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Finding Software Solutions 4-1
Chapter 4
Finding Software Solutions
B
ecause most computers have several application pro-
grams installed in addition to the operating system,
isolating a software problem can be confusing. Software
errors can also appear to be hardware malfunctions at
first. Software problems can result from the following
circumstances:
•
Improper installation or configuration of a program
•
Input errors
•
Device drivers that may conflict with certain appli-
cation programs
•
Interrupt conflicts between devices
You can confirm that a computer problem is caused by
software by running the System Set Test Group as
described in Chapter 5, “Running the System Diagnos-
tics.” If all tests in the test group complete successfully,
the error condition is most likely caused by software.
This chapter provides some general guidelines for ana-
lyzing software problems. For detailed troubleshooting
information on a particular program, see the documenta-
tion that accompanied the software or consult the support
service for the software.
I
nstalling and Configuring
Software
You should check newly acquired programs and files for
viruses with virus-scanning software before installing the
programs on the computer’s hard-disk drive. Viruses,
which are pieces of code that can replicate themselves,
can quickly use all available system memory, damage
and/or destroy data stored on the hard-disk drive, and
permanently affect the performance of the programs they
infect. Several commercial virus-scanning programs are
available for purchase, and most bulletin board services
(BBSs) archive freely distributed virus-scanning pro-
grams that you can download with a modem.
Before installing a program, you should read any pro-
gram documentation to learn how the program works,
what hardware it requires, and what its defaults are. A
program usually includes installation instructions in its
accompanying documentation and a software installation
routine on its program diskettes or CD(s).
The software installation routine assists users in transfer-
ring the appropriate program files to the computer’s
hard-disk drive. Installation instructions may provide
details about how to configure the operating system to
successfully run the program. You should always read
the installation instructions before running a program’s
installation routine.
When you run the installation routine, be prepared to
respond to prompts for information about how the com-
puter’s operating system is configured, what type of
computer you have, and what peripherals are connected
to the computer.
U
sing Software
The following subsections discuss errors that can occur
as a result of software operation or configuration.
Error Messages
Error messages can be produced by an application pro-
gram, the operating system, or the computer. Chapter 3,
“Messages and Codes,” discusses the error messages that
are generated by the system. If you receive an error mes-
sage that is not listed in Chapter 3, check the operating
system or application program documentation.