How to create backups to your programs? (NOT the whole OS partition)

[elxen]

Hey guys,

a series of unfortunate events just came about - I'm now forced to format my computer and reinstall Windows 7 Ultimate X64 - However, I have a ton of software installed that I can't afford to waste time looking for them, downloading some of them, locating them etc and then reinstalling them.

Is there a program that lets me backup my programs, so that then I reinstall them easily via those backups? (Just like how Driver magician works with backing up drivers)

If there's none, then what can be done in my situation?

Again, I want an easy way to reinstall my programs, and not having to install them from cds/dvds, downloading them again, etc.

Thanks for your help.

EDIT: Just to make this clear - I'm not looking for ways to 'just' copy the required programs files over to my new install - I don't need a backup tool to do that. I need a way to 'officially' reinstall my programs (i.e. get their registry keys back, make them visible in the control panel, etc)

 

[fireberd]

Just to make this clear - I'm not looking for ways to 'just' copy the required programs files over to my new install - I don't need a backup tool to do that. I need a way to 'officially' reinstall my programs (i.e. get their registry keys back, make them visible in the control panel, etc)

Only way I know to do this is install the program. Even the Windows easy transfer cannot "transfer" most programs from one PC to another.

 

[elxen]

I'm surprised! - How come there's no tool for such a very important and wanted feature?

 

[fireberd]

It would be extremely complicated to build a program that would encompass "all" programs. This comes up occasionally from users going from an old PC to new PC and moving programs. even with the Windows "easy transfer". Not much except to suck it up and reinstall.

 

[elxen]

I can program - I wonder what it takes to write a program that does that. Have any idea on what must be done? (the major steps required)

 

[Pauly]

It wold be extremely complicated as all the files would need to be placed in the appropriate folders on the HDD then all the entries would have to be placed in the registry amongst other things and as all registries are different it would be a pretty mammoth task, be quicker and easier to just reinstall

 

[fireberd]

It would be like the proverbial "needle in the haystack" to find all the needed entries and recreate them in the new PC.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The easiest way (which you have already rejected) is to image the entire OS partition or drive. If you make an image immediately after installing the OS and programs, you can always restore to that image instead of having to do a reinstall of the OS and programs.