What is an Install Routine or Program?

Published on: February 27th, 2015

When you add a program to your computer you typically need to install it.  The install routing is a program that does that.  It is program that installs other programs on your computer.  It copies or creates the different components and/or files to your computer, creates registry entries, might verify the product key or serial number, might use the internet to contact the software company to verify and activate the software. Hopefully, it gets everything in the right place and setup for you to use that new program.  Updates and upgrades might also have install routines. Whether you download it, it came pre-installed or on a CD/DVD, it is important to KEEP a copy of all your programs install routines and any product key or serial number for them in a safe known location.  This should be on something other than the main storage device for your computer. Why? Because if you are ever in a position where your computer has to be “reloaded” (or everything reinstalled from scratch) you will need to install routines and product keys to do that.