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Restore vs Reinstall - What's the difference?

restore | reinstall |

As nouns the difference between restore and reinstall

is that restore is the act of recovering data or a system from a backup while reinstall is reinstallation.

As verbs the difference between restore and reinstall

is that restore is to reestablish, or bring back into existence while reinstall is to install again.

restore

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (computing) The act of recovering data or a system from a backup.
  • Verb

    (restor)
  • To reestablish, or bring back into existence.
  • to restore harmony among those who are at variance
    He restored my lost faith in him by doing a good deed.
  • To bring back to a previous condition or state.
  • * Bible, Mark iii. 5
  • and his hand was restored whole as the other
  • * Prior
  • our fortune restored after the severest afflictions
  • To give or bring back (that which has been lost or taken); to bring back to the owner; to replace.
  • * Bible, Genesis xx. 7
  • Now therefore restore the man his wife.
  • * Milton
  • Loss of Eden, till one greater man / Restore us, and regain the blissful seat.
  • * Dryden
  • The father banished virtue shall restore .
  • To give in place of, or as restitution for.
  • * Bible, Exodus xxii. 1
  • He shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
  • (computing) To recover (data, etc.) from a backup.
  • There was a crash last night, and we're still restoring the file system.
  • (obsolete) To make good; to make amends for.
  • * Shakespeare
  • But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, / All losses are restored , and sorrows end.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    reinstall

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To install again.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • reinstallation
  • I tried removing and reinstalling the software, but the reinstall failed.