system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What happens to the data from an install if I stop the install before it's complete?

I tried googling it, but I can't find any answers to this. Basically, if I am installing a game, for example, and it gets to 91% done, but then I have to stop the install because I need to go someplace and can't leave my computer on the whole time, what happens to that 91% downloaded/installed?
Does it stay, so I could finish the install later? Does it completely reset?
gpt
the downloaded files will usually be stored in a folder designated by the system as temporary storage*. Some installers will check for this already downloaded data and resume where you left off. Others (e.g. Origin client) simply start over from the beginning.

The install itself (copying files from temp storage, creating registry entries, etc.) will almost always have to be restarted from scratch simply because it's easier (for the programmer) to just make the necessary changes than it is to check what changes have been made already. 



*temporary storage just means the operating system is allowed to delete those files if it needs the space (some will even clear this area of old files on a regular basis)