Application to backup installed applications

[marios1441]

Do you know of an application that will backup only all programs that i have installed in Windows 7 operating system?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Do you know of an application that will backup only all programs that i have installed in Windows 7 operating system?

Do you mean "backup all programs" but not Windows itself?

Do you mean backup all programs including Windows?

Do you mean something else?

 

[marios1441]

Do you know of an application that will backup only all programs that i have installed in Windows 7 operating system?

Do you mean "backup all programs" but not Windows itself?

Do you mean backup all programs including Windows?

Do you mean something else?

I mean backup all programs but not Windows itself.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I've never heard of a program that can do that specifically.

Is it your intent to "back up all progams, but not Windows", so that you can later "restore" one or more of these programs?

I'm not sure why you would want to do what you are trying to do. Enlighten me.

You could of course back up the partition containing your programs, regardless of whether or not that partition contained Windows. That backup would contain whatever is on the partition, including programs, data, or whatever. Not sure that would be useful.

I'm guessing you have Windows and programs on the same partition?

You can also back up all the files in the installation directories of all installed programs. Not sure that would be useful either.

 

[Callender]

Back up programs

Hi,

In the past I've used Comodo Programs Manager. Quote from the software manufacturer:

"Create self-extracting packages of any software along with the settings you specified for it. You can then reinstall the program, with the same configuration on any other computer with the same operating system."

Note: I say that I've used it in the past but am not using it currently. It can create an installer for most but not all programs that you've installed.

I don't use it these days because it would work just fine for months at a time then seem to develop an unspecified problem and the only way to fix it was a full removal of the product followed by a reinstall. Maybe you would have better luck with it!

It installs a service that runs all the time and monitors all software installs and you should be aware of this before thinking about installing it.

Comodo Programs Manager

Check the features tab on the above link.

 

[marios1441]

I've never heard of a program that can do that specifically.

Is it your intent to "back up all progams, but not Windows", so that you can later "restore" one or more of these programs?

I'm not sure why you would want to do what you are trying to do. Enlighten me.

You could of course back up the partition containing your programs, regardless of whether or not that partition contained Windows. That backup would contain whatever is on the partition, including programs, data, or whatever. Not sure that would be useful.

I'm guessing you have Windows and programs on the same partition?

You can also back up all the files in the installation directories of all installed programs. Not sure that would be useful either.

I want to restore some programs later. I don't think all the programs will be working by just copying their folders. They may have program files elsewhere inside Windows folders also. I have Windows and programs on the same partition.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The prog that Callender mentioned might work, but I'd be skeptical. I'd hate to have to trust it.

I'd plan on restoring partitions, not programs.

Otherwise, I'd plan on reinstalling programs, either from their individual installation CD/DVD, an ISO burned to a disc, or from a downloaded installation file of some type.

 

[Callender]

Good advice

The prog that Callender mentioned might work, but I'd be skeptical. I'd hate to have to trust it.

I'd plan on restoring partitions, not programs.

Otherwise, I'd plan on reinstalling programs, either from their individual installation CD/DVD, an ISO burned to a disc, or from a downloaded installation file of some type.

Some good advice here. Regular system image/ partition backups is the way to go.

 

[Alejandro85]

What you should backup are the original installers from programs that you want to preserve. Extracting a working program from an already installed system is not too easy, because of the possible registry keys that might be needed. Try to redownload them again if you don't have them. On a clean install, just run them again.
That said, most programs I've seen usually run flawlessly by simply copying its program files folder. There are exceptions and poorly made applications, of course, but as a last resort it's the very first thing to try.