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Do you keep installers or delete them?

andersonnnunes

Disciple
Messages
326
Why do games even need installers? Once I install, I delete the installer. You may object:

If you use Desktop/Start Menu, they automate the creation of shortcuts.
But I don't use these. No need for 100 "uninstall" and "readme" shortcuts.

If your system is fresh and hasn't the needed dependencies, they automate their install.
But I just keep a de-duplicated copy of common dependencies and install them all after a fresh operating system install. No need for 100 copies of DirectX 9 squatting my disks.

If you are modding your game and fear that you may break something and need to start over, you may be wise to keep the install.
But I use a version control system or incremental backups. No need to start from zero if I can start from the previous version.

If you are going to re-distribute a copy to your dumb friends, you need the installer.
But I don't make friendship with dumb people.

So, that is my take on it. What is yours?
 

Vendor-Lazarus

Arch Disciple
Sanctuary legend
Messages
937
I'm almost the exact opposite. I think I may actually have install files from '95 and my first computer . Either on HDD or Floppy.

I manually create shortcuts, or often modify automatic ones, to my own "Games" and "Programs" shortcut folders. Almost never use Windows Start.

I usually only keep the last working version of program/game a backup copy, but having a "fresh install necessities" folder is handy.

You must not play with very many mods then. Or only mods that have a mod launcher, launching from zipped files.
Otherwise, you would know that keeping installs and version updates usually leaves a smaller storage footprint than actual uncompressed ones.

Your loss. That's also prejudging a hell of a lot. They're dumb because they don't already have that game/program?
You mustn't care much for preserving history, art and entertainment then?
What if you lost the game/program due to a HDD crash?
As I said..your loss.
 

Samtemdo8

Devotee
Messages
120
I keep a a lot of GOG installers for my GOG Games.

The consequence is once I install them, they double to size of their Hardrive Space.

So I have 20 GB installer, if I install it, instead of 20 GB taking space, now its 40 GB.

The Price to pay for keeping games DRM Free I guess.
 

gaijinkaiju

Lord Inquisitor
Sanctuary legend
Sanctuary contributor
Messages
612
I keep installers, purely because i'm too lazy to get rid of them. I might shift them to my laptop/ backup drives periodically, just to keep my downloads folder tidy, but I rarely delete them without having a copy somewhere
 

Gauche

Arch Disciple
Messages
663
Just depends on the game
Stardew Valley is a package of cancer so that foo is only getting installed once - installer is deleted immediately
While the Defect in Slay the Spire is a fun robot mage its update came with a boss item drop nerf so I keep installers for before and after
Probably never gonna play through Child of Light for a fourth time but I still keep the installer around just in case
Stick of Truth got deleted as well as uninstalled upon completion when replay value was deemed nonexistent
 

Monoochrom

Disciple
Sanctuary legend
Messages
275
I only keep them around if procuring it was difficult in the first place. Since my Gaming PC broke nearly a year ago and I've been pretty console exclusive since, that means that I onky ever keep program installers around that aren't game related.
 
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