Windows 7: Installing Applications to a Network Drive

Hi All,

I am soon going to running off NAS as opposed to storage on my computer.

I'm fairly sure you can install an application to a network location, but I know that there are more than just files involved in installing an application.



My situation is going to be:
X amount of storage (In a secure configuration...eg RAID 0+1),
SSD in my computer to run windows.

I want to be in a position whereby if I feel the urge to reinstall windows for whatever reason I don't need to worry about any data at all. I know that programs come compacted but since I have so much space, I don't mind leaving them in an installed state on my NAS.

I want to be able to run some sort of installing which will configure my computer in such a way that the program is installed for use from the network. (i.e. It creates the application settings in AppData folder, last layout stuff, registry entries, settings directories).

I want to know how you think it would work if I were to try the following:

1. Backup the registry before and after the install, then remove the common keys (And any other irrelevant ones such as installer settings/temporary entries).

2. Just run the installing and have it try to install in the same directory. (This is pretty much a question of what would happen if the files were already there.)