How does software run on a PC.

[hill16]

If I am running say Microsoft Word I know its being run on RAM but is it stored there.If it is why is there program files on the Hard Drive.Basically my question is when software is downloaded and used on a PC what is the full route it takes before it appears on your monitor.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Homework?

Also, I don't really understand the question.

RAM is volatile memory, meaning once no more power is supplied to it, it is erased.
Your hard drive is the storage medium for the program.

So, you access the program on the hard drive, once run, it is loaded into the RAM.
The RAM is not for physical storage, so the computer can read the data in the RAM very quickly and modify and change it ect...

[hill16]

Sorry I didn't explain it properly.You have answered my question except for one bit, does the CPU send the files from the Hard Drive over to RAM.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Homework, isn't it.

[hill16]

Yeah.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Look in your text books.

[Kurtiskain]

I think I get what you are saying here,

I think you are confused with how it put it into RAM, it does not 'move' it into ram but copies it.

so this way if there is a power failure your program doesn't disappear.

[ras58396]

Be sure to read up on Operating Systems, applications, firmware (yuk!), and drivers etc. that are located and being run in various hardware processors.  Don't get discouraged, just remember it is really very logical.  I have been designing computer hardware for 30 years and it is most always the subtle interaction (or conflict) between hardware and software (plus firmware) that is most challenging.

Read through the various Forum topics and you will learn a lot from those real experts.

[patio]

           

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
And the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
And the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash,
And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash,
And your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash,
Then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on your cable on the table at your house
Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse,
But your packets want to tunnel on another protocol
That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss,
So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse,
Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang
Because as sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk,
And the microcode instructions cause unnecessary risk,
Then you have to flash your memory,
and you'll want to RAM your ROM.

Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your mom.

[ras58396]

Precisely, it's the firmware (microcode...yuk!).

[racerrandy]

As a 42 year old newb, can you recomend a book or a website I can learn more about computer processes. Getting a bigger hammer out just isn't working well.


Randy