In compting, a special application used to install a program on a computer. A new program, as it exists on its original CD-ROM or floppy disk(s) is a complex set of many files and folders, often compressed. These files need to be decompressed and copied to the correct directories (or folders) on the user's hard disk before the program can be used. An installation program simplifies this process, performing all file decompression, copying, and directory selection itself, requiring the user merely to indicate which drive s/he would like the application installed on (or to perhaps also insert a large number of floppies). Depending on the application to be installed and the installation program itself, some degree of configuration of the new application may also be included in the installation process, including such things as registration.
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