when your uninstalling a program, whats the difference between just deleting the entire directory its installed in and just uninstalling it the regular way?
2007-03-26 08:28:54 · 8 answers · asked by witshtgai 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
HUGE!!!
When installing, a program registers itself with Windows and sets up a protocol for the OS (Windows) to communicate with it. There are also anywhere from a dozen to 1000's of other files that are installed on your machine outside the main program directory. The uninstaller handles removing most of this the right way.
Just removing the folder is the WORST way to get rid of a program.
There is a great program called ccleaner that has a nice Uninstall utility. Basically a different front end to the Windows Add/Remove Programs but a lot cleaner and quicker. Also, it will show many programs installed that Windows does not.
It also has a good registry cleaner (where all the information during the install process is stored) to clean up after uninstalling.
2007-03-26 08:35:06 · answer #1 · answered by wyntre_2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deleting the directory doesn't remove the registry entries so if you delete this way you are asking for serious problems down the road. Use the uninstaller!
2007-03-26 08:31:37 · answer #2 · answered by daweeezl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if u just deleting the entire directory u just delete the file in there but not at other place like registry n etc. u must use add/remove programme option to remove the whole file just when u install it n it will leave only temporary file that u will clean using other software like ccleaner or etc
2007-03-26 08:35:43 · answer #3 · answered by klone_2126 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There might be files in other directories that were installed. If you just delete the directory, you might miss those files. I'd use the uninstall utility if I were you! :)
2007-03-26 08:31:42 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The items left behind in the registry and start-up. Safe to say uninstall it using add/remove programs... that's what's best..
2007-03-26 08:33:50 · answer #5 · answered by chellimerrett 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A proper un-install will sort out the registry entries as well as deleting the files and folders, thus helping to keep your windows stable. Well that's the theory anyway.
2007-03-26 08:32:37 · answer #6 · answered by Mike C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
uninstalling it does the safe method. if you just delete the whole directory, you'll leave some keys and other *.dll files behind taking up space.
2007-03-26 08:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by Homer 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look up "Windows Registry". And then the are all the pointers...on your desktop, in the programs list...
2007-03-26 08:37:37 · answer #8 · answered by gandydancer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋