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References Class work
Click on each module below
Work effectively in an information technology environment
Apply occupational health and safety procedures
Operate computing packages
Operate computer hardware
Design organisational documents using commercial computing packages
Integrate commercial computing packages
Maintain equipment & consumables
Communicate in the workplace
Connect hardware peripherals
Install software applications
Maintain system inventory
Receive and process oral and written communication
Maintain equipment / software inventory
Interact with clients
Identify components of multimedia
Access the internet

© S. Wilkins 18 May, 2006

Install Software Applications - Activities

Activity 1 - Create notes

  1. Set up for this topic. This involves the following:-
    1. Create a new folder for this topic (called Install Software Applications)
    2. Save a copy of the IT Document Template in this folder and call it Install Soft Apps - Notes)
    3. Open the file and type the correct heading
  2. Read through p127-131 of the IT Heinemann Textbook (Chapter 4).

    You are required to create your own notes (a report) on this topic by refering to these pages while you complete the rest of this activity.
  3. Type the subheading Installing and Upgrading Software and define the following terms:-
    1. Installing software
    2. Upgrading software
    3. Software versions
  4. Explain why each of the following system requirements are important to consider when purchasing software to install:-
    1. disk space
    2. RAM
    3. hardware such as CPU or video card
    4. operating system
  5. Explain how you could actually be worse off by installing new software
  6. List some reasons you might not upgrade your software
  7. By reading through the last bullet point on p128, explain how different versions of a piece of software are numbered.
  8. Put the subheading Software Versions.
    1. Explain the difference between a Minor and Major software revision.
    2. Explain how software versions are numbered.

Activity 2 - Completing a System Specification

Before you install or purchase software, you need to know if your PC has enough memory, hard disk space, if the version of the operating system is compatible, can the PC be connected to the network?

In large organisations, it would take a lot of time to visit each site and carry out an investigation of hardware onsite. This is why it is important to keep detailed records of all the computer systems in an organisation. More often than not this information is stored in a database and is updated every time a change is made to a computer. The record containing the computer system details is often referred to as a System Specification.

The activity - "Complete a system specification form"

  1. Click here to download your System Specification form
  2. Using the System Information utility in Windows XP, complete all the details on Sheet 1 of the System Specification form for the workstation you are using.
  3. Complete Sheet 2 (Installed software) of this document by listing the details of at least 5 pieces of software installed on the computers at school.

    Homework: Download a copy of the System Specification form at home and complete the same activity based on your home computer. Print out both sheets and hand them in to your teacher.

Activity 3 - Notes (continued)

This activity is a continuation of the notes you created in Activiy 1 (above). Open the document you created then and add to it the following:-

  1. Type the heading Installation Options and describe each of the following four types:- full, typical, portable, and custom. (p129)
  2. Type the heading Software Licenses and read through the information on p131. Copy, paste and answer the questions below:-
    1. What is pirate software?
    2. Why does the "IT Department" have a greater liability than the "End User"?
    3. What is a software audit?
    4. Cool Edit Software license - In point form, summarise this license.
  3. Type the sub-heading Licensing and explain the difference between a single-user/workstation license and a site license
  4. Explain the difference between a local installation and a network installation of a piece of software.

Activity 4 - Notes (continued)

  1. What is a software licence?
  2. What does EULA stand for and what is it?
  3. What are the differences between a single-user, multi-user and site licence for software?
  4. List 5 effects of using illegal software.
  5. When installing software on a client’s workstation, it is important to be aware of the client’s needs. List 6 behaviours that you should exhibit when interacting with the client.
  6. Pre-Installation System Preparation and Application Testing are important aspects of the software installation process. List 9 tasks that should be undertaken as part of this process.
  7. Why would you run disk defragmenter before installing a software application?
  8. You have installed an upgraded version of a software package on a client’s workstation but the package will not work. Will you:
    1. Advise the client there is a problem and make a time to come back and fix it.
    2. Advise the client there is a problem, re-instate the original software from the backup and advise client of the action you intend to take.
    3. Ask the client to locate another machine to use in the interim and take away the machine with the faulty software to fix it.
    4. Stay and fix the problem no matter how long it will take.
  9. Before installing a new application, a software support person should advise the client to:
    1. backup all programs.
    2. backup all data files.
    3. compress the hard disk.
    4. printout a directory tree structure of the workstation.
  10. What does the term ‘preferred supplier’ mean?