الأسبوع 5 · الدرس ٤ «تثبيت وإزالة البرامج والأجهزة الرقمية الملحقة» (١): تثبيت البرامج وإلغاء تثبيتها · 3 دروس
3
Uninstalling: tidying away what you no longer use
ICT Prep 1 Term 1, Lesson 4: pp. 27–29
GoalExplain what uninstalling is, the two ways to do it and why we do it.
New words
uninstall · to delete all the files of a program from a devicestorage space · the room that a device has for keeping files and programsstorage unit · a disc, memory stick or drive that keeps fileslist of installed programs · the list in which the system shows every program that is on the device
Explanation
When you plan to stop using a program, you can remove it from your device. This is called uninstalling, and it means deleting all of the program’s files. It is like tidying a cupboard: if nobody uses a thing any more, you take it out to make room. There are two ways to uninstall. In the first way, the program does it itself, because many programs come with their own uninstall command. In the second way, the operating system helps you: it shows the list of installed programs, you choose the one you want to remove, and you confirm. Uninstalling programs you no longer use frees storage space, and it makes the device quicker and easier to use. One rule: on a school or family device, never remove a program without asking the person who looks after the device.
uninstall: delete all files of the program→more storage space is free→the device is quicker and easier to use
Worked examples
Way
You use
Who removes the files
1
the program’s own uninstall command
the program itself
2
the system’s list of installed programs
the operating system
There are two ways to uninstall. This table shows what you use in each way and who does the work.
Mina’s tablet has 12 units of its storage space used (an invented number). An old game of 5 units is no longer played. After uninstalling it, 12 − 5 = 7 units are used, so there is more free room.
Seif sees an old program on the school computer and wants to remove it. He does not click anything. He asks the teacher first, because the computer is not his. The teacher says which programs the class still needs.
Class activity
Imagine a cupboard with eight things. Write which two you use every day and which two you never use. Say what you would do with the ones you never use, and what room you would get. Then explain how this is like uninstalling programs. Do it on paper; do not remove anything from a real device.
Practice
1
What does uninstalling a program mean?
Deleting all the files of the program from the device.
2
Name the two ways to uninstall a program.
The program’s own uninstall command, or the system’s list of installed programs.
3
A device uses 20 units of space. A program of 8 units is uninstalled. How many units are used now?
20 − 8 = 12 units.
4
Why should you ask before you uninstall a program on a school computer?
The computer is not yours, and others may still need the program.
