Windows 10, install & keep apps as is???

[Edward78]

So Mac OS, you can reinstall OS & it just reinstalls the OS iles & leaves the program folder alonw... Why does Windows need everything reinstalled???

[deXxterlab97]

Because some programs register data to registry. Plus you can still leave programs on a seperate partition and reinstall windows on other partition. That however will lose some functionality of programs

[GoodBytes]

27 minutes ago, Edward78 said:

So Mac OS, you can reinstall OS & it just reinstalls the OS iles & leaves the program folder alonw... Why does Windows need everything reinstalled???

You can do that in Windows as well. The problem is that you take a lot of the old back as well.

A clean re-install of Windows is recommended because:

1. Forces you to do a backup of your stuff. And that is good.
2. Rules out any virus and malware
3. Rules any (although rare) driver conflicts issues
4. Ensure that all your drivers are fully updated
5. Can see how your system behave without any software, and if the problem comes back, you'll know exactly when it came back after install what program, and can now conclude that your past problem was due to XYZ program, remove it, and find an alternative or wait for a patch or look for a fix.
6. Start with a properly configured registry and system files (if you used a bad system tweak utility, crappy software, etc. might have screwed your registry up, which might cause issues with some programs or system.)

and things like that.

 

It is mostly a troubleshooting technique over a requirement to do.

 

If you want to reinstall Windows without affecting your programs, you can upgrade Windows to the same Windows instead. But you MAY carry over the problem you had before with it. As update takes similar time to a clean install, and results isn't assured, it can be a waste of time.

 

[GoodBytes]

26 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Because some programs register data to registry.

Yea, but that can be ported over. That is how a Windows upgrade works.

 

26 minutes ago, deXxterlab97 said:

Plus you can still leave programs on a seperate partition and reinstall windows on other partition. That however will lose some functionality of programs

Actually, you most of your programs will run just fine. You won't have the start menu shortcut which can be made by hand, and you won't have the uninstall option in Program & Features panel (in which point you can just pick the folder of the program and hit the delete key, and change file association default to another program), and not have file association done for you (you'll need to set them again in the program or Windows settings)... but it will work fine. Some of the more complex software might not work, mostly due to extra DLLs and other files it needs that the setup installs, and possibly DRM system.

[deXxterlab97]

1 hour ago, GoodBytes said:

Yea, but that can be ported over. That is how a Windows upgrade works.

 

Actually, you most of your programs will run just fine. You won't have the start menu shortcut which can be made by hand, and you won't have the uninstall option in Program & Features panel (in which point you can just pick the folder of the program and hit the delete key, and change file association default to another program), and not have file association done for you (you'll need to set them again in the program or Windows settings)... but it will work fine. Some of the more complex software might not work, mostly due to extra DLLs and other files it needs that the setup installs, and possibly DRM system.

Yeah thats what I meant by functionality, should have explained it more. For example 7zip won't have right click menu if you reinstall Windows