... i want to know what happens in the PC/OS...How the program is run...
Slightly technical description is ok to me
2006-09-28 22:08:08 · 4 answers · asked by robin 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Way too complex for a good answer but, When you save a file, it is simply stored as is on your hard drive or other media. When you install a program, the program looks into your system and finds out what your system has for hardware and software and adjusts its installation accordingly.
2006-09-28 22:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you save a file, the OS allocates a specific number of bytes on your storage and writes out the contents of the file in Binary.
When you install an application, depending on the software you may have an installation program (as is popular in Windows) or just a compressed file to extract or RPM file (as is popular in Unix environments).
In case you have an installation program, depending on the software, it may check whether the system requirements are met, whether required pre-requisite software/shared libraries are available (called dependancy checks), creates optional subdirectories and copies the required files. Each application may have its own set of configuration parameters which maybe stored in the registry (windows) or in config files (Unix). In case the application itself has some components that could be used by other software, it may install these components in a shared location (such as c:\windows\system32 for windows shared libraries or /usr/lib in Unix). Shared components may also be registered in the windows registry so other applications can use them. The installation program may also create shorcut files to the executables of the application so it can be used in the OS Graphical interface.
Additionally Installers can give you other options such as to upgrade an existing installation (without an installer you may just have to overwrite the files) or to re-install a corrupted installation to fix missing or corrupted files and settings or to uninstall the application (without an installer you have to delete all the files, shared components and settings manually).
2006-09-29 05:33:24 · answer #2 · answered by kalyan19677 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
saving a file just means it is saved as a complete file ..think of it as simply putting documents into a filing cabinet for use later ......
installing a programme is different ....every programme must work in conjunction with the operating system ...so when you install it the programme "splits " into various parts and embeds itself into various folders where the operating system can then " drive it "
Thats a bit simplistic i know but i hope that it makes sense .....
2006-09-29 05:55:03 · answer #3 · answered by bluebottle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
saving a file might have a meaning that you just input the file into the hardrive while installing a program means that you have an executable file(s) that will run in your system
2006-09-29 05:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋