What is the difference between uninstalling and deleting a software?

Answer 1

To understand the difference between uninstalling software and deleting software you first need to understand what happens during the install process.

When you run the software installer / setup program it performs several functions :

1) It unpacks all the files from the compressed installer archive and copies them to the program folder.

2) It checks for and installs / upgrades any required support libraries, e.g. MS Visual C runtime, etc, which are copied to the windows\system32 folder..

3) It enters settings into the Windows System Registry, this is a database used by the Windows OS. An example of the kind of thing that goes in here is licence keys, startup defaults, file associations. e.g When you install MS Office it puts entries into the registry to tell windows that when you double click on a file with the extebsion .DOC it should launch MS Word.

4) It creates shortcuts on the desktop / start menu.

When you delete the program file folder you only reverse step 1 of the installation process. You leave behind unrequired support libraries which may take up disk space.

You leave the registry settings intact which will result in errors when you double click on file types which where associated with the program and may prevent you from reinstalling the software because it thinks its already installed.

You leave a dead shortcut in your start menu or desktop which when you click on it will cause windows to start looking for the .EXE file on your hard disk before prompting you to tell it where its gone to.

A properly implemented uninstall process will reverse steps 1 to 4 and make sure your system operates correctly after removal of the software.

The upshot of this is alway uninstall software where possible as it should clean up your system. If you delete the program folder you will leave a mess behind.

As an aside, if you just delete the shortcut from the start menu or desktop the software is still installed but just cannot be launched from the menu / desktop, however it can still be run by using the Run Program option on the start menu.

Answer 2

Rabi K ... You're going to get a variety of answers on this as these terms are not precisely defined. However, this is what they mean to me ...

Uninstall — means to remove a program from your suite of functioning software. When you uninstall, depending on the way the uninstall script (automated procedure) was prepared, remnants of the program may linger. Except for the small amount of space these remnants will consume, there's usually not a problem. However, some uninstall scripts are not so well written and things will not necessarily be put back in the same state as they were before you installed the software.

If the software you're uninstalling didn't come with its own uninstaller, you'd most likely use the Windows utility to Add or Remove Programs. You'll find the icon for this in your Control Panel folder; click Start / Settings / Control Panel and see the icon labeled "Add or Remove Programs."

Delete — means to completely remove as if the software had never been installed. Never try to remove/delete software on your computer by simply deleting the directory where the software is copied to. Using the uninstaller is better. Simply deleting the directory could damage your system's configuration.

See my link below and find the part that states, "Most uninstallers are not entirely accurate (most of them are known to leave leftovers, which should be deleted by uninstallers)." Read on a bit to see what I mean as I say that uninstalling often leaves things behind.

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Uninstalling takes the software program off of your hardrive. Deleting merely gets rid of the desktop shortcut. Right clicking on something and simply deleting it, puts that icon in your trash, but the program stays installed untill you uninstall it through the ad/remove section of your settings. Some programs come with an uninstall program as well.

Answer 4

deleting a software simply deletes the files that were created during installation. however installation also adds registry entries, which is not deleted during 'deleting'. Uninstalling deletes all traces of the software, including registry entries,
If you deleted a software without uninstalling it, the computer thinks the software is still installed. this can prevent u from installing the same program in future.

Answer 5

Technically close to the same. You can uninstall software using the utility in your computer, but you would also want to defrag following that to make sure you computer has refiled all necessary stuff.

To fully delete things you would need to know where all hidden files were stored. Certificates, registry entries, cab files, dll files, etc. and delete those as well. That is risky unless you really know what you are doing. But to uninstall and defrag should be sufficient for the average user.

Answer 6

A lot of times, when a program installs, there are changes made to your registry, .dll files installed, and a lot of other things that are left behind if you simply delete the program directory. If you uninstall it though, it will (supposedly) revert these changes so your system is basically like it wasn't installed. Don't expect this on trialware software though - they leave behind markers so that you don't just uninstall/reinstall over and over to get continuous usage of their software.

Answer 7

Uninstalling removes all the components of the software and deleting only removes part of it

Answer 8

by deleting a software you are removing only a part of it but by uninstalling you are removing all components and registries.