Computer Systems Servicing

Module 5 and 6
Week 5 and 6:
Installing Applications

Name: _______________________ Date: ________________

Grade Level/ Tracks: ___________ Teacher: ______________________

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Introduction

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the
nature of Computer Systems Servicing NC-II. The scope of this module permits it to be used
in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But
the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are
now using. The module is divided into five lessons, namely:

The module is composed of one lesson with the following contents:

1. Installation of applications software with different variations
2. Software updates
3. Disk management software
4. Antivirus / diagnostic software
5. Drivers/Software update procedures
PRE TEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. This is a pretest in
installing applications. If you get 100% in this assessment, you can proceed
to the next module.
1. What software is designed to let the OS talk to hardware?
A. Application B. Patch C. Virtual D. Driver
2. What is an error of an application if the original programming was done
incorrectly?
A. Human error B. Computer error C. RAM error D. All of the above
3. Microsoft Excel is an example of software.
A. Word Processing B. Spreadsheet C. Presentation D. Reference
4. Which of the following is true of locally installed software?
A. It is streamed to your device whenever you use it.
B. It is hosted in the cloud.
C. It is installed and runs directly on your device.
D. It is automatically updated.
5. Which of the following an anti-virus software does not do?
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A. Delete your files and emails C. Scan your computer
B. Delete malware D. Warn you about dangers
6. Why should you register your software whenever you install it?
A. To ensure you receive notification of available updates.
B. To ensure that you receive marketing materials from the software vendor.
C. All users are required by law to register any and all installed software.
D. To ensure that you can get a free version of the next major update.
7. Why does software need a license?
A. This is how it is bought and sold.
B. To protect the intellectual property of its creator/s.
C. To make it more difficult to buy.
D. So that it doesn‘t break privacy laws.
8. When thinking of software compatibility, which factor matters most?
A. If the software will work with other software on the computer.
B. If the software will work with the operating systems.
C. If the minimum hardware requirements are met.
D. If the software comes with automatic updates.
9. Ryhian Phoebe opens her software applications and get a message
stating that she has only 16 more uses of the product available. Given
this scenario, what is the best course of action in order to use it more
than 16 additional times?
A. Activate the software C. Register the software
B. Uninstall and reinstall the software D. Not close the application anymore
10. You have just purchased licensed software and want to install it. How
would you do this?
A. Enter your name and contact information C. Change the product key
B. Choose the serial number of your processor D. None of the abov
11. Zhi purchase a single – user software license for an application
and installs it on his desktop. Then he installs it on his laptop
computer. In this scenario, which of the following statement is
true?
A. John can use the application on both computers at the same time.
B. John can use the application on both computers but only one at a
time.
C. John can use the application on only one of the computers.
D. John can share the application with his friends to install on their
computers.
12. You are to install a word processing, spreadsheets, and
presentation software in your computer? How do we call these
applications?
A. Collaborative software C. Utility software
B. Productivity software D. Operating system
add – ins
13. What do you need to do before you can download or install apps
from the Windows store?
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A. Sign in with a Microsoft Account C. Update your operating
system
B. Open an outlook.com email account D. Create an account on the
window
14. Zhia Martha wants to play the game that comes with
windows on her computer, but they are not on the
Start Menu. What should she do?
A. Install the games from Control Panel.
B. Install the games from Windows Update.
C. Install the games from System Update.
D. Delete and reinstall the Windows.
15. You just installed an antivirus program on your laptop, by this
scenario in which you want to maintain proper levels of
security, how often should you update the software?
A. At least once a month C. At least twice a year
B. At least once a week D. Only when a new virus is discovered

Installing Application
Installation or setup of a computer program (including device drivers and plugins), is the act
of making the program ready for execution. The installation refers to the particular
configuration of software or hardware with a view to making it usable with the computer.
Installing application sets up various files in specific places that it would otherwise needs to
do each time it runs. It installs information into your registry, creates space for temporary and
other files, and configures things like your security software etc. It also helps your computer
to keep track of the programs you have.

Review
Now, let‘s have a review about our past lesson about installing operating system. This
activity will surely enhance your learned skills in the previous module and be able to connect
and use it to this new lesson. You are to complete the following word puzzle by looking at
the clues provided. Use a separate sheet in answering this activity.

1. While running DOS on a PC, which command would be used to duplicate

the entire diskette?

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D K Y

2. What is the system program that sets up an executable program in main

memory?

O P E

3. An input device which allows a user to transmit letters, numbers,

and symbols.

Y O D

4. What does a microphone transmit to a computer?

S D

5. The main circuit board that everything inside the computer attaches to

O R D

6. is a pointing and input device that allows the user to move a cursor around
screen and selects items with the click of a button

M E

7. What is called the starting up on operating system?

B T G

8. The operating system is the

S T M

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9. The process to start or restart the computer is known as _______

B T

10. What is the most important type of system software in a computer system?

O R I Y M

After reading the introduction and carefully answering the pre - assessment test, you might
have ideas of what you will be dealing with in this module. Now prepare to set yourself by
answering the self-assessment guide below. Write your answer on a piece of paper.

Now, let‘s assess what you already know and what you have to learn. Here is a self-
assessment guide used by all specializations for the trainees to assess themselves in their prior
knowledge and competencies, and also to know where to begin and what to focus on. Put a
check on the appropriate area to indicate your answer. Use a separate sheet of paper

QUALIFICATION TITLE Computer Systems Servicing NC-II

COMPETENCY Installing Application

Can I… Yes No

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install software application through operating system instruction?
configure computer to accept new software or upgrade?
carry out testing and acceptance according to organizational
guidelines?

install portable application according to software user guide and

software license?

access and install OS and Drivers updates/patches based on

manufacturer‘s instruction and OS installation procedure?

check quality of work according to established procedures?

access and install software updates based on manufacturer‘s
recommendations and requirements?

follow the 5S and 3R according to environment policies?

conduct stress test to ensure reliability of equipment?
agree to undertake this lesson in the knowledge that information gathered will only be used
for professional development purposes and can only be accessed by
concerned personnel of this institution?
Name & Signature: Date:

NOTE:* Critical aspect of competency

How do you feel after answering the self - assessment guide?

What skills or knowledge will you need to prepare for this module?
Do you think you‘re ready for the next module? Explain your answer.

Let‘s now proceed to the new competency! Turn the page to explore the new world of
installing application software.

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There are tens of thousands of software programs that are developed since the day
inception of the internet. How to install a software program/application is a question that
most of the users known as the development in the field is rapid. The installation of program
is not a big deal at all. It all depends upon the fact that which OS is being used. On the other,
hand the user should also consider the program that is being installed. 1
Now, let‘s explore this module for you to be able to gain new knowledge and skills.

1. Installation of Application Software with Different Various Computer software is

basically programs and procedures intended to perform specific tasks on a system.
From the lowest level assembly language to the high- level languages, there are
different types of application software. Computer software systems are classified into
three major types namely system software, programming and application software.

While system software comprises device drivers, OS, servers, and software
components, programming software helps in writing programs through tools
such as editors, linkers, debuggers, compilers/interpreters and ore.
Application software, in contrast to these two, is used for attaining specific
tasks. Application software uses the capacity of a computer directly for
specific tasks and are used to manipulate text, graphics and numbers.

Some computer programs can be executed by simply copying them

into a folder stored on a computer and executing them. Other programs are
supplied in a form unsuitable for immediate execution and therefore need an
installation procedure. Once installed, the program can be executed again
and again, without the need to reinstall before each execution.

Common operations performed during software installations include:

1. Making sure that necessary system requirements are met
2. Checking for existing versions of the software
3. Creating or updating program files and folders
4. Adding configuration data such as configuration files,
Windows registry entries or environment variables
5. Making the software accessible to the user, for
instance by creating links, shortcuts or
bookmarks
6. Configuring components that run
automatically, such as daemons or
Windows services
7. Performing product activation

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8. Updating the software versions
9. These operations may require some charges or be free of
charge. In case of payment, installation costs mean the
costs connected and relevant to or incurred as a result of
installing the drivers or the equipment in the customers'
premises.

Some installers may attempt to trick users into installing junkware such as various forms of
adware, toolbars, trialware, or software of partnering companies. To prevent this, extra
caution on what exactly is being asked to be installed is needed. The installation of additional
software then can simply be skipped or unchecked (this may require the user to use the
"custom", "detailed" or "expert" version of the installation procedure)

1. Types of Installation

1.1 Attended installation

On Windows systems, this is the most common form of installation. An installation process
usually needs a user who attends it to make choices, such as accepting or declining an end-
user license agreement (EULA), specifying preferences such as the installation location,
supplying passwords or assisting in product activation. In graphical environments, installers
that offer a wizard-based interface are common. Attended installers may ask users to help
mitigate the errors. For instance, if the disk in which the computer program is being installed was
full, the installer may ask the user to specify another target path or clear enough space in the disk. A
common misconception is unarchivation, which is not considered an installation action because it
does not include user choices, such as accepting or declining EULA. 3

1.2 Silent installation

Installation that does not display messages or windows during its progress. "Silent
installation" is not the same as "unattended installation" (see below): All silent installations
are unattended but not all unattended installations are silent. The reason behind a silent
installation may be convenience or subterfuge. Malware is almost always installed silently.

1.3 Unattended installation

Installation that is performed without user interaction during its progress or with no user
present at all. One of the reasons to use this approach is to automate the installation of a large
number of systems. An unattended installation either does not require the user to supply
anything or has received all necessary input prior to the start of installation. Such input may
be in the form of command line switches or an answer file, a file that contains all the

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necessary parameters. Windows XP and most Linux distributions are examples of operating
systems that can be installed with an answer file. In unattended installation, it is assumed that
there is no user to help mitigate errors. For instance, if the installation medium was faulty, the
installer should fail the installation, as there is no user to fix the fault or replace the medium.
Unattended installers may record errors in a computer log for later review.

1.4 Headless installation

Installation performed without using a computer monitor connected. In attended forms of
headless installation, another machine connects to the target machine (for instance, via a local
area network) and takes over the display output. Since a headless installation does not need a
user at the location of the target computer, unattended headless installers may be used to
install a program on multiple machines at the same time.

1.5 Scheduled or automated installation

An installation process that runs on a preset time or when a predefined condition transpires,
as opposed to an installation process that starts explicitly on a user's command. For instance,
a system administrator willing to install a later version of a computer program that is being
used can schedule that installation to occur when that program is not running. An operating
system may automatically install a device driver for a device that the user connects. Malware
may also be installed automatically.

1.6 Clean installation

A clean installation is one that is done in the absence of any interfering elements such as old
versions of the computer program being installed or leftovers from a previous installation. In
particular, the clean installation of an operating system is an installation in which the target
disk partition is erased before installation. Since the interfering elements are absent, a clean
installation may succeed where an unclean installation may fail or may take significantly
longer.

1.7 Network installation

Not to be confused with network booting. Network installation, shortened reinstall, is an
installation of a program from a shared network resource that may be done by installing a
minimal system before proceeding to download further packages over the network. This may
simply be a copy of the original media but software publishers which offer site licenses for
institutional customers may provide a version intended for installation over a network.

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2. What are the standard software applications installed on my
computer?

The following is a list of the standard software applications

installed on your computer:
a. Windows Computers:
1. Microsoft Windows 7 Operating System
2. 7-Zip
3. Adobe Acrobat Professional
4. Adobe Reader
5. Google Chrome
6. Microsoft Internet Explorer
7. Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
8. Microsoft Windows Media Player
9. Media Player Classic
10. PuTTY
11. Sophos AntiVirus

3. Installing software on your Windows PC

Your computer allows you to do some really amazing things. Digital photo editing,
sophisticated computer gaming, video streaming—all of these things are possible because of
different types of software. Developers are always creating new software applications, which
allow you to do even more with your computer.

3.1 installing from a CD-ROM

From the mid-1990s through the late 2000s, the most common way to get new software was
to purchase a CD-ROM. You could then insert the disc, and the computer would walk you
through the installation.
Now, almost all software has moved away from this model. Many new computers no longer
include a CD-ROM for this reason. However, if you do need to install software from a CD-
ROM, simply insert the disc into your computer, then follow the instructions.

3.2 Installing software from the Web

Today, the most common way to get new software is to download it from the Internet.
Applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop can now be purchased and
downloaded right to your computer. You can also install free software this way. For example,
if you wanted to install the Google Chrome web browser, you can visit its page and click the
Download button.
The installation file will be saved to your computer in .exe format. Pronounced dot e-x-e, this
is the standard extension for installation files on Windows computers. You can follow the
steps below to install an application from an .exe file.
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a. Locate and download an .exe file.

b. Locate and double-click the .exe file.

(It will usually be in your Downloads folder.)

c. A dialog box will appear. Follow the instructions to install the software

d. The software will be installed. You can now open the application
from the Start menu (Windows 7) or the Start Screen
(Windows 8)
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4. Installing software from the Web

Today, the most common way to get new software is to download it from the Internet.
Applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop can now be purchased and
downloaded right to your computer. You can also install free software this way. For example,
if you wanted to install the Google Chrome web browser.

The installation file will usually be saved to your computer in the .dmg format. Pronounced
dot d-m-g, this is the standard extension for installation files on Mac computers. You can
follow the steps below to install an application from a .dmg file.

a. Locate and download a .dmg file.

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b. Locate and select the .dmg file. (It will usually
be in your Downloads folder.)

c. A dialog box will appear. Click and drag the

icon to your Applications folder.

d. The application is now installed. You can double-click the

icon to open the program.

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e. On the desktop, there will probably be a disk drive icon with the name of
the application. This is known as a volume, and it is not needed after the
application has been installed. You can simply drag it into the Trash on the
dock. Some applications will use the .pkg extension instead of .dmg—in
this case, you can simply follow the instructions to install the software.

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5. Installing Microsoft Office to Windows 7

Microsoft office or simple office, is a family of client software, server software and services
developed by Microsoft. It was first announced by Bill Gates on August 1, 1998 at Comdex
in Las Vegas. Initially a marketing term for an office suite, the first version of the office
contained Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Over the years, office
applications have grown substantially closer with shared features such as common spell
checker, OLE data integration and Visual Basic of Applications script language.
Now, let‘s find out how to install Microsoft office to windows 7.

A. Open the 2016 file

B. Double-click the folder 2016

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C. Double-click the setup file
D. Allow changes Click Yes

E. Accept the terms

Check the box next to I accept the terms of this agreement

Click Continue

F. Install Now

Click Install Now to download all products in the Suite (recommended)

Click Customize to choose which products to download

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G. Wait for the Installer

Note: this may take several times

H. Close the Installer

Click Close

I. Open the License.txt File

Open the License file Copy the serial number

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J. Open any Microsoft Product
This example will use Word.
J.1 Open Other Documents

Click Open other Documents

J.2 Open Account

Click Account

J.3 Activate Microsoft Office

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Click Change Product Key

J.4 Paste Serial Number

Paste the serial number. If it is right, a green check mark will

appear. Click Install

Success!
You have successfully installed Microsoft Office 2016 on Windows 7
6. How to Install an Antivirus
Viruses and malware can cripple your computer and destroy your
files. Antivirus programs are designed to find and intercept viruses
before they do any harm. An antivirus program is essential on a
Windows PC, and can be very useful for Mac and Linux users as
well.

a. Understand the need for an antivirus program. Windows is

the most virus-prone operating system (OS) out of the three
major OS‘s. It has the most users and the weakest built-in
security. Antivirus programs will defend your computer from
malware that comes through email, flash drives, downloads,
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websites and more.
b. Acquire an antivirus program. There are several popular
free options available that do a good job of protecting the
average user. These programs are updated frequently with new
virus definitions that recognize the latest threats.
B.1 If you frequently deal with files or websites
that are virus-infected, you may want to opt for
more powerful paid protection. Paid antivirus
programs are typically available for a yearly
subscription fee.

B.2 When downloading free or paid antivirus

programs, ensure that you are downloading
from a trusted source. There are many
programs out there that claim to be
antivirus/antimalware but instead install
malware themselves. Read reviews and
download products from companies that have
been around for a long time.

B.3 Windows 10 and 8 have Windows Defender, which is a free anti-

malware application provided by Microsoft. It's already built-in.

c. Install the antivirus program. Make sure that no

other programs are running while you install the
antivirus. You will most likely need to be connected to
the internet to download additional files and updates.

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C.1 Some free antivirus programs come packaged with
toolbars for your web browser. These can add protection
but also change your search options and bog down
older computers. You have the opportunity to opt out of

these changes during the installation process.

Update the program. After the installation is complete,
reboot your computer and update the program. The
file that you downloaded is likely not the most up to
date version, so you will need to connect to your
antivirus program‘s servers and download the latest
updates. Most antivirus programs allow you to right-
click on the icon in the System Tray while it is running
and click Update.

D.1 Update your definitions on a weekly basis. Most

antivirus programs are set to automatically update.
Double check the settings for your program to ensure
that you are receiving the necessary updates.

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e.Scan your computer. Once you have the program
installed and updated, it‘s time to scan your computer.
This could take several hours, depending on the
number of files being scanned and your computer‘s
speed.

f. Set a scan schedule. Antivirus programs are most effective when

they are automated. Open your antivirus program‘s settings and
look for the Schedule option. Try to schedule a time when your
computer will be on but you won‘t be using it. Ideally you should be
scanning once a week; scan more frequently if you deal with
potentially infected files on a regular basis.

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g. Keep Windows updated. The best way to keep your computer

protected is to always make sure that your copy of Windows is up to
date. Microsoft releases security updates for Windows on a regular
basis, fixing exploitable areas of Windows.

d. Keep Windows updated. The best way to keep your

computer protected is to always make sure that your
copy of Windows is up to date. Microsoft releases
security updates for Windows on a regular basis, fixing
exploitable areas of Windows.

2. Software Updates
Anyone who uses software of any kind has encountered prompts
to update or upgrade that software. Software updates and upgrades
may sound alike, but there are important differences that you
should understand.

Software update, which is sometimes called a software patch, is

a free download for an application, operating system, or software
suite that provides fixes for features that aren't working as intended
or adds minor software enhancements and compatibility.

An update is generally an enhancement to the current version of

the software or application, while an upgrade is a whole new version
of it. Updates are usually free and simple to install. Often, you must
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pay for upgrades, and they're more complicated to install.
Before you install any update or upgrade, back up your device.
Read the information issued with the update and upgrade
announcements to make sure your computer or mobile device and
its operating system are compatible and won't suffer any
repercussions.

Software updates are released to address security issues when

they occur, address minor bugs discovered in the software, improve
the operation of hardware or peripherals, and to add support for
new models of equipment. These small, incremental updates
improve the operation of your software.
A common operating system update is a security update, which
is issued to protect your computer against vulnerabilities that
might be exploited by hackers and viruses. It is wise to install
security updates when they are released to ensure your system is as
protected as possible against constantly changing threats. 4

1. Software Updates Aren't Limited to Computers

The operating system and apps that run on your phone and
tablet, the smartwatch on your wrist, and the peripheral that
live streams video to your TV all use software that occasionally
needs to be updated. In most cases, unless you have chosen a
setting that allows automatic updates, the device
notifies you when a software update is available and gives you
some information on why the update is important. Then, you
decide whether to allow the update to go forward. The vast
majority of software updates are applied over the internet, so
an internet connection is often a requirement.

In the case of smartphones and tablets, software takes the

form of apps. When an updated version of an app is available,
you're notified either by message or by a visual indicator on
the app icon. App updates are almost always no-cost and
occur over a Wi-Fi connection after you give your permission.

Operating system updates for smartphone and tablets are

usually made through the devices' settings. In some cases, the
mobile device must be connected to a power outlet during the
installation of an operating system update, because the
process takes much longer than an app download.

If you subscribe to an internet application or a suite of apps,

such as Microsoft 365, software updates—and upgrades—may
take place under the hood. You may not even realize the

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software has been updated. This is because the internet
applications may not need to place a software update on your
computer or device to work properly. In other cases, such as
with Adobe Creative Cloud, you are notified when an update is
available for the applications you previously downloaded, and
you choose when to apply the update.

2. The Importance of Software Updates

Although they are typically small and free, software updates
play important roles often related to solving or preventing a
problem:
a. Protect against new-found security risks
b. Introduce new features in your software
c. Improve battery depletion rate or performance speed
d. Extend your equipment's usable life by allowing its
maximum productivity
e. Fix bugs in the software and improve functionality

3. Software Upgrades
A software upgrade is a new version of the software that offers a
significant change or major improvement over your current
version. In many cases, a software upgrade requires the
purchase of the new version of the software, sometimes at a
discounted price if you own an older version of the software.

If you bought your software recently and an upgrade is released

soon after that, some software companies offer the upgrade to
the latest version for free. Be sure to register the software when
you install it so you know if you qualify for these types of deals.
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4. Understanding Software Version Numbers

All software applications have version numbers associated with
them. This number helps track iterations of the software,
including updates and upgrades. It is represented as a series of
numbers separated by periods.

The leftmost number in a software's version number represents

major upgrades to the software. For example, going from version
1.0 to 2.0 in software is a major upgrade. These upgrades may
also have version names associated with them such as Windows
10 or OS X Mavericks.

The rightmost number in a software's version number generally

represents minor updates. Going from version 3.0.2 to 3.0.3 is
usually a small change and is usually delivered as a free update.

5. Operating System Upgrades

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Operating system (OS) upgrades are large and have significant
effects on your computer. These upgrades can make important
changes to your system in functionality, user interface, and
general appearance over the previous version.

Examples of operating system upgrades include upgrading from

Windows 7 to Windows 8 or Windows 10, or on Macs, to
upgrading from OS 9 to OS X or macOS.

Software manufacturers usually offer free software updates for

their products to make them compatible with new versions of
operating systems. However, these updates may not be

immediately available when the new OS software is released.6

3. Antivirus Software
Antivirus software is a program or set of programs that are designed to
prevent, search for, detect, and remove software viruses, and other
malicious software like worms, trojans, adware, and more. Anti-virus
software is a diagnostic tool that is generally included with many
operating system software packages. The licenses for the anti-virus
software might be for one user or assigned to as many as 40 or more
users at one time. When computers are melded together on a company
network, the threat for computer viruses to spread among numerous
computers is incredible. To protect visitors to websites, many companies
install anti-virus software on the network servers.

1. How antivirus software works?

Antivirus software typically runs as a background process, scanning

computers, servers or mobile devices to detect and restrict the spread of
malware. Many antivirus software programs include real-time threat
detection and protection to guard against potential vulnerabilities as they
happen, as well as system scans that monitor device and system files
looking for possible risks.
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2. Antivirus software usually performs these basic functions:
2.1 Scanning directories or specific files for known malicious
patterns indicating the presence of malicious software;
2.2 Allowing users to schedule scans so they run automatically;
2.3 Allowing users to initiate new scans at any time; and
2.4 Removing any malicious software it detects. Some antivirus
software programs do this automatically in the background,
while others notify users of infections and ask them if they
want to clean the files.

In order to scan systems comprehensively, antivirus software

must generally be given privileged access to the entire system.
This makes antivirus software itself a common target for
attackers, and researchers have discovered remote code
execution and other serious vulnerabilities in antivirus
software products in recent years.

3. Types of antivirus programs

Antivirus software is distributed in a number of forms, including

stand- alone antivirus scanners and internet security suites that
offer antivirus protection, along with firewalls, privacy controls
and other security protections. Some antivirus software vendors
offer basic versions of their products at no charge. These free
versions generally offer basic antivirus and spyware protection,
but more advanced features and protections are usually available
only to paying customers.

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4. Virus detection techniques

Antivirus software uses a variety of virus detection techniques.

Originally, antivirus software depended on signature-based detection to
flag malicious software. Antivirus programs depend on stored virus
signatures -- unique strings of data that are characteristic of known
malware. The antivirus software uses these signatures to identify when it
encounters viruses that have already been identified and analyzed by
security experts.

4. Diagnostic Software

A diagnostic program (also known as a Test Mode) is an automatic

computer program sequence that determines the operational status within the
software, hardware, or any combination thereof in a component, a system, or
a network of systems. Diagnostic programs ideally provide the user with
guidance regarding any issues or problems found during its operation.
Diagnostics programs may be simple or complex, operating
unknowingly within everyday devices or awaiting their invocation to make
more complex performance assessments. Everyday examples are a
microwave oven that displays
code F6 to warn of a shorted temperature probe or a garage door
opener that flashes its control board's LED four times warning of
critically misaligned safety sensors and impending shutdown.

1. Methods of operation
The diagnostics program for a device or system may be
independently located or integrated within. These Methods of
Operation are arranged, more-or-less, in order of increasing
complexity and their increasing value of diagnostics
information.
a. Background monitoring of system indicators, for
statistical analysis of trends, and for recording
abnormal events.
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b. Solution-based diagnostics, that test for known
failure modes by identifying if their known symptoms
are detected.
c. Black box, which is testing of a mechanism without
knowing how it works, and merely focusing on the
accuracy of output data based on a known input.
d. White box, which uses knowledge of a mechanism's
inner functions for direct testing.
e. Operation-oriented, a combination of both black and
white box, with one or more black-box operations
interleaved with one or more white-box operations.
This mode of testing is not preferred, however, some
complex systems do not have the necessary
interfaces to perform one or the other type
independently.
f. Integrated background diagnostics, that perform
testing of system components during idle-time of a
system.
g. Operation-interleaved diagnostics, that incorporate
diagnostics into the normal operation of a system
component, thus any marginal operating mode is
immediately diagnosed. Examples of hardware
components with features that assist a diagnostic
program are:
Modern hard drives have Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) commands
that provide information about internal error conditions, e.g., spin retry counts, bad sector counts,
etc.

Some systems may use Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory that logs memory failure
events that were automatically corrected.
2. Example diagnostics program
a. A BIOS embedded Power-on self-test (POST) program that
validates integrity of the system's hardware components before
commencing normal operation
b. Diagnostics that are run on-demand when a user needs
assistance, typically within the primary operating system of the
computer (e.g.Windows)
c. "Off-line diagnostics" that are run outside the primary operating
system, typically to reduce the masking influence of software on
hardware issues
d. Household refrigerators that display diagnostics of their internal
temperature, ice machine functionality, etc.
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e. The 1996 Onboard Diagnostics II system (OBD II) that
standardized the diagnostics port across all models of cars and
light trucks allowing vehicle owners and repair technicians
access to the vehicle's error code and emissions history.
f. Personal computer users have diagnostics options from both
software and hardware sources, e.g., Hewlett-Packard's (HP's)
diagnostics guide for confirming hardware failures.
g. Industrial production test equipment that diagnoses electronic
devices or systems.
h. When an electronic device such as a Bop It says its version
number such as "one point three six" and starts playing through
a set of sounds one after the other.

6. Device/Drivers
A device driver is a small piece of software that tells the operating
system and other software how to communicate with a piece of
hardware.

For example, printer drivers tell the operating system, and by extension
whatever program you have the thing you want to print open in, exactly
how to print information on the page

Sound card drivers are necessary so your operating system knows

exactly how to translate the 1s and 0s that comprise that MP3 file into
audio signals that the sound card can output to your headphones or
speakers.
The same general idea applies to video cards, keyboards, monitors, mice,
disc drives, etc
1. Types of Device Drivers
Device drivers are small computer programs that allow operating
systems to read pieces of hardware connected to your computer.
There are countless kinds of device drivers for dozens of different
pieces of computer hardware. However, for a computer to have
basic functionality there are a few select drivers that all computers
must have.
1.1 BIOS
BIOS (basic input/output system) is, by definition, the most basic computer driver in
existence and is designed to be the first program that boots when a PC turns on. The BIOS is
stored on memory built into the motherboard and is designed to boot the hardware connected
to the PC, including the hard drives, video display output (whether it be video card or on-
board), keyboard and mouse.

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1.2 Motherboard Drivers
Motherboard drivers are small programs that are read by either Windows or Linux and allow
for basic computer functions while inside the operating system. These drivers normally
include programs that allow broadband ports, USB ports and I/O ports for the mouse and
keyboard. Depending on the make of the motherboard, the drivers may also have basic drivers for
video and audio support. BIOS are not the same as motherboard drivers.

1.3 Hardware Drivers

Hardware drivers are programs that are designed to allow pieces of computer hardware, such
as expansion slots, to function on a computer. Video cards, sound cards, network cards and
other expansion cards come with driver discs to ease the installation process of the hardware.
Other devices, like certain kinds of digital cameras and MP3 players, have PC drivers
programmed into their software for easy use on most makes of personal computers.

1.4Virtual Device Drivers

Virtual device drivers are different than most drivers. Unlike the majority of drivers, which
allow pieces of hardware to work with a particular operating system, virtual device drivers
emulate a piece of hardware and essentially trick the computer into thinking that it is reading
from a piece of actual hardware. A particularly popular use for virtual device drivers is with
reading .iso files without having an actual disc, using one of these drivers to emulate a CD or
DVD drive.

2. What devices need drivers?

Hardware devices that are unknown by the operating system or
that have features that are unknown by the operating system all
require drivers. Below is a list of hardware devices and
peripherals that require drivers.
2.1 Card reader
2.2 Controller
2.3 Modem
2.4 Motherboard chipset
2.5 Network card
2.6 Printer
2.7 Scanner
2.8 Sound card
2.9 Tape drive
2.10 USB devices
2.11 Video card

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3. What devices may not need drivers
Today's operating systems have a lot of generic drivers that
allow hardware to work at a basic level without needing drivers
or software. However, if that device has features unknown to the
operating system, it will not work without drivers. For example,
you could plug any keyboard into a computer and expect it to
work. However, if that keyboard has any special keys or
features, they will not work until the drivers are installed.
3.1 CPU
3.2 Disc drive
3.3 Fan
3.4 Hard drive
3.5 Heat sink
3.6 Joystick
3.7 Keyboard
3.8 Mouse
3.9 Monitor
3.10 Power supply
3.11 RAM
3.12 Speakers
3.13 Thumb drive
3.14 UPS

7. Drivers/Software Procedures
1. How to update software application?
If you don‘t know how to perform software updates, you won‘t benefit from application
improvements, bug fixes, and new security defenses (including virus and malware attacks).
Follow these instructions and get the new software versions online. These steps show how to
manually update applications, but you can set up your computer to automatically update.
Step 1. Check the File and Help menus for update instructions.
You should be able to find the software version number
also on the Help menu.
Step 2. Choose Start→Programs→All Programs.
Step 3. Look for the install directory of an application you
want to update. Look for an update program option.
Step 4. Point your Internet browser to the software
manufacturer‘s Web site and look for update
instructions.

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Step 5. Download a newer version than the version you‘re running.
Step 6. Install according to the software directions.
Step 7. Run diagnostics and use a defragmentation utility,
which differs depending on your operating system:
Windows Vista or
Windows 7: Step 1.
Choose
Start→Control Panel.
Step 2. Click System
and Security.
Step 3. Choose Defragment Your Hard Drive in the
Administrative Tools section.

Step 4. Choose the drive you want to defragment.

Step 5. Click Defragment Disk.

2. Application Software License Agreement

A software license agreement is the legal contract between the licensor and/or author and the
purchaser of a piece of software which establishes the purchaser's rights. A software license
agreement details how and when the software can be used, and provides any restrictions that
are imposed on the software. A software license agreement also defines and protects the
rights of the parties involved in a clear and concise manner. Most of software license
agreements are in digital form and are not presented to the purchaser until the purchase is
complete. A free software license agreement gives the purchaser the rights to modify and
redistribute the software and related components, while a proprietary software license
agreement forbids this.

Software companies also make special license agreements and warranties for large business
and government entities that may be different from those provided to the general consumer.

3. Stress – Testing Procedures

STRESS TESTING is a type of Software Testing that verifies the stability & reliability of the
system. This test mainly measures the system on its robustness and error handling capabilities
under extremely heavy load conditions.

Stress Testing is done to make sure that the system would not crash under crunch situations.
It even tests beyond the normal operating point and evaluates how the system works under
those extreme conditions.
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a. Types of Stress Testing:
There are five types of stress testing, which test different
aspects of a software or an application. These stress testing
types ensure that the software does not crash due to
insufficient resources by emphasizing the availability and
error handling under heavy loads. The various types of
stress testing are:

1. Distributed Stress Testing: During this type of stress

testing, the tests are executed across all clients from
the server to track their status as well as to
identify failures due to excessive stress.
2. Application Stress Testing: The focus of this testing is
on finding defects in the software that are related to
data locking and blocking, network issues, and
performance bottlenecks.

3. Transactional Stress Testing: Transactional testing

does stress testing on one or more transactions
between various software products or applications. Its
main aim is to fine-tune and to optimize the system to
improve its performance.
4. Systematic Stress Testing: An integrated stress testing,
systematic stress testing, is used to test multiple
systems running on the same server. It enables the
testing team to detect defects where data of one
software blocks another software.
5. Exploratory Stress Testing: It is used to test the
system with unusual conditions that are unlikely to
occur in a real scenario. These stress tested scenarios
allow the team to detect various undetected issues and
bugs in the system.

4. Stress Testing Process:

During stress testing, testers measure various aspects of the software,
by putting it under different user load. This allows them to measure
the frequency of the system crashes and the software‘s ability to
resist denial of service (DOS) attacks. However, to ensure the
accuracy of the test results and the system‘s performance, it is
crucial for the team to implement the correct testing methodology.
Therefore, here is the process of stress testing:

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a. Identify Test Objectives: The testing team defines the
objective of stress testing and prepare an execution plan
accordingly. Moreover, they also prepare resources, like
tools, testers, etc.
b. Establishing Important Scenarios: Here, the team
establishes the key scenarios for stress testing that play a
major role in the success of the product.
c. Workload Identification: Another important stage of the
process, here, the team defines the workload that will be
applied to the software to test its threshold limit.
d. Design Test Cases: During this stage of the process, the
team designs and creates test cases based on the testing
requirements.
e. Load Creating: After the completion of earlier stages, the
load is simulated on the software to test its
performance under unpredictable load.
f. Result Analysis: Finally, the captured test data is
analyzed and compared against the accepted level of
metrics, defined by the team earlier.

8. 5s and 3Rs Environmental Policies

Environmental Policy is the commitment of an organization or government of the laws,
regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues. In computer
systems servicing, we have the what we called 5s and 3Rs environmental policies. Now, let‘s
have a short discussion dealing with these

Independent Activity 1. Fill Me Out

Now, are you ready for the next level? Here is an activity for you to test your
knowledge in the above discussion about Installing Application. First, we
have to do an activity about Installation of Application Software with
different kinds and uses. Can you list down at least Six (5) common
operations performed during software installations.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

These steps in software installations don‘t vary even if you are installing
different software in your computer system. Don‘t be confused in the GUI of
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every software you intend to install. As long as you keep these 5 common
operations in mind, you have a long way to go!

Independent Assessment 1. Correct IT If I’m Wrong

After listing down the common operations performed during software

installations, do you think you can go to the next assessment? Let‘s see how
far you can go by answering the following evaluation in installing
application software in your computer system, read each statement and
identify if the statement is true or false. Write True if statement is correct but
Wrong if statement is incorrect.
1. Seiketsu encompasses both personal and environmental cleanliness.
2. Anti-virus software is a diagnostic tool that is generally included
with many operating system software packages
3. A diagnostic software is a small piece of software that tells the
operating system and other software how to communicate with a
piece of hardware.
4. Installing application sets up various files in specific places that it
would otherwise need to do each time it ran.

5. Silent installation that is performed without user interaction during

its progress or with no user present at all.
6. Applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop can now be
purchased and downloaded right to your computer.
7. An installation is a new version of the software that offers a
significant change or major improvement over your current version.
8. The main benefit of virtualization software is that it permits you to
augment your server infrastructure without you having to buy
another hardware devices.
9. Mini tool is a disk management tool which not only supports
Windows but also is compatible with Mac.
10. Installation of application allowing users to schedule scans so
they run automatically

These are the common terms you might encounter in installing applications.
I‘m glad that you did very well in this assessment let‘s move on to the next
activity.

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Independent Activity 2. Follow and Answer IT!
Hooray! After carefully answer the assessment given by your teacher, let‘s
have another activity that you‘ll surely enjoy. This activity will teach you
how to install anti – virus program on a computer. Just follow the easy steps
below. After following the easy steps in installing anti – virus program on a
computer, kindly answer the following questions that will help you to
deepen your thoughts and skills in dealing with the said competency, thus, it
will help you provide a wider knowledge in assessing yourself and mastery
of the content. You can ask your teacher for a copy of antivirus software or
you can download it in the internet.

Step 1 - If you purchased the antivirus program from a retail store,

insert the CD or DVD into the computer's disc drive. The installation
process should start automatically, with a window opening to help guide
you through the install process. Or you can simply click on the setup icon.
Guide Question – What antivirus program are you installing?
Step 2 - If you downloaded the antivirus program on the Internet, find the
downloaded file on your computer. If the downloaded file is a zip file,
unzip the file to extract and access the installation files. Look for
a file named setup.exe, install.exe, or something similar, then double-
click that file. The installation process should start, with a window opening
to help guide you through the install process.
Guide Question – What features should you look for in an antivirus program?
Step 3 - In the installation process window, follow the steps provided to
install the antivirus program. The install process provides recommended
options so the antivirus program will function properly, which in most cases
can be accepted as is. The one exception is if the install process recommends
that you also install any toolbars for Internet browsers or other helpful
programs for your computer. If prompted to install other software along with
the antivirus program, uncheck all boxes or decline the install of those extra
programs. No additional programs should

be needed for the antivirus program to install and run

successfully on your computer.
Guide Question – What do you think is the best antivirus to use?
Does the free antivirus program offer adequate protection?

Step 4 - When the installation process is complete, close out of the

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install window. Guide Question – Is it safe to use a computer or
other device without having an antivirus or other security program
installed?

Step 5 - If used, remove the CD or DVD from the computer's disc drive.
Guide Question – What is an anti-virus? How do you know if your chosen
anti- virus is safe and effective?

After doing this activity, you may install and uninstall the application once or twice to master
the competency on your own. And try to do it on your own on the second

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