Unit 29 - Installing and Upgrading Software

The first task in Unit 29 is about prompts for change. This means why would people want to install or upgrade software. So here are some of the reasons; compatibility issues - not compatible with a new piece of hardware you have bought. They may have a bug on the current software, for example (a bug is an error within a computer programme that causes unexpected outcomes). A bug can be an error like files not saving properly or files going missing. They may just want to upgrade to get the latest software with new features for example going from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Another reason why someone might want to install and upgrade a new piece of software is external prompts for new software. For Example, (when you open a programme you get a pop up asking if you would like the latest version).This is called an external prompt. Another reason why someone might install new software is because of the company policy. For Example, (where a company may need to renew their software after a certain amount of years). Security problems may make you want to install or upgrade new software. For Example, (for instance just say you have Norton Internet Security 2009 and its due to run out you may want to upgrade to Norton Internet Security 2010.This is what task 1 is all about.


The second task in Unit 29 is all about the potential risks of installing and uprgrading software. So a potential risk of installing and upgrading software is the software might not be compatible; therefore it will not work on your computer. So make sure you can run the software first. Also by installing and upgrading software there is a chance of corrupting data. Also data may be lost while installing and upgrading as files might over write other files. So you should make a back up of all files when possible. This can happen because when installing a new software your computer can shut down in mid installation then files may get corrupted or lost. There is also a risk of potential loss of service. For example, (if a company installs or upgrades software in office times then all the servers will be down so they may looses service. Like taking a bank for example there upgrading the system so no one can access there bank accounts in normal hours to get cash out so people will complain). This would also result in downtime so loss of pay. If you upgrade your old software to try get rid of bugs then the new software might contain the same bugs or even different bugs. So upgrading the software isn’t always the easy way out to try cover up bugs.

The third task in Unit 29 is about how to minimise the risks of installing and upgrading software. So this would be stuff like before installing or upgrading software make back ups of all important files then if anything goes wrong the risk of loosing data will be minimised. Also if a company was installing and upgrading software in office times then all the servers will be down so they will loose loss of service. So to minimise this risk the company could have a schedueled time to install and upgrade the software so it's out of office hours.