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Copying Program Files

Discussion in 'Windows - General discussion' started by shirley11, Jun 14, 2007.

  1. shirley11

    shirley11 Member

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    Just need a bit of help!!!

    I am going to format my hard drive and re-install windows. Is it possible to copy the program files folder and paste onto the new windows partition without having to install them all over again?

    Cheers.
    Leigh
     
  2. Indochine

    Indochine Regular member

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    No it isn't. When you install a program in Windows it makes changes to the registry, ie it registers certain files and sets up shortcuts, start menu entries and file associations, all these would be missing if you just copied the program files folder over.
     
  3. shirley11

    shirley11 Member

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    Is there any other way round it then so i dont have to re-install everything?
     
  4. Morph416

    Morph416 Active member

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    Unfortunately, no. Not since Windows 3.0.
     
  5. Indochine

    Indochine Regular member

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    If you have a problem with Windows, which led you to think you needed to do a reinstall, you could try fixing the problem. As you have not given any indication of why you wish to reinstall, it is not possible at this time to give any more advice than that.


     
  6. shirley11

    shirley11 Member

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    I have installed windows Vista, but I am getting a lot of compatability issues with hardware and software so i want to re-install XP.
     
  7. Indochine

    Indochine Regular member

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    Well, you will definitely, certainly, absolutely have to reinstall all of your programs again if you decide to go back to Windows XP. That's the only answer you will get, because that's the only answer there is.
     
  8. shirley11

    shirley11 Member

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    Ok thanks.
     

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