Thread: Saving Programs...

  1. #1
    That weird Java guy xniinja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    231

    Saving Programs...

    Hello again everybody, My laptop is nearing its 5th birthday and needs to be restored badly. I am going to totally reinstall vista (to tell you the truth that might be the problem) and get brand new ram.

    I have one question though. How do I save my programs? A few of these programs I got a few years back and have misplaced the disks/serial codes. My current plan is to try to move my files over from my "Program Files" file onto an external hard drive then bring them on after installation is complete, but will that actually work? I know it would for programs that came out of .zip files, but I am uncertain about programs like Vegas Movie Studio. In which the program was installed by an installer. If anybody knows if this does or does not work please tell me.

    If this does not work the only major loss I will have is Vegas, although I am pretty sure I know where that disk is.

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    2,158
    Quote Originally Posted by xniinja View Post
    I am going to totally reinstall vista (to tell you the truth that might be the problem)
    Yeah... I can think one in particular there.

    Quote Originally Posted by xniinja View Post
    A few of these programs I got a few years back and have misplaced the disks/serial codes.
    Yeah, losing codes can complicate things like that.
    Considering you want to _re_install the OS, you _might_ be able to get away with saving some parts of the registry, then restoring it to get your keys back, but that's a big if.
    On losing Vegas Movie Studio, if the worst happens, there are always still certain infamous ways of "recovering" your key.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    6,815
    A lot of modern programs targeting windows make heavy use of the registry to store configuration data, registration information, and other things. That is true whether the application came from a zip file or with an "installer".

    You might get away with backing up relevant parts of your registry, and restoring that. However, in practice, you would be better off finding the original disks and serial numbers - backing up parts of the registry properly and restoring them on another machine requires some specific knowledge. There are tools to help with that job, but they are not perfect - and they rely on the programs you have installed complying with certain conventions, and not all programs do that. Bear in mind that some programs install files into the windows directory, and those have associated registry entries as well (ActiveX controls, device drivers, etc).

    Although not essential, you might be better off upgrading to something more recent than Vista as well.
    Right 98% of the time, and don't care about the other 3%.

    If I seem grumpy or unhelpful in reply to you, or tell you you need to demonstrate more effort before you can expect help, it is likely you deserve it. Suck it up, Buttercup, and read this, this, and this before posting again.

  4. #4
    That weird Java guy xniinja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    231
    I found a work around! When Vegas starts up it displays its serial code on the splash page and who it is registered to. Sony also provides a downloadable version. Now I can simply download the files once I am done installing windows. Don't you just love it when stuff just works?

  5. #5
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    2,158
    Quote Originally Posted by xniinja View Post
    Don't you just love it when stuff just works?
    I understand your surprise... running Vista and all.

  6. #6
    That weird Java guy xniinja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    231
    oh, haha. lets all laugh at the guy with the malformed OS.

  7. #7
    That weird Java guy xniinja's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    231
    I have just ordered a recovery disk from Toshiba because I misplaced mine. At least it was relatively cheap.

Popular pages Recent additions subscribe to a feed

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-09-2009, 07:03 AM
  2. Saving...
    By Cilius in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-05-2005, 11:28 PM
  3. Programs opening programs
    By LinuxPLC in forum C Programming
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-21-2002, 12:50 PM
  4. Saving
    By Bert in forum Game Programming
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-20-2002, 12:45 AM
  5. Saving
    By bluehead in forum C++ Programming
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 02-06-2002, 10:17 AM