I’d like to reinstall Windows XP on one PC and Windows 7 on another. Both have become very slow and I’ve done almost everything written about to speed them up. I have the original discs for them. However, what I don’t have are the discs for much of the software. I read your articles on that so I’ll be getting discs in the future. So, how can I reinstall Windows as well as the software on the PCs? On the XP PC, I really only want to keep Office 2007.
On the Windows 7 PC, however, I have the disc for Office 2007 Pro but not for several software packages that I bought and downloaded. One in particular was actually expensive – Dragon Naturally Speaking. I installed Macrium as you suggested. I wasn’t sure from your articles if I could somehow use the backup from Macrium to reinstall just the software. I found some freeware that allowed me to obtain the keys to some of the Microsoft software on the PCs but for no other legitimate third party software. Mainly, I want to keep Nitro PDF Pro, Wondershare Video Converter and Dragon Naturally Speaking. Everything else I can probably live without even if I bought it.
The very short answer to your dilemma is that strictly speaking you can’t do what you are trying to do. I’ll review how to prevent this in the future at least, and throw out a couple of ideas or straws you can grasp at.
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Prevention boils down to a very simple rule: save what you buy.
If you buy discs, then save those somewhere safe.
If your discs use activation codes, make sure that those codes are saved somewhere somehow. I personally use a spreadsheet that I keep in a True Crypt vault, which is backed up daily.
If you’re purchasing downloaded software, save the download. (This is where most people trip up.) Copy it somewhere and make sure that that gets backed up as well, wherever things get backed up.
if you buy it, save it; and if you save it, back it up
The rule is really, really simple: if you buy it, save it; and if you save it, back it up.
Getting something to reinstall
For some of the products you mentioned, it might be possible to go back to the original vendor’s website and download the version that you have, even if it’s an older version. This will work well if you saved or recovered any activation code that might be required.
Even if you can’t find a record of your purchase, you can still try contacting the vendor, particularly if you haven’t changed email addresses in the interim. Sometimes, if they can look you up in their records, they may be willing to resend your original purchase.
There are utilities like Laplinks PC Mover that claim to be able to move an installed application from one PC to another. They’re not free, and I’m unclear how reliable they are. I’m also unclear on whether they’ll work in a reinstall situation like this. But they’re worth investigating.
The bottom line though is to keep those downloads in the future. And those registration keys. You just never know when you might need them.
Leo is correct about contacting the vendor. Assuming you can prove you were the purchaser, you should be able to get the activation keys and probably the software. With regard to Nitro PDF Pro, I have done this very thing using the confirmation email from the purchase. I would suggest to anyone that is missing their registration keys or software to start this process now versus wait until a problem occurs.
Leo?? – THE VERY BEST at what we ALL need when it comes to computers. BOIL IT ALL DOWN; PUT IT ON A DISC, BACK IT UP!!!!
SIMPLE……!
What do you do if you have the software discs, all registration keys that you paid for and now the company will not give you a new key because they don’t support the software any longer. They have a new version out they want you to buy even though you paid good money for the first one and it works on the old computer and you would like to move it over to the new computer. I tried to copy all files and transfer it and the window keeps popping up that you need an activation key. I have moved this to 3 different computers over the years and it worked until now. This is lettering software for my home embroidery machine and I don’t have the money to buy a newer version. Any suggeestions?
Unfortunately I know of no options. A lot depends on the technology they use to enforce the license. You don’t have an old key you can use?