Help With Clean Install

[Mikarri]

I upgraded to Windows 10 from 8.1 and it's great, but I'd like to do a clean install to make sure everything stays smooth.
What I don't want to do is download endless gigs of data to get my programs reinstalled. Warcraft alone is 60+ gb.
Is there any way that I could maybe just cut and paste the games/programs from my main SSD to my storage HDD, then just move them back after the clean install?

 

[boosted1g]

No, it does not work that way.

You cant just copy everything from the program file and put it on a different OS install, if this was the case then it would be super super simple to pirate software.

When a program installs it creates registry keys in your current windows install, and places other files in hidden user appdata folder and/or ProgramData folder. Extracting all of these items (even if you had a list) would take infinitely longer then just reinstalling it.

Now if you have the installer of the game then you can leave that on the other hard drive.

 

[Chicano]

You can’t cut and paste programs, most will not work that way... some can work like portables so they will work but the shortcuts have to be created new, and program settings may be lost, other programs will simply not work at all.

The only possible way of moving programs successfully is using Application Mover or some alternative/s which I have never used so I can’t say much about them... but Application Mover does a good job though not perfect as it doesn't include desktop shortcuts, and I think start menu shortcuts or program settings, at least I haven’t used it enough or on heavy programs to have noticed that... but it does move registry data and programs will work the same as always as far as I know. To use the program, simple but tedious if you have to move a number of propgrams because you have to move one by one but it’s still better than downloading and reinstalling them. It has two browsing windows one to search for the original program folder, and the second to find the destination folder location.

Application Mover
http://www.funduc.com/app_mover.htm

Alternatives to Application Mover
https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&gws_rd=cr&ei=gjbBVfquHdahyAT_7K6gBw#hl=en&q=alternatives+to+application+mover

 

[Mikarri]

Thanks, guys. I kinda figured as much, but thought there was no harm in asking.