Software install program product, installation method, and software install system

[0027] First Embodiment

[0028] A first embodiment of the invention will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 1-8B.

[0029] The install program according to the first embodiment of the invention is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and causes a computer to execute a plurality of process for installing software recorded on the recording medium in the computer. A CD-ROM 1 is adopted as the recording medium by way of example in the first embodiment. However, various record media can be used such as storage media read by a reader installed in or outside a computer for use, such as ROM, RAM, a magneto-optical disk, a flexible disk, and semiconductor memory. Any other recording medium may be adopted if the recording medium is a computer-readable recording medium.

[0030] A computer 10 in which software is to be installed includes a CD-ROM drive 10F as recording medium read means and can read information recorded on a recording medium (CD-ROM 1) and can also be connected to a data

[0051] Second Embodiment

[0052] Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be discussed with reference to FIG. 9.

[0053] The processing flow shown in FIG. 9 is similar to that previously described with referenced to FIG. 5; they differ in that S120 and S130 are omitted and that after download processing is performed at S390, installation processing is performed at S400 and displaying a display page is omitted. Other steps are almost similar to those of the first embodiment; S300 and S310 correspond to S100 and S110 in FIG. 5 and S330 to S380 correspond to S140 to S190. S410, S420, and S440 correspond to S210, S230, and S240.

[0054] In the second embodiment, if it is determined at S380 that a compatible version exists on the Web, download processing of downloading software or operation information is performed at S390. At S400, automatic installation processing is performed using the downloaded information and the installation operation is completed without displaying a display pag

[0055] Third embodiment

[0056] Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be discussed with reference to FIG. 10.

[0057] The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that a database server 15 on a network is accessed before software is installed.

[0058] The characteristics of the third embodiment are as follows: First, OS version acquisition processing as described above is performed and then network connection processing of accessing the database server 15 (FIG. 1, etc.) on the network based on location information recorded on a recording medium (CD-ROM 1) is performed before installation processing is executed. Whether or not the software recorded on the recording medium can be installed is determined based on the compatible OS version information stored in the database server 15 and the version information acquired by executing the OS version acquisition processing as determination processing. If it is determined in the determination processing that the