Installing Windows Software

Under Mac OS X, there are two ways to install software. One is to drag and drop an application's folder or icon into the Mac's Applications folder. The other is to use an installer application. Under Windows, almost all software is installed using an installer application. Running a Windows installer application isn't all that different from running an installer on the Mac. Basically, you launch the installer and follow the onscreen instructions.

Also like the Mac, there are two general ways you'll obtain software installers. One is to download them from the Internet. The other is to purchase the software on CD or DVD. The installation process for either delivery method involves the same steps; launch the installer and follow the onscreen instructions.

You saw an example of a typical Windows software installation in Chapter 4, "Protecting Your Windows Environment from Internet Attacks," when you learned how to install Norton AntiVirus.

Note

When it comes time to remove a Windows application you've installed, make sure you use the Add/Remove Programs control panel to uninstall it. This will ensure the application and supporting files get removed from the system properly. See "Adding and Removing Software" in Chapter 2, " Running and Configuring Windows Using Boot Camp," for more information about this important control panel.