Clean Install - best way to get all apps back

Tombar · Feb 9, 2024

Hello. Yesterday, I thought I'd try a clean install from the iso on USB and after backup to Onedrive. Took quite a while, but I eventually got Windows installed and assorted icons on the Taskbar, some of which worked, while the rest didn't - nothing restored on Desktop. To avoid reinstalling EVERY programme and their settings, is there anything I can copy from my Macrium backup that would get most things working? I forgot to say that most apps, but not all, are on my D drive, so still there

SlicEnDicE · Feb 9, 2024

No! Most applications use the registry a lot to be configured and ran properly. You need to grab all relevant registry settings in order to make the applications work. Also many apps use a lot of different folders beyond Program Files folder, you would have to copy all those files too.

While all this can be done manually, it will be several magnitudes faster and error free to just reinstall and configure what you need.

allan · Feb 9, 2024

Reinstall the apps.

idgat · Feb 9, 2024

Tombar said:
To avoid reinstalling EVERY programme and their settings, is there anything I can copy from my Macrium backup that would get most things working?

You seem to miss the point of a "clean" install ... it's not just the OS, it's the programs as well.

The complexity of a program installation structure makes it far too convoluted and time consuming to try and recover file components. And then there's the registry entries, some of which are unique to a particular installation process at a particular time.

Nope, forget it, re-install.

organapimongkol · Feb 9, 2024

Windows Backup in Windows 10?
Should download it from MS Store

organapimongkol · Feb 9, 2024

organapimongkol said:
Windows Backup in Windows 10?
Should download it from MS Store

But only UWP Apps

Bree · Feb 9, 2024

Tombar said:
Hello. Yesterday, I thought I'd try a clean install from the iso on USB and after backup to Onedrive. Took quite a while, but I eventually got Windows installed and assorted icons on the Taskbar, some of which worked, while the rest didn't - nothing restored on Desktop. To avoid reinstalling EVERY programme and their settings, is there anything I can copy from my Macrium backup that would get most things working? I forgot to say that most apps, but not all, are on my D drive, so still there

No, as explained the installed apps have required registry settings that would need to be restored.

Why did you feel you needed to do a clean install? Most problems can be sorted by an in-place repair upgrade which keeps all your installed apps, user files, and most of your settings. As you have a Macrium backup I would restore that, then try the repair upgrade.

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CSharpDev · Feb 9, 2024

Look into using a package manager such as Winget or Chocolatey and script it in Powershell. Then inject the script into the $OEM$ subfolder of the Windows installation ISO (off the top of my head, that's where the post-install scripts are stored)

bobkn · Feb 9, 2024

CSharpDev said:
Look into using a package manager such as Winget or Chocolatey and script it in Powershell. Then inject the script into the $OEM$ subfolder of the Windows installation ISO (off the top of my head, that's where the post-install scripts are stored)

I'm eagerly awaiting the OP's response to this advice.

(Maybe this isn't much of a stretch for most users, but I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.)

Wisewiz · Feb 9, 2024

CSharpDev said:
Look into using a package manager such as Winget or Chocolatey and script it in Powershell. Then inject the script into the $OEM$ subfolder of the Windows installation ISO (off the top of my head, that's where the post-install scripts are stored)

I have to agree with @bobkn on this. I have no idea how to act on your suggestion in any way that would be productive.

CSharpDev · Feb 10, 2024

bobkn said:
I'm eagerly awaiting the OP's response to this advice.

(Maybe this isn't much of a stretch for most users, but I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.)

Which part of it do you not understand?

SlicEnDicE · Feb 10, 2024

CSharpDev said:
Which part of it do you not understand?

The relevancy to the question.

pokeefe0001 · Feb 10, 2024

Tombar said:
... is there anything I can copy from my Macrium backup that would get most things working? ...

As others have said, you're really going to have to reinstall the programs (which can be a royal pain). But if you are really careful, your Reflect backup can make life easier ... once you reinstall Reflect. Browse the backup's AppData, ProgData, and maybe application-specific files and folders. Don't blindly do a mass copy of those(!), but look to see if there are any application related customization files that you can safely copy over to your rebuilt system. (Some will have to be copied before reinstalling the programs; some after.) This can he a very handy technique for recovering your browser and email client environments - pull their profiles are from the backup.

Be aware that recovering inconsistent environments - e.g., recovering a program's AppData but not program-specific data files or databases - can cause all sorts of problems so you may have to start over multiple times. Take backups often so you don't have to redo too much when you make a mistake.

A clean reinstall can be a life saver if really needed, but rebuilding your old familiar environment takes lots of planning and lots of work if you have many customized programs. I have evidence that a clean reinstall of Windows would be helpful but I've been putting it off for over a year. Dealing with the strange bugs that randomly pop up takes much less time than coping with a reinstall of all the programs I use. "Programs and Features" says I have 90 installed programs. A bunch get automatically installed with Windows or (such as Microsoft C++ Redistribution programs) along with some installed programs, but around 20 need detailed customization, and that can be a nightmare if I can't pull the customization data from backups.

ThrashZone · Feb 10, 2024

Hi,
Just point the new download to the same location.

Look at D and see if there is a .exe file if so run the bad boy.

hsehestedt · Feb 10, 2024

One suggestion, something I do frequently:

After performing a clean install, I configure Windows to my liking, install all my drivers, and then I install all the apps that I want. Once everything is to my liking I will create and save a disk image backup of the system. If I ever need to do a clean install of Windows again, I can restore that image. This way I would have what is close to a clean install but with the system fully configured and apps already installed.

bobkn · Feb 10, 2024

CSharpDev said:
Which part of it do you not understand?

The part after "look into".

Winuser · Feb 10, 2024

CSharpDev said:
Which part of it do you not understand?

The part where you left out the instructions on how the OP would do this. I, myself don't see how that would help.

Taliseian · Feb 10, 2024

I do a good number of clean installs of Windows on my system. After I install Windows, I use a program like Ninite or Patch My PC to reinstall most, if not all, of the programs I use on a regular basis.

While it's not incorporated into my Windows install, you would need to do some research and use a program like NTLite (that portion is part of the paid program, I believe) or MSMG Toolkit in order to add them to your ISO so they autoinstall when Windows installs. The only drawback to that method is that you would need to update your ISO when there are new versions, which is why I use the programs in the first paragraph.

AK6DN · Feb 10, 2024

Tombar said:
Hello. Yesterday, I thought I'd try a clean install from the iso on USB and after backup to Onedrive. Took quite a while, but I eventually got Windows installed and assorted icons on the Taskbar, some of which worked, while the rest didn't - nothing restored on Desktop. To avoid reinstalling EVERY programme and their settings, is there anything I can copy from my Macrium backup that would get most things working? I forgot to say that most apps, but not all, are on my D drive, so still there

You did a 'clean install'. Why? Was something not working, or you were just bored?

Me, I would throw that clean install away and do a full restore from your last Macrium backup that you trust.
Then if your system is still not behaving, do a Windows 'Repair Install' to reinstall just Windows and leave your apps intact.

Bree · Feb 10, 2024

Tombar said:
Hello. Yesterday, I thought I'd try a clean install....

AK6DN said:
You did a 'clean install'. Why? Was something not working, or you were just bored?

Me, I would throw that clean install away and do a full restore from your last Macrium backup that you trust.
Then if your system is still not behaving, do a Windows 'Repair Install' to reinstall just Windows and leave your apps intact.

My thoughts exactly, and already stated in post #7. We're still waiting for a 'why?' answer....