Windows 7: Backup everything EXCEPT system

Does anybody know of any BU program that will backup all my files and settings including programs...except the system files? I know that the programs are dependent on the Registry so maybe this is impossible??!!

If I backed up the Registry and then reinstalled the Registry I don't think it would solve the issue as the Registry would most likely be part of the system instability.

The reason I want to do this is to be able reinstall Windows 7 then restore all my files, programs & setting.

The alternative of doing a clean install of Windows 7 then manually adding in all the programs & their settings is not a task I look forward to doing but may be the only alternative..

Any thoughts would be appreciated?

Hello Ned, and welcome to Seven Forums.

When you install a program it also adds items to the registry and system file locations. It will be impossible to backup the programs without also having to backup the system.

Sorry.

Creating a system image backup will allow you to backup everything. You can use this to do a system image recovery to restore everything back to exactly how it was when the system image was created.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I thought so but figured I would ask.

No problem mate.