Validation phase - User Acceptance Testing and Installation Testing

User Acceptance Testing occurs just before the software is released to the customer. The end-users along with the developers perform the User Acceptance Testing with a certain set of test cases and typical scenarios.

Installation testing is often the most under tested area in testing. this type of testing is performed to ensure that all installed features and options function properly. It is also performed to verify that all necessary components of the application are, indeed, installed. Installation testing should take care of the following points:
- To check if while installing product checks for the dependent software/patches.
- The product should check for the version of the same product on the target machine, say the previous should not be over installed on the newer version.
- Installer should give a default installation path.
- Installation should allow user to install at location other than the default installation path.
- Check if the product can be installed "Over the Network".
- Installation should start automatically when the CD is inserted.
- Installer should give the Remove/Repair options.
- When uninstalling, check that all the registry keys, files, DLL, shortcuts, activeX components are removed from the system.
- Try to install the software without administrative privileges.
- Try installing on different operating system.
- Try installing on system having non-compliant configuration such as less memory/RAM/HDD.