when is software stored and not installed?

[Abraxias]

looking for unbiased arbitrators for the current software definitions of “install” v. “store”

I'd like some unbiased facts.

here’s the background & summary…

a friend & I had a debate on the software definitions of “install” v. “store”

I agreed & followed his rules:

• for the sake of staying focused, I agreed to using his choice on “executable (.exe)” as the example for software.
  
• I agreed to using his choice on Merriam Webster Online as our unbiased source for definition.
  
• I agreed on his choice for definition #3 of “store” = “to place or leave in a location (as a warehouse, library, or computer memory) for preservation or later use or disposal”
  
• I agreed on his choice for definition #3 of “install” = “to set up for use of service”
  

however, we disagreed on the interpretation of definition #3.

he believes that: if you store a software, it’s also installed.

I believe that: the ‘state’ of the stored software determines if/when it is installed.

basically, the main disagreement is on when software is installed.

despite that he now admits that he cannot prove me wrong, he remains adamant that I’m wrong. I wrote to him, “with evidence/proof, you can prove someone wrong or right. if I've proven that I'm not wrong; and, you can't prove that I'm wrong; then, how can I still be wrong?” I've told him that, “I don't mind being told that I'm wrong, as long as it's true. however, I don't like being misinformed. I do mind being told I'm wrong, when I'm not wrong; and worst of all, I don't like being corrected with misinformation.”

after proving to him that using any transitive definition for set up is incorrect, we also disagreed on which intransitive definition to use. I believe #1 (“to come into active operation or use”) is the most relevant to software. he believes that #1 is wrong and that #4 (“to become firm or consolidated”) is the correct intransitive definition for software.

we disagree on 2 things:

on when software is installed and which intransitive definition to use for set up

here are his reasons for both disagreements:

• “if you put an executable program on your computer, it is installed”
  
• “My definition of installing is putting executable code on your computer. Just because it doesn't have an installer and or doesn’t modify the registry doesn't mean its not installed.”
  
• “If I store an executable program on my hard disk. I have in fact set it up for use or service, even if i choose not to use it.”
  
• “If I store a program that “can be” used. Then it is installed. It is setup for use or service.”
  
• “if you receive an .exe program via email/disk/ftp/bluetooth/etc and you store it on your computer, then it is installed. provided that this .exe is a self contained executable that does not require further configuration to be useful.”
  
• “a stand alone .exe file that does not require any additional setup to run is installed as soon as you store it. because as soon as you store it, you make it available for use or service”
  
• “it doesn't matter where the .exe is stored, as long as I can get to it, I can use it, and it is installed.”
  
• “I can install an os on a cd and run my computer from the cd. in this case the software would be considered to be installed on the CD.”
  
• “if you put a usable executable program on a CD, then it is considered to be installed on that CD. I would not consider it to be installed on my computer.”
  
• “To setup for use or service has no dependency on actual use.”
  
• “to become firm or consolidated most correctly applies”
  
• “putting files in a place in your file system is consolidating them”
  

here’s what I believe (which he says I’m wrong):

• “storing .exe doesn't necessarily mean that it's installed”
  
• “it is stored, if it isn't used or activated”

  {e.g.: when software is stored in cache (as an example for storage), it is not installed until it is used or activated}

• “there are some programs that only have to be installed once because it's automatically activated after/during the OS boots. when the program is activated (which also includes auto-activation), then it's installed.”
  

my simple logic statement based on Merriam Webster Online is:

install

to “set up” for use or service

set up

to come into “active” operation or “use”

if it's not “activated/used”, it's not installed

regarding which intransitive definition for set up is right, I wrote:

• “if you can show me that #4 is ‘directly’ related to “software”, then we are both correct.”
  
• “if you can't prove me wrong, can you prove that intransitive definition #4 is right? why is #4 more relevant than #1?”
  
• “how is #4 directly related to software? I can use intransitive definition #1 directly with software.”
  
• “how do you define: “consolidate”, “file”, & “file system” ?”
  

to date, he hasn’t provided me with proof that intransitive definition #4 for set up is the correct definition.

I would like to be enlightened with unbiased facts on the current “software” definitions and differences of “install” and “store”. particularly, I’d like to know when is software considered installed; in other words, when is software stored and not installed?

(and, which intransitive definition for set up is the most relevant to software?)

my friend created rules to remain focus on the issue and I believe it was best to follow them… however, everyone here are allowed to share their unbiased facts (that are directly related & relevant to our debate) without following my friend's rules.

Edited November 16, 2005 by Abraxias

[I_Broke_My_MHZ]

This is an interesting debate, especially since what you often find is the "installer" is just a package that copies files, so the files are on your hard drive the same as if you didn't install it. Let's look at the differences:

1) When you install a program, you are presented with an EULA. If the owner of the program prohibits storage of any kind it might not matter if you never were presented with the EULA (but this I don't know for sure, or if the EULA has any weight at all).

2) When you install a program, your computer does more than just write data. It reads the instructions that the installer tells it to execute, hence "executable". If your computer were to just copy the data it is only executing the commands that the operating system gave (to copy the data), it is not reading or doing the instructions of the installer itself. Therein lies the difference.

Otherwise you could say that if I sent an email to my co-worker and the co-worker opened it, he installed the email because the computer copied the data from the server into memory (or even the hard drive if VRAM is being used). So install does not mean store, your friend is wrong.

[ringfinger]

Wow.. this is an interesting debate. My 2 cents are if the .exe is 'stored' then it is backed up, or saved in a location on the drive somewhere not installed for later use. But when an .exe is installed to me that means the application can be run from the code which is 'stored' within the programs files and is completely different then just storing the file.