Can you back up programs?

I'm planning on reformatting my hard drive and reinstalling Windows 7 entirely. But I have so many programs that it would take days to download and install. Can you back up programs so you can just transfer it from another hdd?

windows programs up back

asked Sep 12 '10 at 01:58

DOUGHNUTNINJA
76●15●16●22

edited Sep 12 '10 at 11:39

Madison Tries
6.1k●300●346●399

3 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

1	The only way to save an installed program is to make a disk image. Next time make a copy of the program before you install it that way you won't have to download it again. answered Sep 12 '10 at 02:10 jonesin 266●1●2●6

Exactly as jonesin says, you cannot backup programs without the installed OS, in the form of a disk image.

Reformat your machine, install new OS, drivers and applications. Then use Acronis True Image to make a disk image, copying the MBR, also.

However, if you've got Windows 7 Professional, Business or Ultimate I think you can use a built-in feature, I think it's even bootable.

answered Sep 12 '10 at 05:00

swinnie
771●1●9●18

edited Sep 12 '10 at 05:00

0	This might help. Skip to the 5 min. mark answered Sep 12 '10 at 10:36 FilipinoPower 13.0k●135●219●313

Your answer

toggle preview

community wiki

Follow this question

By Email:

Once you sign in you will be able to subscribe for any updates here

By RSS:

Answers

Answers and Comments

Markdown Basics

*italic* or __italic__
**bold** or __bold__
link:[text](http://url.com/ "title")
image?![alt text](/path/img.jpg "title")
numbered list: 1. Foo 2. Bar
to add a line break simply add two spaces to where you would like the new line to be.
basic HTML tags are also supported

learn more about Markdown