Introduction
Newer versions of popular software
are constantly being introduced to the marketplace,
offering fixes to bugs, newer features, and enhanced
interfaces. Some companies upgrade their products
every couple of years while others upgrade quite
frequently. Knowing the benefits of upgrading
and how to perform a successful upgrade will help
you tremendously in your computing endeavors. Benefits of Upgrading
There are many benefits to upgrading
your existing software packages to newer versions.
Many times an upgrade will fix minor bugs, such
as printing errors, compatibility with other software,
stability issues, and so forth. Another reason
to upgrade is to use the newer features that may
not be available on the older versions. This,
however, is a matter of personal choice. Do you
really need some of the new features and abilities?
Some will say yes, others will wait until they
see the features they truly want or need.
Aside from the benefits derived from the actual
program itself, there are other reasons a software
upgrade may be beneficial. Most companies offer
discounted prices on an upgraded version of the
software. Why pay full price for something when
you can get the same product for half that price?
Also, some companies will offer "competitive upgrades,"
offering an upgrade price for their software if
you move over from their competitor's software. Steps for a Successful Upgrade
There are some basic steps that
need to be followed in order to make your upgrade
process as painless and productive as possible.
Done correctly, an upgrade can be a quick and
easy procedure that will have you working with
your new software in no time at all.
- Back up your important data - It's
always a good idea to back up your important
data when performing major upgrades and changes
to your computer. There is nothing worse than
losing needed files becuase of skipping a few
important steps. Simply copy your data onto
a disk or external hard drive for sanity's sake
and when you're sure everything is working correctly
you can delete it.
- Have your information ready - Many
times the installer will ask you for a serial
number before allowing you to proceed to the
next step. Have both the serial number for the
upgrade and for the software currently installed
on your computer just in case they ask for it.
- Have the disks ready - Have both the
upgrade disk and the installation disks from
the software currently installed nearby. Often
you will be required to insert the original
software disk for verification purposes.
- Check your computer - An increase in
features often means an increase in system requirements
and memory needed to install the software. Check
to make sure your computer can handle the upgrade
and that there is enough space to install it.
Finding Software
Tech
Soup Stock - A place for nonprofits to purchase
software at very discounted prices. Many software
companies (including many Microsoft products)
have partnerships with Discountech. (Note: There
is a limit how many times one nonprofit can order,
so gather all of your software requests together
and purchase all at once.) |
