I have a Windows application which I installed on one WIndows 10 machine.
I want to transfer that application to another Windows 10 machine I have.
I don't have the installer. The installer is not available (anywhere). Its legitimate software I have a license for.
I guess the transfer will need to include the Applications settings, registry entries as well as the obvious .exe etc.
Hello @Bansaw,
Yes, unless it is aPortable App, you are going to have problems because of theRegistryand the way that installation programs embed themselves into the OS.
If you could provide us with the 'Program Name', then someone might be able to point you in the right direction.
Other than that, if you know the company that created the Program, then you could possibly email them and ask them to either send you a link to the Program, or send you an.exefile.
I hope this helps.
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- if you really can't reinstall the program... I'm wondering why not just do that?
Free versions of programs do make Registry entries along with creating the icons and adding support files to Windows. As mentioned the PAF/Portable versions work and don't make those entries, may be a .zip format for downloading then Extract.
portable application at DuckDuckGo
- then how could it claim to transfer programs?Thanks. I don't think the Free version does Registry keys.
It's a pretty common task in large organizations to reverse engineer a program's installer (usually to make a silent installer for managed deployment). Typically it's done by monitoring the installer or getting before/after file and registry diffs (and accounting for things that are cumulative, such as additions to the search path).
In your case, the first approach is ask the developer to provide the installer (since you are licensed), but I assume that's not an option (abandon-ware perhaps?).
So, you can look for the "usuals"...
A minimum footprint installer will add a registry key under HKCU\Software, add its files to a folder in Program Files (or Program File(x86)), and an icon to the Start menu.
But it can go way beyond that to include per machine settings in HKLM, a service install, one or more scheduled tasks, etc.
If you search thoroughly, have plenty of patience and perseverance, and do lots of trial and error testing (preferably using a VM) you will be able to create your own installer for the app.
There may be additional tripping points for the app license key (internet phone home, digital certificate, etc.)
Yup, I used to do this for a living. I don't miss it.
Thanks. My issue may be authorization. If I can get the software across, even if the serial # key is intact, upon first launch it asks for authorization, and unfortunately those servers no longer are active (and it can't activate manually or over the phone now).
Is there a reason you dont copy/clone/migrate/image the entire os onto your other machine ?
You could put it on a separate partition on your other machine and dual boot, for example.
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