what happens when you install a program? Why is it not sufficient to just download the files?
In: Technology
There are multiple things that happen when you install a game.
The largest part is unpacking. Large programs are packed together to make them smaller and easier to download, so when they are on your PC they need to be unpacked again, just like .zip files except that they use other packing methods.
Then they are setting up new folders and permissions. Open up your documents folder and you will see the names of games you have installed. This is because savegames or config data is not always stored with the rest of the program, but in documents or roaming, so you still have the data even after deleting the program.
Some programs have dependencies, like direct x. The installer will check for those and only install them if necessary.
Lastly, he offers to create a shortcut to your desktop.
EDIT:
I forgot to add, that there may be registry edits, where the program needs to change your registry to work.
There are “portable” programs as well, they don’t need to be installed, because they have none of the requirements mentioned.
Latest Answers