2. Install

R Software Installation

After having virus-scanned the newly downloaded files, open either Windows Explorer or My Computer

and double-click the installer icon to begin the installation process. The following dialog box should appear within a second or two:

By inspection, you can tell that I downloaded files into my temporary directory temp on drive C:, but I'm going to change the Install directory to a subdirectory of E:\Program Files\ I'll call R. Press the Next> button to continue. The dialog box that appears next ask for the specific downloaded packages to install.

I downloaded everything, thinking that I need to familiarize myself with the package before deciding what's important to have and what's not. Therefore, I'm going to designate all components to install by checking all of the boxes. Again, press the Next> button when you're ready to continue. You should see the installer begin work:

When the process is complete, press the Finish button. The dialog box will disappear and that will be that.

Unfortunately, the install doesn't seem to add an entry to the Start menu so we'll have to do it by hand. Begin by using Windows Explorer or My Computer to navigate to the WINDOWS\Start Menu directory on your C: drive. Open the Programs folder by double-clicking it and scroll down until you get to an empty space in the window:

Right-click in an empty area ("white space") and select New... from the menu that pops open. Then select Folder from the additional menu that appears and name the new folder. I chose the name "R" and then double-clicked on the new folder to open it. Now right-click in the empty space of the new folder to create a shortcut to the R executable. Choosen New... then Shortcut... to see the following dialog box:

Use the Browse... button to navigate to the directory in which the executables are stored. In my case, since I chose to install in the E:\Program Files\R subdirectory, I navigate there, and then to the rw1000 subdirectory, and then to the bin subdirectory of rw1000. Select the executable file Rgui.exe and click the Open button.

After the new dialog box appears, click the Next> button and select a name for the shortcut. I chose to call it "R Statistical Software" and then clicked the Finish button. You should then see the new icon appear:

Now check to make sure the link works by pressing the Windows Start button and then navigating to Programs, then R, then R Statistical Software. By clicking on R Statistical Software, you should see the opening screen appear: