moving programs, settings, registry entries, to a new Win7 install

[jd213]

After being unable to fix a black logon screen problem (see: Black logon screen w/movable mouse pointer after failed system restore - Windows 7 ), I'm going to do a clean install.

I'd like to save time and copy as much of my programs and settings as possible. Before I start re-installing, I want to back up things like program folders, registry entries, etc. and then copy them back into Windows 7 once it's newly installed.

Could anyone point me in the right direction? I did a search, but I'm not sure where the best place to start is. Thanks in advance.

 

[whs]

This is not going to work. You will never catch all the bits and pieces of the settings. If you make a new OS install, you start with a clean slate.

 

[jd213]

I assumed I won't be able to copy EVERYTHING, but the hardware is exactly the same, so surely some stuff can be copied over, can't it? I found this page, is there something incorrect about it?
How to Copy the Registry From One Computer to Another | eHow

 

[Alejandro85]

Backup the installers, then just reinstalling the software afterwards becomes trivial, and you don't simply care about copying program files and those rare cases where programs need something in the registry.
While the vast majority of software will simply work right away if you copy its files over, some cases will pose problems. Reinstall is therefore the general advice.

 

[jd213]

Thanks for the response. If the vast majority of software will work by copying, then that is what I would want to try first.

If only a few programs won't work, I can re-install those. But re-installing EVERYTHING seems like a waste of time.

 

[whs]

Your call how to go about it. Then at least we'll keep you as a 'customer', LOL.

 

[jd213]

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.

 

[bigmck]

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.

He is saying that if you copy programs the way you are going to do, you will be back again with more problems.

 

[Alejandro85]

Testing is important to ensure that a plain copy actually works. While in the vast majority of cases it simply works, it cannot be assured. And if your only concern is time spent rebuilding the whole thing, running the installer is again more efficient and with a greater chance of correct working.
Why do you want to bother with such a thing, anyway?

 

[jd213]

I'm honestly not sure if I will be able to remember all the settings in all my previous programs, but if it's not worth trying to copy them, then I guess I have no choice. Thanks anyways.

 

[Alejandro85]

But the settings are NOT stored within program files, and has nothing to do with the installer. Each one saves them in a different place. The best bet is to look for an option to export/import in each software. Otherwise, appdata under your profile seems a good place to start, but once again, unless it's of critical importance, I won't lose a lot of time about it anyway.

 

[lehnerus2000]

One option (for future reference) would be to see if the programs you want to use have "portable" versions.
They don't demand Registry integration to work correctly.

 

[unifex]

This is an inherent problem with the whole Registry idea. I use some programs that are ported to Windows from Unix (things like emacs, etc.) and they store their settings in resource files, just like in Unix. It's very easy to migrate those to a new installation - you just copy those small text files and the program behaves as you want it to. Firefox keeps its settings in separate files as well. However, many "true" Windows programs, such as Microsoft Office really keep a lot of stuff in the Registry. These I would reinstall and not bother with copying and transferring as it will only create problems. The Registry tends to get "old" on its own and although Windows 7 is much better with dealing with it as compared to the previous versions of Windows, a new install is always more efficient than an old one.

 

[bigmck]

Unifex -- After looking at your Avatar for a few seconds, I became dizzy and almost feel out of my chair.

 

[whs]

Unifex -- After looking at your Avatar for a few seconds, I became dizzy and almost feel out of my chair.

If you read the forum with the IE, you can stop the Avatar movement with ESC. Unfortunately that does not work with other browsers.

 

[bigmck]

Thanks WHS -- I did not know that. I don't have IE, but is still and interesting tidbit.

 

[Layback Bear]

I solve the problem the old fashion way.

I just bypass the post with the moving avatar and move on to the one under it.

Back to jd213 question.

My preferred method is after a Clean Install I install all programs new and fresh on my "C" partation.
Of course it takes longer but a lot less longer than it does to fix/repair programs that didn't transfer properly.
Unless one is lucky.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Remember to create at least one backup HDD/SSD image, once you have got the system setup the way you want.

Restoring a backup image on your PC (re-imaging) takes a lot less time than reinstalling everything.

Tutorials
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[jd213]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to be doing that more often. I figured I'd get around to it eventually, but my system seemed pretty stable so I guess I was never worried about it. Just because I'm not paranoid, doesn't mean Microsoft can't find a way to kill my PC...