Saving Programs

[Broadback]

If I copy a program into a file,then later want it to run under Windows 7, is there any way of doing that? If I simply copy it back into C:\program Files it does not "link" correctly and does not show in "All Programs", though if I go to C:\Program Files\program name then I can run it from that folder. I hope this makes sense it seems rather clumsily put to me, and I wrote it! 

[Technical Ben]

Generally "no". It needs to be a "portable app" to run anywhere/anytime. This is because in general when a program installs, it also tells Windows a lot of other information. Such as which files to use that program with (email to your email program, photos to the photo one etc) and also a bit of translation between programming code and stuff (like installing .Net framework or whatever else as it's above my knowledge).

Some programs may work, but most don't. Especially those that register with a code, as the registration would be stored in windows DLLs or somewhere else. Why in particular do you need to move/backup the program?

[Broadback]

I recently had to put my computer back to "factory settings". As a result I lost a lot of information, most I have managed to recover but one program I wanted I had a copy in another disc, so I thought I could use it, it seems to work, but as you explained it fails to pick up certain data. So next question what is the beast way to back up my machine, so that I can recover everything?

[Technical Ben]

You can do an "image backup" where it takes you back to the time of the backup, what OS do you have? Needs a spare drive (inside the pc or external) of at least the size of the "used disk space" you currently use.
If it's only documents, then you just need an external drive for those. But for programs, I don't think you can back them up separate from the rest of everything else.

When ever I do a fresh install of windows, it's a long wait to get all my programs back on (even longer if downloading them ).

[pctech]

Oh to back to the days of ini files.

[Technical Ben]

But portable apps can do it right? Why can't all the apps just sandbox their own file changes in their own folder... Oh if I was in charge of Linux/Windows!

[pctech]

Yep they can, trouble with portable apps is (and the reason for the registry) is that settings won't be persistent (unless the app is accompanied by a file to install its config as its not possible to modify an Exe after compilation.

As you say the solution would be to copy the folder.

Win.ini (for which the registry was a direct replacement) was stored in the Windows directory so all programs knew where to read it from or write to it.

[Technical Ben]

Well, settings could be in a text file in the program folder (it's sandboxed, so can edit it ).