Mastering the Setup: Installing Drivers, Applications, and Utilities

Vocabulary flashcards covering driver, application, and utility installation concepts, common errors, and post-installation procedures.

Drivers

Software components that serve as translators between the operating system (OS) and computer hardware.

Installation Logic Sequence

The recommended driver installation order: Chipset > LAN > Video > Others.

Utilities

Software tools used to maintain the computer system.

Applications

Software programs designed to provide direct user functionality.

Architecture Mismatch

A common installation error caused by attempting to install a 64-bit driver on a 32-bit OS.

Incomplete Download

An error where an installer file becomes corrupted and won't open.

Dependency Missing

An error where an app cannot be installed because it requires prerequisite software, such as '.NET Framework' or 'C++ Redistributable', to be installed first.

Administrative Privileges

A requirement to 'Run as Administrator' when attempting most system-level software installations.

Device Manager Verification

A post-installation checklist step to ensure all yellow triangles are gone and hardware devices are functioning properly.

Windows Update Patching

A post-installation step that involves running 'Windows Update' to get the latest security patches for newly installed software.

Installer Cleanup

The post-installation process of deleting installer files (.exe or .msi) from the Downloads folder to save storage space.

Windows Kernel Integration

The process that requires a full system reboot after installing drivers and system utilities to properly integrate their code into the Windows Kernel.