Can hardware operate without a software?

Hardware can most definitely work without software. Any piece of machinery is considered hardware. Take a bicycle for example. It requires no software whatsoever to function properly. Now if you're talking in "computer only" terms, there are also components inside your PC that do not require software to function. The power supply for example, is plugged into an outlet and sends power to the motherboard and drives etc. In it's most basic form it requires no programming to function. Now I'm sure there are some advanced power supplies with chips inside that are programmed to do certain things and make the hardware function better. That's what software is meant to do...

Now as for software working without hardware... I don't think that is plausible. The only reason software exists is to direct or improve the function of hardware. In fact, software cannot just float in the air; it must be stored somewhere. Anything it could be stored on would have to be considered hardware.

Hmmm, interesting...