In this part...
W
ithout getting too metaphysical here, one of the
differences between a human being and a rock is
that humans have an operating system. We have some
automatic code (breathe in and breathe out, process food
to extract energy and necessary chemicals and elements,
and strike a regular heartbeat to pump blood to organs).
And we have a set of software (genetic predispositions,
learned and shared experiences, and formal training).
A rock... just sits there.So, too, there is a vast difference between a slab of plastic,
silicon, and metal and a box of the same ingredients that is
governed by a set of instructions. The spark of “intelligence”
given a computer by its human creators begins with an
operating system (Microsoft Windows, Linux, or Apple’s
Macintosh code included) and is extended by specific,
repeatable behaviors in the form of software (like a word
processor, spreadsheet, or Internet browser).In this part you look at upgrading your operating system
or moving it from one hard drive to another. Then I discuss
good software housekeeping, including how to remove
unwanted programs and tidy up after them.24_589598 pt05.qxd 9/29/05 3:03 PM Page 254