed.
4) When you have finished selecting the sub-components to add or remove, click
Apply
5) Click OK again.
If Windows 95 or 98 was originally installed using a CD-ROM or floppy
disks, you will be prompted to insert one of the Windows installation disks
or the CD.
If the manufacturer installed all of the necessary files on the hard drive the
installation will take place without any additional action on your part.
Additional important informations.
Uninstalling Software
There are 3 ways to uninstall software from your computer.
1) Use the Windows Uninstall function which is found in the CONTROL
PANEL as part of the ADD / REMOVE PROGRAMS. This is the menu in the
bottom. IN WINDOWS XP YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO EITHER CHANGE
THE PROGRAM OR REMOVE THE PROGRAM.
2) Use the Software manufacturer's uninstall utility which is installed when you
install the program. It's something you don't have to think about as it is installed
automatically and is listed as an icon under START - PROGRAMS- "Program
name" where "Program name" is the title of the software you installed.
3) Use Windows Explorer to delete the program folder.