| Download |
To download something means to retrieve it from the Internet. |
| Upload |
To upload something means to put it on the Internet. |
| Install |
Install is the process for setting up your software onto your PC ready for use and is required before you can run the program, this can take several minutes but only needs to be done once. |
| Uninstall |
Uninstall is the reverse of the install process, removing everything that was placed and set on install. This can take several minutes but only needs to be done once. This can be done from your computer control panel. |
| Run or launch |
To run or launch software means to simply double-click on the shortcut icon (usually on your desktop) or click on the task bar icon to run/start the program. |
| Update |
An 'update' is a free, cumulative, set of fixes/patches for problems/bugs found in the software and needs to be installed to be applied. |
| Upgrade |
An 'upgrade' is a lower priced option for previous software users of the same brand to purchase a new released version, with major changes and will need to be installed, usually requiring confirmation of your previous software to validate. |
| Desktop |
Your desktop is the main screen you see on your computer with programs minimised or not running. |
| Windows explorer |
Windows explorer is your computers facility to locate files and folders outside of any running software. You can get to this by clicking on the start menu and selecting 'computer', it will then show you a list of drives. |
| URL |
The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is basically the address bar of your internet browser. |
| CD-ROM |
A CD-rom is a software disk for installing a program. |
| Hard disk |
Your hard disk is your main computers storage space where all your programs files and folders sit. |
| Memory stick |
Also known as a flash drive, pen drive or USB device is a portable storage drive which plugs into a USB port of a computer and acts as an additional drive. They are handy for transferring data from one PC to another, or for backing up data. |
| Drive |
An identifier of a storage device, for example hard drive C:/ or F:/ memory stick. |
| Registry |
The Windows Registry is a hierarchical database that stores configuration settings and options on Microsoft Windows operating systems. The registry is changed when software is installed or Windows settings are changed. It is however not recommended to make any changes to it unless you know what you are doing, as it could effect the running/non running of your PC. |
| File or Document |
A file is an individual container of data created by software such as an image or a word document. |
| Folder/Directory |
A folder or Directory is a place that can contain files or more folders and is named for organisational purposes. |
| Internet browser |
Is the software you use to view a web page such as Internet Explorer, FireFox, Opera, Google Chrome and Safari etc. The most common one is Internet Explorer as this is supplied on Windows computers by default, this does not mean that it is the most user friendly or faster one of them all. |
| Open/Load |
Is for opening or loading something from within a software program. Usually located in 'File->Open' with most software, is used to open documents created or compatible with the program. |