Hardware is the physical components that make up the computer.
The software is what tells the hardware what to do. For the most part, everything that is not hardware is software.
What is the difference between Hardware & Software
Hardware is the physical components that make up the computer. The software is what tells the hardware what to do. For the most part, everything that is not hardware is software.
What is software? Give me a basic idea.
Software programs are the programs you place in your system so that you can type a letter, use calculator, or play a game. Programs range from business applications, databases, family tree makers, spreadsheets, word processors, desktop publishing software, web creation, card making, graphics, and computer aided design (CAD). There are even programs that allow you to make more programs.
But most software is used to create what are called files. Programs such as a word processor create files when you save your work. The word file refers to what you are doing with the data. You are filing the data away for safekeeping.
What does it mean to install or setup a program?
Installing software is just like it sounds. You can install a bulb in a light socket, install a heater into a house, or install a sound system into a car. So installing a program simply means you are adding a software program into the hard drive of the system. Some programs (windows usually) use the term setup when you actually go to add the software in your computer. This means you asking the computer to setup the software so that you can use it.
Today’s software is actually easier to install than it was in the past. When adding a new program to your system, you should be able to simply place the CD into the CD-ROM drive and it will ask if you want to install the software. But not all software is that easy. If the software does not have an auto install feature, read the documentation that came with the software for more specific instructions.
Why is it that not all programs work with my computer?
Back about 10/15+ years ago (I guess you could call it the old days) computers had to be programmed. The user had to know a language and then type in the command or list of commands so that the computer could carry out the given task. Today big software companies write the software and then sell it to the public. This gives the average user more time to work with the finished product, rather than having to make the program from scratch.
There are three major factors when purchasing software: Requirements, Company, & Other software. The first factor is a time problem. What you have may not be what the company that made the software has. They may have newer equipment or they may have specific equipment that your system does not have. Thus you need to know what you have and compare it to what is on the side of the software box under System Requirements. Note that you should actually have a system a step or two above what they call minimum requirements. The other problem is the software may be too old for the system you have. Older software does not always work with new computers.
The second factor is the old story of who do you trust. Most people learn this the hard way; you have to buy and get burned to know who not to buy from. Or you can do it a safer way by reading reviews and asking people that work with software what works and what doesn’t. But just because it works with your next-door neighbor’s computer doesn’t guaranty it will work with yours.
Sometimes software already in the system can conflict with the software you are trying to add. This is the third factor. There are many parts to a software program. One of those parts is called system files. Different programs may rely on the same system files. And if one program changes a system file to meet its needs, another program may not work because the system file it was using has been altered. Conflicts like this can be hard to avoid if the system has a lot of different types of software, which is why computer software companies have to update their software from time to time when a major problem is detected.
If a problem occurs and you have an Internet connection, you can check out the software companies web site and see if they have a patch. A patch is just what it sounds like; it fixes a tear or imperfection in the fabric of the software.
Even though software companies test for glitches. They have no way to test their software with every other piece of software on the market. Just like with any other product, there is always a chance that they miss something in the testing of production. Software companies rely on consumers to let them know when a problem occurs. Good software companies are the ones that listen to their customers and fixes the problem when it occur.
Some patches are not considered fixes so much as upgrades. Some downloadable files are called upgrades instead of patches. These files are meant to give added abilities to the program. Usually upgrades are given a number. A software program may go from 1.0 to 1.2 to 2.0 to 2.5 etc. You can think of this as a new version of a book that has had several additions printed. You may also hear of a version call beta. This means that the program is not finished testing stages but is being released so that people can get a taste of what the program will be like. Be forewarned that beta software is not always 100% complete. So there may be problems and glitches if you try to install it to your system.
One other type of software you may run into either on the shelf at the local store or on the Internet is Shareware. Shareware is not free software; it is a demo or limited edition of the software that can be installed to your system for evaluation. Most shareware programs stop working after 30 days. Some will continue to work, but will not be the last version of the software. Most shareware programs are limited in what they can do. If a game, it may only include the first level of a multi-level game. If a business program, it may not allow you to save the files you are working with. Most shareware programs have a registration form that can be filled out and sent via Internet or printed out and mailed. Most shareware registrations are actually order forms. Once you have sent the order form in, they send you the full version of the software, and register you at the same time, so that you will continue to get updated information on the software.
Components such as printers & scanners must have drivers in order to communicate. The driver is like a translator that interprets the information as it is passed back and forth between the computer and the hardware. A printer will not work unless the proper driver is installed into the Printer Folder inside My Computer.