recoving installed software

[seantuk]

i just destroyed my installation of windows. it looked like it was gonna need a complete format and reinstall, but i decided to install it over itself, so at the very least i could easily work out what i already had installed. i now have an operating system that isn't aware of all the lovelly software i have installed on it. i'd rather not install it all again if a can get away with it.

is there anysoftware out there that will scan my hardisk (or at least my program files), and attampt to setup all of my software again?

 

[Beowulf005]

No, because all programs that you install will install files within the windows system folder, windows regestery and other places. When you reinstall you OS it completly erases your system folder and regeresty and installs new one. Therefore all the installed programs are missing important files. At this point you should back up all you data, email, and anything else you need then boot the computer using the windows disk, format the HD and reinstall the OS and then install all you needed programs then place the data back on the computer

Good luck

 

[linney]

It is too late for you as you seem to have taken a wrong turning somewhere, but have a look at this article for next time.

Following this procedure you will lose all your windows updates but your files including installed programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

Do you have any Backup of your previous operating system?