How do you keep a backup of all your programs' settings?

Fortitude · Dec 23, 2021

My recent experience with installing both Windows and all my other programs from scratch has given rise to the question of how to ensure that one should keep an up to date backup of program settings to the utmost degree possible.

Installing Windows was straightforward. Nothing much to ask from the user. However, installing one's programs can be a very long and tedious task when it comes to configuring or customising them. I took the precaution of safely saving or exporting my program settings including those of browser addons before going through Windows installation. It took some time, but it paid off in the end as I didn't have to customize every program after installing it. I simply used the backup configuration accordingly. Even so despite my diligence there were a couple of programs where I missed backing up the settings.

What do you do about keeping an up to date backup of your program settings including those of browser addons?

cereberus · Dec 23, 2021

Simplest way is to make an image backup using tool like Macrium Reflect Free.

See Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Tutorial is a littke out of date but principles are the same.

TairikuOkami · Dec 23, 2021

Fortitude said:
What do you do about keeping an up to date backup of your program settings including those of browser addons?

Unless there is a major update, even an old backup should cover it. I backup ini/xml files from %AppData%
Browser addons are a bit tedious, I do not understand why browsers do not backup those yet, unbelievable.

Code:

rem Enhancer for Youtube
rem {"version":"2.0.108","settings":{"blur":0,"brightness":100,"contrast":100,"grayscale":0,"huerotate":0,"invert":0,"saturate":100,"sepia":0,"applyvideofilters":false,"backgroundcolor":"#000000","backgroundopacity":50,"blackbars":false,"blockads":true,"blockadsexceptforsubs":false,"blockautoplay":false,"blockhfrformats":false,"blockwebmformats":false,"cinemamode":false,"cinemamodewideplayer":false,"controlbar":{"active":true,"autohide":false,"centered":true,"position":"fixed"},"controls":[],"controlsvisible":false,"controlspeed":false,"controlspeedmousebutton":false,"controlvolume":false,"controlvolumemousebutton":false,"customcolors":{"--dimmer-text":"#cccccc","--hover-background":"#232323","--main-background":"#111111","--main-color":"#00adee","--main-text":"#eff0f1","--second-background":"#181818","--shadow":"#000000"},"customcssrules":"","customscript":"","customtheme":false,"darktheme":true,"date":1590884155282,"defaultvolume":false,"disableautoplay":false,"executescript":false,"expanddescription":false,"filter":"none","hidecardsendscreens":false,"hidechat":false,"hidecomments":false,"hiderelated":false,"ignoreplaylists":false,"ignorepopupplayer":true,"localecode":"en_US","localedir":"ltr","message":false,"miniplayer":false,"miniplayerposition":"_top-left","miniplayersize":"_400x225","newestcomments":false,"overridespeeds":false,"pauseforegroundtab":false,"pausevideos":false,"popuplayersize":"640x360","qualityembeds":"hd720","qualityembedsfullscreen":"hd1080","qualityplaylists":"hd1080","qualityplaylistsfullscreen":"hd1080","qualityvideos":"hd1080","qualityvideosfullscreen":"hd1080","reload":false,"reversemousewheeldirection":false,"selectquality":true,"selectqualityfullscreenoff":false,"selectqualityfullscreenon":false,"speed":1,"speedvariation":0.1,"stopvideos":false,"theatermode":false,"theme":"default-dark","themevariant":"youtube-deep-dark.css","update":1619098163598,"volume":50,"volumemultiplier":3,"volumevariation":5,"whitelist":"","wideplayer":false,"wideplayerviewport":false}}

rem 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

Some store settings in registry that is pretty straightforward, like 7-zip or XnView.

Code:

reg add "HKCU\Software\7-Zip\Compression" /v "Archiver" /t "REG_SZ" /d "7z" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\7-Zip\Compression" /v "Level" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "9" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\7-Zip\Compression\Options\7z" /v "Level" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "9" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\7-Zip\Options" /v "CascadedMenu" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\7-Zip\Options" /v "ContextMenu" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "263" /f

reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView" /v "UseRegistry" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "ShowToolTips" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupDirectory" /t "REG_SZ" /d "Z:\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Browser" /v "StartupIn" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "2" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "Delay" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "2" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "Directory" /t "REG_SZ" /d "Z:\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "HotKey" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "9" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "IncludeCursor" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "Method" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "Multiple" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Capture" /v "SaveIntoFile" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "MaximizeXnviewAtStartup" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "OnlyOneInstance" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "1" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "PathSave" /t "REG_SZ" /d "Z:\Desktop" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "SavePosition" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\XnView\Start" /v "ShowSaveDlg" /t "REG_DWORD" /d "0" /f

Fortitude · Dec 23, 2021

cereberus said:
Simplest way is to make an image backup using tool like Macrium Reflect Free.

See Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

Tutorial is a littke out of date but principles are the same.

A lot of unnecessary data accumulates over time and I would hate to restore it to a new Windows installation.

The-Hive · Dec 23, 2021

I use Macrium Reflect, if you update files a lot a weekly update works or whenever you feel your data has changed enough to warrant it. Aoemi Backupper is good to

stevehaz_uk · Dec 23, 2021

Loads of ways to BU .. you pays your money you takes your choice.. My choice use Acronis True Image 20 or 21 both as good as each other. Boot from a USB stick and make a weekly image back up (or when you intend to muck about with settings!!) It takes 8 - 10 minutes for the average W10 partition. Recovery is the same - boot from your USB etc. Other advice keep your images on an external drive or stick just in case!!

Bree · Dec 23, 2021

Firefox is my browser of choice, but I don't use any addons. For a clean install on a new machine I copy my Firefox profile from %Appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles to the new install. This contains all my bookmarks, login cookies and settings for Firefox.

There's also an %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions folder. I presume I could just copy that over too, though I've not needed to test that.

Quandary · Dec 23, 2021

I use multiple methods:

1. Regular MR image backups, plus a "golden" image from a clean install with apps & customizations
2. Copies of config files where possible
3. A folder with all the app installers, periodically updated with the newest version
4. A detailed spreadsheet with all apps, settings, and OS configurations

No worries about doing a clean install, if necessary, except for the day or two required to get everything back to normal.

dbartenstein · Dec 23, 2021

TairikuOkami said:
Browser addons are a bit tedious, I do not understand why browsers do not backup those yet, unbelievable.

I have found that Edge's sync function tends to remember and install my extensions, if not their settings.

The-Hive · Dec 23, 2021

Yes Edge does and so Does Chrome as long as you select what to sync and have it turned on

The-Hive · Dec 23, 2021

Now I tend to use Macrium Reflect for images and Aomei backupper for files and folders

ShamrockRig · Dec 23, 2021

They're stored on my own hard drive :wink:

The brain

Zardoc · Dec 23, 2021

Bree said:
Firefox is my browser of choice, but I don't use any addons. For a clean install on a new machine I copy my Firefox profile from %Appdata%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles to the new install. This contains all my bookmarks, login cookies and settings for Firefox.

There's also an %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions folder. I presume I could just copy that over too, though I've not needed to test that.

I use this
Firefox backup 1.2. Simple an efficient :wink:

Zardoc · Dec 23, 2021

dbartenstein said:
I have found that Edge's sync function tends to remember and install my extensions, if not their settings.

I don't use sync on all machines so:

I save the user folder (C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data) and place it back on new install with a reg tweak.
Save 2 folders
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge\PreferenceMACs\Default
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]

pparks1 · Dec 23, 2021

I use Chrome and have the sync feature enabled, so I don't have to worry about any of my bookmarks, extentions, etc. I take regular backups with Macrium so I can restore if needed. My email is in the cloud. I don't actually have a ton of software installed that requires much configuration. The games I play all have an online component it seems where my progress is stored in the cloud.

me75006 · Dec 23, 2021

My OS is imaged 3 times a week and copies kept over time via Macrium. What I work with/on, is recorded daily and copies over time recorded.
Images of my work folders and of my OS has saved me when needed.
I used Macrium images to help the transition from W10 to w11, and back, a number of times. OMG, so pleased and thankful for utilities that make changes so easy. :ufo:

Ghot · Dec 23, 2021

Is there a button to clcik that will export all your personalizations? NO.
"Some" few programs, do have a way to export their settings. Not many though.

As many have mentioned... backup software is the way to go. The method you end up using, the method that works the best for you... will be discovered by you, by trial and error.

Mostly, this is my method...

How to be a Windows mad scientist, AND avoid software problems. - Windows 10 Help Forums

Not everyone will be able to implement these suggestions. This is mainly for a stand alone computer, with one user in the Administrators group, on a local account. The secret here, is to try to figure out everything that "could" happen, and to t

www.tenforums.com

The-Hive · Dec 23, 2021

I Have just read your post from Tenforums @Ghot I totally agree, I do all those things except I do update drivers more often

Ghot · Dec 23, 2021

The-Hive said:
I Have just read your post from Tenforums @Ghot I totally agree, I do all those things except I do update drivers more often

I've pretty much, done it that way since Windows XP.
Sometimes, it means a lot of backups and restores... like when I'm testing something or troubleshooting something.

Other times, it might be a month between backups.
Since Win 10, and definitely on Win 11, I pretty much always make a full backup, right before patch Tuesday.

Drivers, I don't really mess with except for chipset, vid drivers, and the occasional BIOS flash.
The rest... at least in my case, hardly ever need updated.
I also use Winaero Tweaker to block Windows driver updates. That solves most driver problems, before they start.

The-Hive · Dec 23, 2021

Snap ! I think I have been doing it without even thinking about it, especially the backups before testing etc.

How do you keep a backup of all your programs' settings?

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