xfering settings / progs from 1 install to the other

I have two diff windows enviroments installed (both xp) one on C:/ and one on D:/; would it be possible to xfer settings on C:/ drive to the D:/ drive? as to not reinstall every program?

 

For the most part you could just copy over the program folders and it would work. You'd have to add links yourself and all the programs would run using the default settings but they'd work.

As for windows settings you could just transfer over the folder with the user name you use from the "documents and settings" folder. Just copy the contents of that folder to the username you use when logging into the other windows and it should then have all the same windows settings as that user.

Although I really have to ask, why do you have windows XP on the computer twice, what's the point if you just want all the same programs in each one too.

 

Reformating/cleaning the other drive

 

What if programs have license stored in te regisry?

 

xactly my dilema; things like mcaffee and the likes are refusing to boot.

 

If it's just to reformat or clean the other drive you're defeating the purpose if you simply copy everything over. That would be making an exact copy including the errors.

If you really want to do it anyways, you could just dump the registry and then import it on the other version of XP. Alternativly you can speed hours digging through and picking just the values you want to copy and dump just those and copy them over. Of course it would most likely be quicker to just reinstall the apps normally.

If it's just a matter of actually change the physical drive and not trying to clean up the computer you could just use ghost to make an exact backup and then use it's image to make the new install. It would work fine.

 

Copying program files is a bad idea in any situation,execpt for portable apps.
Not only registry values but also other files are created in system folders.Many other information are stored in application data folder in D&S as well.

I am strongly against importing reg values.Clean install is best option.

Re-formating makes reg importing even more purpose defeating.