x=y; and (*x)=(*y);

[abc]

What is the difference?

[mackabee]

x = y is assigning the value of y to x
*x = *y is assigning the value pointed by y to the value pointed by x

[sammy34]

*x = *y...
This is assuming that x and y are pointers, right? You'll get an 'illegal indirection' error or something if you try and do this with normal variables.