by Minh Tran

Created on: October 05, 2008

Checking for system requirements before installing softwares is one of the very first lessons I had to learn when I was getting acquainted with computer. It helps avoid system problems, time wasting, and frustration. If a software is not compatible with the system, it normally cannot even be installed on the computer. In case it does, it will not start or function properly. In worst case scenario, the incompatibility between the software and system can lead to system failures and other problems that require the software to be removed completely and/or throughout system fixing. I have experienced that a few times when I install resource-consuming games without checking properly all their requirements.

Simply speaking, every software requires resources on the basis of which it runs. It needs strong enough CPU to process the necessary data, large enough RAM (random accessed memory) for the information flow, and large enough hard drive to store the data. For multimedia, video and sound card provide extra strength and speed for the processing the relevant signals. On the software level, the software needs an advanced-enough operation system that can understand its programming architecture and manage it, and a proper database for it to run on. In other words, software is just like physical machines: if it does not have enough inputs, it will not run. By that logic, everything goes well if the system exceeds the requirements of the software, but troubles are bound to come if one of the requirements is not met. Then the software will be too heavy for the computer to process, and the system will react (it typically tries to prevent the software from being installed or from running. If those measures fail, the system will crash). Usually, the database comes with the software but the user has to provide the rest.

Checking system requirements is relatively simple. Every software comes to the customers with a read-me file that has all the necessary information about installing. The most important (and always mentioned first) items are the CPU, the RAM, the hard drive and which Operation System (Windows, Linux, Solaris, etc). For PC games and graphic softwares, a certain level of graphic card has to be ensured. In a way, the Operation System is the main cue about the system structure since each Operation System itself can only function on a certain hardware platform (this is most true when ones operation system is Windows). For Windows, the information about the system of the computer can be accessed by right-clicking on the MyComputer shortcut on the desktop, and selecting Properties. Another way (in Windows) is going to Start/Control Panel. Every details about the computer is there. The rest of what needs to be done is comparing the system of the computer and the requirements.

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