Why is "installation" necessary if programs run OK without it?

Sometimes I download small utilities from the Internet. Occasionally I forget to install them and just double click on the .exe file. On every occasion where I have done that, the program has run just fine and seems to do what it is supposed to do. That leads to the question: why is installation necessary if programs will run without it? Also, I assume that installation adds an entry to the registry. Is that correct? And why is that necessary if the program runs without it? I'm getting a new computer with XP, and I am wondering if I really have to install all the little programs that I had on the old computer, or whether I can just transfer the .exe files and run them.

thanks for any response.

 

Hello Roger,

Depends on the programs. The one's you are referring to are self-contained because they have their own .dll's and .ini files. and I am wondering if I really have to install all the little programs that I had on the old computer, or whether I can just transfer the .exe files and run them. No, because most of these programs have some files other than the just the exe. There are exceptions, but that's rare.


Examples are the first BHODemon v1.0 or HijackThis. It all depends on the software. usually, not always, if you get a zip file, this is an indication that's the kind of software it is. Sometimes software comes in both "flavors ".

You couldn't do this with lets say a Firewall install, too complex and firewalls and AV's tend to run as XP services.

Also, I assume that installation adds an entry to the registry. Is that correct? And why is that necessary if the program runs without it? Yes installations other than the self-contained ones do. Most software will not run w/o registering themselves. Programs also may use exisiting .dlls in Windows and establish start .ink entries (shortcuts) and etc, etc.

Regards - Charles

 

I used to do this a lot with Windows 98. I would delete the Windows directory after I copied a few files like Favorites, etc.

After I had reinstalled Windows, I would proceed to make my own shortcuts to programs that worked without the need to reinstall them.

For the few programs that needed reinstalling, I would just reinstall in the same directory as before. 99% of the time, my settings remained the same.

I never had a reason to reinstall XP, but the effect should be the same.

 

Hello John,

An experiment to run.

Copy the Registry, you can export it thru Regedit

Install a program that does register to Registry

Create a System Restore point - this will reflect the system with the install

Restore the copied Registry that reflects the Registry prior to the insltall

Run the installed program's executable - see what you get.

Then use System Restore to restore to the Registry as it should be.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks for your comments. Apparently, I will have to reinstall programs that are reasonably complex. Maybe I'll try each one to see if it runs without installation, then install the ones that won't run. Thanks again (apparently Dell sent my computer to the wrong address, so it will be a few days before I can actually set it up !!)

 

I beg to differ. The size and complexity of a program has nothing to do with whether or not it will run in windoze without "installation ". A number of program authors think it's cool to use the registry in the same manner as the old "ini" file. If so, then you have to install the program. Windows doesn't require the program author to actually use the registry.

Installation may provide services other than just allowing you to run the program by clicking on the exe. For example, the installation "may" put the dlls into the windows/system32 directory and add the program to the menu and put an icon on the desktop.

Some programmers make use of OS features, but it is possible to write a large complex program in say C++ or Object Pascal that is, at least, compatible with all all versions of Windows at Win 95 thru Win XP. I've done it. I once wrote a complex ERP program for a client that was Client Server based, supported 100 users, had 40,000 lines of C++ code. All that you had to do to install and run the program was make a directory on the client computer, copy the exe and DLLs and then use "send to" to make a desktop icon for the program. That program ran on W98, W2K, ME, and XP, and Servers NT, 2K, 2003. This was a godsend for deployment.

 

Sorry Charles, I’m not sure what you are getting at.

A working program that adds its own keys and values back to the registry?

Unless you were referring to something complex as Microsoft Office where it can add 750+ keys and 1000+ data values.

From personal experience, I have never had a problem with programs when the Windows directory was deleted and reinstalled. Either the program worked or it didn't.

When the program worked, it does not rely on the registry or system .dll's. Some personal preferences might be reverted to a default state, but when the program is ran and changes are saved, no problems thereafter. A lot of times I had to re-register the program because the user/serial number was missing from the registry.

When the program didn't work, simply reinstall in the same directory as before. If the program has a .ini file for personal preferences and if the install program doesn't copy over it, it would be as it was before. Just depends on the program design.

There are times when install.exe puts a uninstall log in the Windows directory and when the uninstall.exe from the program directory is ran and cannot find that file, uninstall aborts. Is that good or bad? Depends on the user. The directory can be deleted manually, but the registry entries (if there are any) remains.

I for one, have 89 programs in the C:\Program Files alone. If I can get away without installing 75% of the programs, I'm a happy camper. I'm not about to reinstall every single program just because that is the "norm ".

The only hassle is that there are no shortcuts in the start menu, but then again, I would copy the start menu and quick launch directories in most cases.

 

Bob & John,

Your both answering Roger's question with "it depends ". Both Tony and I answered essentially the same way, it depends. Some programs, specifically the types that I wrote about, you would know ahead of time that no install needed. The rest, whether due to programmer sloppiness or whatever, might have to be re-installed. Fine, if it works w/o "installing ", great. But still have to test which ones will and which won't.

One more point, this discusion got simplified because a reload of Windows is not just the Registry. So that just discussing the Registry as if that's all that mattered I don't think is true.

Regards - Charles

 

Some very useful info. Many Thanks Charles