ZipInstaller lets you install Windows apps without an installer

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

ZipInstaller lets you install Windows apps without an installer

by Brad Linder Mar 26th 2008

We love executable Windows apps that don't need to be installed. They don't muck up you registry and other settings, and when you want to delete them, you just delete the file or folder, no add/remove programs dialog required. Best of all, most of these applications can be run from a USB flash drive which means you can carry them with you and run them on any computer.

But there are a few advantages to having an installer. First, if an application isn't listed in the add/remove program dialog and you don't use it very often, you might forget it's there at all and never get around to deleting it. Second, you have to create folders for all of your executable applications and add shortcuts to the Windows start menu manually. Or you could use ZipInstaller.

This little executable will automatically move any executable file to the folder of your choice, add an entry to add/remove, create an uninstaller application, and add a shortcut to your start menu. Best of all? ZipInstaller comes as an executable file, so we were able to test it out by installing ZipInstaller. Not only did a shortcut pop up in the Windows start menu, but now we can also launch ZipInstaller using keyboard application launcher Launchy.

[via Freeware Genius]

Tags: add/remove, installer, uninstaller, zipinstaller

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

BurningChicken said 9:23PM on 3-26-2008

Just something that popped into my head...

Really, any self-respecting computer user should know what is installed (or residing in a directory) on their computer, so this notion of forgetting what software you have installed on your computer is silly. If you're running around, installing things willy-nilly, stop.

I can see how someone might need a piece of software for a specific task, but once that task is completed, delete the software if you don't need it. It's not tough to hit the delete key or select the directory->right click->delete (unless you're installing software that flings itself to the four corners of your harddrive... in which case, what are you doing with *that* piece of software?).

It's not that hard to create a folder and create a shortcut.

Having said all that, I can certainly appreciate a guy's (or group of guys') efforts to write a piece of software to make life easier.

Hany Hanna said 9:24PM on 3-26-2008

This is supposed to be a good thing? I also prefer portable applications....so I made a C:/Portable folder and put them all there. Can't lose track of them that way. If I need a shortcut, I drag to Quicklaunch or Rocketdock hidden on the right. Seems to me that making start menu shortcuts and entries in the add/remove programs defeats the purpose of maintaining a clean, lean machine.

charlesandrew99 said 2:13PM on 4-05-2008

intaller

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