Using a Custom Install When Installing CorelDRAW and Other Software

I hope all of you got a chance to read all four parts in my recent series on Setting Up a Computer From Scratch. Just in case, links to each part are below.

• Part 1 - The Operating System
• Part 2 - The Software
• Part 3 - The Content Libraries
• Part 4 - The Data and Backup

A loyal reader asked me a question about installing CorelDRAW and I wanted to address it here as well as some suggestions for all software installation. First and foremost, make sure you do a custom install of all your software. This allows you to choose the exact options you want, including where the program will be installed. There are important options in the CorelDRAW X5 installer, like installation of GhostScript, that can only be turned on in a custom install. Corel also allows you to choose two locations; one is where the software will be installed and the other is where content like clip art, fonts and photos will be copied. This allows you to put them on different drives. In the case of the reader asking, the software could go on an SSD drive and the content on a mechanical hard drive.

I was also asked if the previous version needs to be installed in order to install an upgrade version. This was required by some software in the past, but most have corrected this painful requirement. Typically the upgrade version will simply ask you to enter a previous version disc or serial number as proof of ownership. The exact procedure varies so you'll have to make sure you know what is required with each piece of software.