Want To Clean Install Without Losing Installed Programs

[Existentialism]

My Windows XP is screwed as far as Spyware and other issues. I really
don't want to go through the hassle of fixing them, I simply want to
erase my hard drive and start anew. For the most part, I can
re-install what I want to keep, but there are few problems. For
instance I have several programs I won't be able to reinstall due to a
missing disk. Like Freespace 2 or Descent are games that I bought, and
I have Disc 2 and 3 and so on, but lost Disc 1, so I can't re-install.
Is there any way, be it through software or otherwise, that I can keep
these items after formatting my drive? I have two drives, so data is
no problem, I can move documents, MP3's, etc. to the second drive, but
installed programs is my only issue. Any help would be much
appreciated.


P.S.

Don't give me suggestions on how to fix Spyware issues or my problems,
the issues I have are beyond that and CAN'T be resolved easily, I just
want to clean-install.

 

[R. McCarty]

The best/easiest approach is any number of "Mover" programs,
that can extract or move applications to a different hard drive.
The problems with manually doing this involve things, like Registry
keys, system modules (.dll's) and others.
Do a Google with the keywords "Application Mover", you will
likely get a number of possible programs to try.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Existentialism.

It seems to me you have to choose:

1. Clean install - in which you are rid of spyware but have to reinstall
your applications.

2. In-place upgrade - in which case your installed applications are
preserved, but, since your Registry is carried forward, you can't be sure
that all spyware is completely eliminated.

Your computer - your choice.

RC