Reinstalling Windows 7 without reinstalling apps

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Hello I remember vaguely a newsletter concerning installation of Windows 7 without having to reinstall all of the applications already on hard drive. Is this possible. Can someone advice. I presently have as Windows system that has problems so I purchased a Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit System Builder and would rather not have to reinstall all of my apps again if possible. Thanks in advance. Xandr

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I believe you will have to reinstall all apps whether you go the Clean (Custom) install route or the In Place upgrade route. I believe the Clean (Custom) install gives a much cleaner OS because the In Place upgrade can bring problems from the old OS into the new OS. Check the Windows Upgrade Advisor and check in at the Windows Compatibility Center. If your present system already has problems, you might be playing with fire to do an In Place upgrade. Save yourself time and headaches and do a Clean (Custom) install and reinstall updated apps.

Consider this an opportune time to weed out those apps you do not use any more or upgrade those apps you need. Either way I believe you will need to reinstall all apps.

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I believe you will have to reinstall all apps whether you go the Clean (Custom) install route or the In Place upgrade route. I believe the Clean (Custom) install gives a much cleaner OS because the In Place upgrade can bring problems from the old OS into the new OS. Check the Windows Upgrade Advisor and check in at the Windows Compatibility Center. If your present system already has problems, you might be playing with fire to do an In Place upgrade. Save yourself time and headaches and do a Clean (Custom) install and reinstall updated apps.

Consider this an opportune time to weed out those apps you do not use any more or upgrade those apps you need. Either way I believe you will need to reinstall all apps.

I upgraded my Vista Home Premium 32 bit to Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit with the in-place upgrade on both my Laptop and on my Desktop with no issues. I did not have to reinstall any applications, except the ones that the upgrade advisor told me would be problems.

Regards,
Maria

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I upgraded my Vista Home Premium 32 bit to Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit with the in-place upgrade on both my Laptop and on my Desktop with no issues. I did not have to reinstall any applications, except the ones that the upgrade advisor told me would be problems.

Regards,
Maria

Ah but the OP has stated he has problems on his present unknown OS. An In Place Upgrade could carry these problems directly into the new OS.

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Are you upgrading from Vista 32-bit? If so, you could do an upgrade install (the installation DVD should offer you that choice). If not, you must do a clean install.

Of course the System Builder is really meant to be installed on new, custom built PCs that do not have an OS so that disc might not provide an upgrade option.

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I used PC Mover to go from XP 32bit to Windows 7 64 Bit and it worked great.

It did everything including all my program registrations etc..
Only had a few minor glitches.

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Go to http://www.terabyteunlimited.com and check out their imaging programs. Prices are very reasonable, too.

By keeping current images of your computer, particularly the partition where the OS is located, you can save hours of work and headaches in the future.

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Go to http://www.terabyteunlimited.com and check out their imaging programs. Prices are very reasonable, too.

By keeping current images of your computer, particularly the partition where the OS is located, you can save hours of work and headaches in the future.

There are numerous Imaging apps, but this is not the question this OP asked and is not on topic.

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Xandr,

If I understand the title of your post, you currently have a Windows 7 installation that has some problems. If you are going to do a new install, your best bet is to do a clean install. Mentioning your current system is having problems sends up a warning flag.

Have you taken any steps to remedy the problems your current Windows 7 install is having?

Have you tried System Restore to roll Windows back to a date prior to your problems manifesting? Windows 7 System Restore is much more potent than earlier versions.

If you have your original Windows 7 install or upgrade DVD, you can do a repair install of Windows 7. See this SevenForums tutorial on doing a Windows 7 repair install.

If your computer came only with recovery DVDs or a recovery partition that restores your computer to its factory fresh state, then you have to choose between that and doing a clean install with the System Builder DVD, IMHO. Either way, your applications will need to be reinstalled. Afterwards, you could image your system as insurance for the future.

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It sounds (very vague) like the OP wants to do a repair install from a currently residing Windows 7 installation that he/she is having problems with.
OP should clarrify:
What is the current operating system.
Is the current operating system the “Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit System Builder” version as mentioned.

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This is something I’d like to know, also. Under XP, I could place the system disc into the CD Drive and run winnt32.exe /unattend from the CMD Prompt and it would re-install XP over itself, maintaining settings and your installed software.

So, under the various versions of Win7, is there a similar DOS prompt command ?

Dave

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