Possible to create an install disk from an installed app you lost the disk for?

The Dark One

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Sep 4, 2009, 10:39:59 AM9/4/09

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If you have an app installed but the install disk is nowhere to be
found, is it possible to create an install disk from the installed
program? If it's possible to un-install it - i.e. remove the app and
all associated registry entries, .dll's etc, shouldn't it be possible
to gather up all pertinent data from the machine to re-install it?

Thanks

Dave

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Sep 4, 2009, 11:02:09 AM9/4/09

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"The Dark One" <thedark...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4e6b87f1-741e-4293...@y9g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...

Tell ya what. Take a bucket of sand. Dump the sand all over the living
room carpet. Now take a pair of tweezers and, using only the pair of
tweezers, put all the sand back in the bucket.

Or the short answer...NO!!!

It amazes me that this isn't the first time I've heard someone ask this
question, though. -Dave

pongespob

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Sep 4, 2009, 11:29:53 AM9/4/09

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On Sep 4, 11:02 am, "Dave" <now...@nohow2.not> wrote:

> Tell ya what. Take a bucket of sand. Dump the sand all over the living
> room carpet. Now take a pair of tweezers and, using only the pair of
> tweezers, put all the sand back in the bucket.
>
> Or the short answer...NO!!!

The actual useful part is short, you used far more bandwidth to
display the condescending attitude that seems a common affliction
among certain geeks.

> It amazes me that this isn't the first time I've heard someone ask this
> question, though. -Dave

It amazes me that someone who fancies themselves to be so fucking
brilliant can't conceive of why someone might ask this.

relic

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Sep 4, 2009, 1:06:25 PM9/4/09

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Usually not, but you may be able to download the app in a "Trial Version"
from the vendor and install using your old key.

NT

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Sep 4, 2009, 1:15:26 PM9/4/09

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If we move from theoretical to practical, simply copying the program's
folder and dumping a copy back into C:/Program Files, or wherever it
is on another machine, often works, and often doesnt.

NT

DL

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Sep 4, 2009, 1:19:45 PM9/4/09

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And only works with the most basic of apps

"NT" <meow...@care2.com> wrote in message
news:3c4f0e6e-55f6-4a9e...@o9g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...

philo

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Sep 4, 2009, 2:29:11 PM9/4/09

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Unless it's a fairly simple program...
just copying over will not work due to the usually numerous registry
entries.

In theory one could export, one by one...the registry keys...
then import them...

but it's kind of like the previously mentioned "sand" analogy

NT

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Sep 4, 2009, 3:07:41 PM9/4/09

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On Sep 4, 6:19 pm, "DL" <notva...@spoofaddress.co.uk> wrote:
> "NT" <meow2...@care2.com> wrote in message

> And only works with the most basic of apps

works with quite a lot. No hope with bloatware though

NT

Corday

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Sep 4, 2009, 6:10:02 PM9/4/09

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This cats been gone for 5 years. Looks like he was parolled or somethig.
--
I mastered Wordstar graphics!

"unknown" wrote:

>

Ian D

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Sep 4, 2009, 8:44:11 PM9/4/09

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"DL" <notv...@spoofaddress.co.uk> wrote in message
news:OeJJsPYL...@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

If it's a program that writes its registry settings on first
run, that would be possible. I like that type of app as
you only have to install it once, then keep a backup
of its installed state for future reference .