How can I backup all software installed on laptop to DVD

Hi,

How can I backup all software installed on laptop to DVD so I can reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 10 and then install all software.

Thank you for all help.

You can use PCmover software to backup installed programs.

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Hi there
@jaburmester

Don't pay 50 EUR for the previous posters recommendation -- that sort of software usually has problems when moving from one version of windows to another.

Spend the 50 EUR (or less) on a small external USB HDD / SSD instead !!!!. You can even get a 250GB cheap SSD via Amazon for around 23 EUR -- you'll also need a USB-->SATA connector if using an SSD then just plug it in to the USB port on the computer.

This method while a bit manual intensive is 100% Free -- all it needs is a bit of care and time.

This is different from a normal Backup / Upgrade and is a real pain to do which is why people go out of their way to do complete clean / fresh installs of Windows unless you have a minimal amount of software.

To do this properly is a bit of a tedious manual affair. BUT BEFORE STARTING IMAGE CURRENT SYSTEM (Free Macrium is good).

1) on current system create a folder and say call it software installation

2) make subfolders for each piece of software you want to install --

3) now you will need to copy / get hold of the original install files + any updates + any license files you might have received back by email from some vendors and add them to the relevant subfolders

4) Create a .txt file for each piece of software noting relevant keys / license numbers and any other special remarks for installing the package.

5) If software installation was obtained from the Internet add the link in the .txt file for that software.

Depending on what you installed it's highly unlikely that you will be able to fit this on to a DVD -- for instance Ms Office itself if you have DVD version will take up a DVD on its own.

You are much better off copying all this to an external HDD --- these are bonkersly cheap these days and infinitely more reliable than optical media of any type. Copy the folder and all the subfolders to the external device.

Note : You can create software iso images of any old physical DVD's you have -- windows 10 mounts an iso image without needing a Virtual DVD mounter as per Windows 7.

Install new Windows and apply any updates BEFORE installing yopur software --then re-install using the external HDD and remember to apply updates too.

It's usually a longish manual process if you have a load of software installed which is why people avoid doing this wherever possible.

Cheers
jimbo

I agree with @jimbo45. Software installed on Windows 10 is extremely tricky to backup, then restore or move. All of my software original installation programs are stored on a NAS on my network, and I have a text file with license information. As a backup, I also send myself product keys in email so they are also safe on Google's email servers. The USB hard drive is the way to go if you don't have a network storage location.

Hi there

NAS is the best way (by far) but if you don't have a NAS then USB is good plus you will also have a backup if you have to go through the whole wretched exercise again !!!!!

Note of course even with a NAS you still need to have a backup of the software install files etc -- NAS's can fail --rarely but there we are. Consider it a variation on "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? " from the latin -- literally means - who guards the guards --in this case if your NAS fails you still need to be able to retrieve your data. !!!

BTW don't forget after you've completed (successfully) the W10 install and software installs take another image backup --in fact take a few during the process so if any errors you don't have to start from scratch again but just analyze and fix error and carry on from where you last backed up.


With these sorts of jobs you can (especially if you have a lot of software installed) never have to much backups !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

How can I backup all software installed on laptop to DVD so I can reinstall a fresh copy of Windows 10 and then install all software.

That is pretty much impossible, at the least unreliable. You would need a stack of DVDs. A failure of one disc could be a disaster.

Much easier is to Image your HDD/SSD to another Drive, probably the simplest is a USB drive plugged in to a USB 2 port on your Laptop.

I use Macrium Reflect free for the generation of the Image. Which is a whole copy of my Laptop drive, everything including Software and Windows.

Obviously you will need to read around the subject of Imaging to understand why the suggestion is being made.

A NAS box type of drive is a lot more complex to use, particularly for a consumer user.

Just to note: Some installed software may need to be deactivated from a account on the software companies site that was created when you installed the software. I have a few programs like that on my desktop. You may also loose any programs that were part of a free software giveaway.