restoring programs from a xp backup

[Jim D]

Hi, can anyone help me with a backup problem. XP pro, portable hard drive,
full backup, can I restore a program from a backup file. I don't have the
original installation cd's for the programs any longer only a backup file.
Thanks

 

[Mick Murphy]

Unless you want to reinstall the total image, no.
The program files you see in the backup are only part of the installation of
the Program.
There are Registry Keys, etc, placed in various parts of the Operating
System, upon each Programs install..

You require the installation Media.

 

[ju.c]

Maybe.

Can you extract individual files and folders, or is it just one big image file?

If you can extract the program's files then the answer to your question
may be yes. There are variables involved. Was the program a commercial
purchase and registered? Is it a stand alone executable?

What is the program's name?
What kind of backup is it?


ju.c

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi, can anyone help me with a backup problem. XP pro, portable hard drive,
full backup, can I restore a program from a backup file. I don't have the
original installation cd's for the programs any longer only a backup file.
Thanks

What was the "full backup" made with?

In many cases, the answer is no. You can try restoring the backed-up
program folder to the Program Files tree or wherever, but chances are it
won't run and will request a re-install. There are two reasons for this.

First, you won't be restoring the (sometimes many and widely scattered)
registry entries the application created during the install and requires.

Second, many installs place files *outside* the Program Files folder, such
as the Windows\System32 folder. You won't have restored those.

This is why in many cases, "full backups" that aren't made with an imaging
program, which can restore the entire system to a bootable state, are a
waste of time and space.

HTH
-pk