Installing a program is usually done by a special program called setup.exe or a program with an ".msi" instruction. This special program copies all files to their correct locations, registers components, and adds items to the Start menu and so on. This special program is distributed by the maker of the program possibly along with other files that the setup program uses.

For an example of how such an installation program works, see the Installing Winzip tutorial earlier in this chapter.

Programs that you recieve on a CD are often configured so that the special install program will run automatically as soon as you put the CD in the CD drive.