Assess a Computer System for Software Compatibility
Your best friend just told you about an awesome new game she bought. Should you run right out and buy it, too? At $60, the game is an investment that warrants at least a little bit of research on your part, as do most other software purchases. So what do you need to know?
Requirements Your System Specs
Before you rush out or go online to buy software, you need to do a little bit of work. You need to document your system specs so you can compare them to the what system requirements of the software. That is the only way you’ll know whether your system can run the software program requirements.
Most store bought software requires a DVD drive to do the installation. Although a few programs will run from a DVD or flash drive requirements, most programs are installed on your computer’s hard drive system.
Many newer, lighter notebook computers no longer include a DVD drive. To install software on a system without a DVD drive, you can purchase an external drive, but the easiest thing to do is to install software that you download directly from the web. The amount of drive space required for the installed software is listed in the system requirements. You can verify that you have enough free space by opening File Explorer. The Windows computer in Figure 2.24 has a CD drive. It has 45.3 GB of free space on the hard drive (C:) labeled OS, and 146 GB free on the second drive (E:) labeled Data. There is also a removable disk with 407 MB free.
On a Windows computer, obtain the other information you need by using the System control panel. To do this, open File Explorer, right click This PC, and then click Properties. (Note: On earlier versions of Windows, right click Computer.) Most of the information requirements what you need is found on this page: operating system version, processor type and speed, and amount of memory installed (Figure 2).
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Figure 1 Open File Explorer to verify the space available on the drives on your system requirements.
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| Figure 2 You can use the System control panel window to determine whether a computer meets the system requirements for a particular software application. |
To find this system information on a Mac, click the Apple menu and then click About This Mac. On the About This Mac screen, click More Info. The Storage tab (Figure 3) lists disk drive information. The other system specs, such as processor speed, memory, and operating system version, are located in the other tabs in this window.
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| Figure 3 Use About This Mac to locate information about your system. |
System Requirements
System requirements for software usually listed right on the software box or webpage. System software requirements are minimum requirements to get the program running, but exceeding the requirements software will give you better performance. These requirements list both the hardware and software specifications the computer must meet to run the program requirements. You may need to upgrade your system to meet or exceed these requirements. As software becomes more sophisticated, the system requirements go up.
It’s important to know the system requirements for a program before you buy it so you’re not stuck with a purchase that you can’t use. Spending a few minutes verifying that your system meets the requirements will help ensure that you can actually use the software you buy or let you know if a system upgrade is necessary.
Career Spotlight
Software trainers - Software trainers sometimes called the corporate trainers are in demand as companies deploy more software programs. This high paying career may involve some travel and requires good computer skills, organization, and communication skills. Software trainers usually have at least a bachelor’s degree and on the job training. Some companies offer train the trainer courses that can lead to certification. You might work for a training company, in the training department of a large company, or as a consultant to many companies.
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3 Things You Need to Know
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Key Term
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File Explorer can help you determine the drives
and storage space available requirements on your computer.
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You can
find out your system specifications by using the System control panel or the
About This Mac window.
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System
requirements are the minimum requirements needed to run software and include
hardware and software specifications.
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system requirements
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