Managing applications on a local computer

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Managing applications on a local computer

Managing applications involves adding or removing applications, changing the configuration of an application, or scheduling an application to run at a specific time. You can use Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel to add or remove an application, modify an existing application, repair a damaged application, or add or remove components of Windows. You can use Task Scheduler or the at command to schedule an application to run at a specific time.

You can also update your operating system and other Microsoft software by using Windows Update in Help and Support Center to download items such as security fixes, critical updates, the latest Help files, drivers, and Internet products. For more information, see Windows Update.

Some of the most common tasks are adding, removing, or changing an application and scheduling an application to run at a specific time. You can also run an application at a scheduled time from the command line by using the At command. For more information about other tasks for managing applications, see Managing applications remotely.

To add, remove, or change an application

  1. Open Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • To add a new application from a CD or floppy disk, click Add New Programs, click CD or Floppy, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

    • To add a new application from your network, click Add New Programs, click the program you want to add, and then click Add. Follow the instructions on your screen.

    • To change or remove an application, click Change or Remove Programs, click the program you want to change or remove, and then click Change/Remove. Follow the instructions on your screen.

Caution

  • Some programs do not provide Change options and may be removed without prompting you further.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open Add or Remove programs, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove programs.

  • Only applications written for Windows operating systems can be used with Add or Remove Programs.

  • Many software applications provide tools for setting configuration properties or adding or removing components. You will often see these tools listed in an application’s program group on the Start menu or in Control Panel. For more information, see the software manufacturer’s documentation.

To schedule an application to run at a specific time

  1. Open Task Scheduler.

  2. Double-click Add Scheduled Task.

  3. Follow the instructions in the Scheduled Task Wizard.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure on a local computer, you must be a member of the Backup Operators group, Administrators group, or Server Operators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. To perform this procedure remotely, you must be a member of the Backup Operators group or Administrators group on the remote computer. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.

  • To open Task Scheduler, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Scheduled Tasks.

  • For more information, see Task Scheduler.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.