Ensure you have the correct program list and license keys ready prior to reinstalling Windows.
Ensure you have the correct program list and license keys ready prior to reinstalling Windows.
I encountered a major problem with my Windows 10 setup. Both the update process and DISM tool appear damaged, and I can't fix the installation on my own. Even attempting an offline install from a flash drive failed. My IT friends think my Windows 10 is severely corrupted. I can no longer manually apply updates. Here’s what I’m considering: I use Macrium Reflect for backups. I was thinking of creating a VM in VMware Player 17, installing Windows 11 there, then transferring the installed programs from Windows 10 to Windows 11. After that, I’d generate a .mrimg image and boot my Windows 10 machine inside Windows PE, moving the VM’s files to my physical PC. Could this approach work? Also, does using Belarc provide any license keys or program lists to help with reinstalling? And is this plan realistic? Please advise. Also, when I set up the Windows 11 VM in VMware, it asked for a password for the virtualized TPM—will that affect transferring my VM to my real machine?
w10 is no longer available and will soon be unsupported. Issues may arise even before the scheduled date. This isn't necessarily the main concern, but please ensure your files are backed up and properly formatted. Backups haven't worked for me, so I'm not bothering with them anymore. Edited April 15, 2024 by thrasher_565
I appreciate your feedback. It seems the discussion veered into a different direction than what you intended. Let me clarify if there’s anything specific you’d like to explore further.
The approach you suggest might not be effective. App installers can add various files to your PC and may also modify the registry. You could back up your user profile and transfer programs through that method, though success isn't guaranteed. During a complete Windows installation on a new system, I always perform a clean install of applications. I maintain a 'txt' file with app names, download sources, and passwords, which makes it easy to input credentials when needed. Some applications automatically set up if connected to websites like Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud. For others, you must also identify the location of the 'customizatioin file.' For instance, I use Atom for HTML and Python coding and have invested significant effort in tailoring it.
It seems Windows should already recognize your hardware and processor without issues. Since you're not needing to fully activate all programs, just having enough installed should help. Managing many VSTs makes tracking tricky, so problems might arise if something fails. If it doesn't work, reverting to the old Windows 10 image Marcium is a safe fallback. Partitioning the virtual drive to match the SSD size also helps. Custom profiles can be problematic depending on the software involved.
I'm not sure I follow how you're thinking about this. You'd install Windows 11 completely new, add all the software you want inside a virtual machine, and then try to transfer that setup later? Sounds complicated. Wouldn't it be simpler just to install directly on the hardware from the start? You seem to be adding unnecessary steps without clear reason. Not trying to sound pretentious, but have you tried jotting things down? Probably you remember which programs you use often. If not, maybe you don’t need them and should keep your system lean.