Stupid Computer Application Installation Question

[audiodrome]

Why is it that some applications need to be "installed," while others (especially downloadable ones) just open and work?

I'm using Windows XP and I noticed this when I was uninstalling some useless trial programs in the control panel add/remove. There was a older version of EAC that was installed that I didn't even remember, while the newer version that I use all the time is not "installed" - it just works right out of the folder. I uninstalled the old one and luckily, it had no effect on the new one.

Just curious...

[Saxtus]

Because no one give its program as just one file (except some beta releases). After that we can jump to these conclusions:

• They must compress it to one archive because no one is willing to start downloading a bunch of files one-by-one
• Not everyone knows how to unzip, unrar, un*...
• It is faster for a user to run a program that does the uncompressing, the placing of files where they must be placed and the creation of icons, registry entries etc. -- For this to be done manually, at best a user must execute a .bat file that does all that.

[hoxlund]

Not everyone knows how to unzip, unrar, un*...

that is the most popular reason

most people get scared when they see file extensions they don't know

course, USE WINRAR PEOPLE!

i would prefer all programs to simply unzip, i hate adding/removing from the registry

thats why i format twice a week... or more

[audiodrome]

But there's no difference between the version that installs into your registry and the one you just open and use, correct?

[Saxtus]

But there's no difference between the version that installs into your registry and the one you just open and use, correct?

Sometimes not. But if you are a developer, are you willing to serve a file that not everyone knows how to use, or be sure and give an auto-extract, auto-create icons, auto-* version?
Even us, that know how to unpack, we are too lazy to unpack to correct directory...

[dodecahedron]

Why is it that some applications need to be "installed," while others (especially downloadable ones) just open and work?

programs that just 'run' (exe files) are usually rather small programs that don't insert themselves too deeply into the system. you just run the executable and that's it. no 'preparation' is needed before you execute it.
but a program that wants to install itself more firmly into the system, like: set up some resitry settings once and for all (and not need to create them every time it's run), create Start menu shortcuts, Desktop shortcuts etc., install help files, well, the installer does those installation procedures so that everything is ready for the program when you run it.

even programs that have 2 versions, with installer and without - the version with isntaller will do all (or some) of the mentioned above, the simpler "without installer" version won't but then you won't have some of the conveniece prepared for you (such as Start menu shortcuts).