What percentage of computer users know how to download and install software?

Based on how many people get viruses and spyware on their systems that way, a far larger number than know how to do so with adequate caution. :-)

Install. A very high percentage.

To remove. Very little.

People think when there computer gets slow its time for a new one.

What are you basing that on? A few data points: My parents and grandparents have no idea how to install software.

I suspect that most people who use their computers only for simple tasks (email) or their jobs don’t know how to install software. Many employers give their employees computers with everything they need to do their job. Some even prohibit installing software on work computers, for fear of malware, etc.

/me chuckles @ETpro

I have to agree that a lot of people are good at clicking a couple of buttons and getting themselves into trouble. And given the number of people who get infected, I bet only a small percentage actually know what to install. However, that doesn’t mean that they actually know how to install software.

And then there is configuration, and I would wager than even many of the people who know what to download and how to install it properly cannot properly configure it.

As for a survey, I think that you will have a hard time finding an accurate one since most people who take such a survey know more about computers than, say, some senior citizen who just uses their PC for e-mail and never surfs to where such a survey would be.

If so many people know how to install software, then how do you explain Internet Explorer’s browser market dominance?

I know tons of older people who refuse to download and install firefox because they don’t want to ‘learn a new browser’ and who do not listen when they’re told that there really is no learning curve.

@sferik Laziness. To install, say, Firefox or Chrome, you have to actually download them.

@delirium I don’t see that as restricted to older people.

I didn’t mean to imply that it was restricted to older people. I just meant that everyone I know who doesn’t want to install firefox is older.

@delirium You ought to see what would happen if you tried to get them to install Linux :D

I simply have no idea what so ever! I do know that I can though…..

What’s software?

Sure I do. I pick up the phone on my desk, dial 312 and a computer geek comes running and does it. I used to do e-mail the way Dilbert’s boss did up until a few years ago.

@sferik IE 6, which is on most work computers, comes preinstalled.

I don’t think most people really grasp what “install” actually means.

They’ll download an installer and often times, save it to their Desktop. They think that is the application and that the download was the install.

Even after opening the installer and clicking through whatever wizard steps there may be, the user often thinks that the installer itself is necessary to keep. Or worse, that they still must access the application from the installer.

You know these people when you see their Desktop is littered with a bajillion installers. Another giveway would be the AOL and other crapware icons left on the Desktop after buying the PC in the first place.

Couldn’t even guess at percentage. It’s way more frequent than I’m comfortable seeing.

Point is, such a person might tell you that yes, they know how to install software. Of course! But in reality – sad, sad reality – they definitely do not.

I think the number will steadily rise as kids nowadays were born with computers in their lives.. whereas older generations were still trying to figure out that damn VCR.. XD

Well, what operating system are we talking about? I can download and install stuff on Linux, but then can’t find what I installed.
I also see people get really confused using .dmg files on Macs… Lets not even get into that.

@NaturalMineralWater I disagree. I spent most of my high school days in the computer lab being hounded by kids my age or younger asking me to do stuff for them. Not how to do it mind you; they had no interest in learning to do things for themselves.