Whats the difference between uninstalling and deleting?

Question

Whats the difference between uninstalling and deleting?

Answer 1

uninstalling is a process that the program your uninstalling executes.  It deletes most files associated with the program, but will often save small files like personal settings in case you ever decide to reinstall the program.

Deleting is a manual processes that tells windows to treat the space that used to be occupied by the file you deleting as open space.  (Note: that means the file your deleting is still there, until you save a new file and windows write over that old location)

uninstalling is used because most large programs save files in may different locations and it would be tedious and very difficult to located and manually delete all of them.

Answer 2

deleting simply gets rid of the shortcut or what ever you are deleting.....uninstalling gets deletes it from your registry and gets rid of all traces...if getting rid of something i suggest you uninstall.  

Answer 3

Deleting will usually just delete a shortcut, but the program will still be on your computer. If you want to get rid of it completely you have to uninstall.  

Answer 4

Delete - deletes your files from computer

Uninstall - deletes your files from computer and removes the registry entries.

Answer 5

Uninstalling Will Take All Of It Off Your Computer But Deleting Will Probably Only Delet Part Of It.

Answer 6

nice question

Answer 7

Uninstalling makes sure all necessary changes have been made, such as removing registry entries and oddly-located files.

Deleting the directory may be necessary as well, but is often not good enough on its own and may lead to problems if you try to install a newer version.

Answer 8

Deleting only removes the pathway by which you computer communicates with the program. The program is still THERE, it's just that your computer can't address it now. Uninstalling removes not only the pathway but the actual software, its related sub-directories and plug-ins and all other related info. By deleting, you don't really save any disk space. By uninstalling, you free up those areas of your disk once occupied by the program and all its constituent parts.

Answer 9

Here's a simple answer that explains it very well.

Deleting is just like washing your hands.  It will get rid of the junk in one place.  Your hands.  You can wash your feet, but that's still only a partial solution.

Uninstalling is like taking a hot soapy shower.  It gets rid of all the dirt from top to bottom.

For a really great uninstaller, I recommend www.revouinstaller.com

It's free and very easy to use.  I used it when I got my new pc and was able to clear out everything that was pre-installed.