Software Management

[oscarse]

OK before everyone points a finger at me ... I am sure most computer users are in the same boat ... 3 years ago I purchased a machine with a 60G HDD expecting it would be hard to fill it up ... now 3 years later I not only have a full HDD it also has well over 50 apps. Did I log the installation/setup process for all these apps ... {sheepishly} NO ... I back up my machines ... WELLLLLLLL that is no longer good enough ... Now I am starting over with a new 120G HDD machine and wondering if there is a product out there that will DO THIS JOB (semi)automatically? ie as I REINSTALL all these APPS a background process will log the app and all the setup steps. Restoring a full backup only works on the machine the backup was created on (not going to work if you have to replace a machine due to major failures) ... It would be great if there was a way to catalog and identify steps to reinstall each application.

 

[linney]

Did I log the installation/setup process for all these apps" Does anybody actually do this?

If I am understanding you question (I might not be), have a look at some applications like these and see if this is what you are seeking.

Monitoring system changes
thread779-824732

How To Trace Registry&files Changes In Software Installation?
thread779-767763


Filemon and Regmon have been replaced by Process Monitor.

FileMon for Windows v7.04

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/Filemon.mspx