Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10

[DustinB3403]

If you're like me and about to go through a clean installation of Windows on your hardware (regardless of how Windows gets installed) you'll likely want a list of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

Rather than having to remember.

Well it's simple.

Open an administrative command prompt
enter wmic
And then enter /output:C:\InstalledSoftware.txt product get name,version

On your C drive you'll have a text file titled "InstalledSoftware.txt" with a complete list of software.

Just export this file somewhere and you'll have a list to work off of and get everything reinstalled.

[dbeato]

@DustinB3403 said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

st of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

If I recall, the reset option of Windows 10 leaves a installed apps file on the Desktop. But might have been on previous versions.

[JaredBusch]

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@DustinB3403 said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

st of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

If I recall, the reset option of Windows 10 leaves a installed apps file on the Desktop. But might have been on previous versions.

Useless. I would never trust that. It Windows is leaving something installed and working, then shit is not reset.

[Obsolesce]

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

[dbeato]

@JaredBusch said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@DustinB3403 said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

st of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

If I recall, the reset option of Windows 10 leaves a installed apps file on the Desktop. But might have been on previous versions.

Useless. I would never trust that. It Windows is leaving something installed and working, then shit is not reset.

No, it is a list file of the installed apps not leaving installed apps...

[warren.stanley]

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I've been using the powershell script from alimbada's github repo

[gjacobse]

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

[Dashrender]

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

[Dashrender]

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@JaredBusch said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@DustinB3403 said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

st of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

If I recall, the reset option of Windows 10 leaves a installed apps file on the Desktop. But might have been on previous versions.

Useless. I would never trust that. It Windows is leaving something installed and working, then shit is not reset.

No, it is a list file of the installed apps not leaving installed apps...

I think JB's point is, if the reset leaves anything behind - how can you really trust you have a clean system?

Frankly - if you're trying to get rid of a virus, using Windows 10's reset just seems crazy to me - what keeps a virus from living in the restore partition of the system and just reinfecting?
If you're resetting because of some crappy software or glitch, etc.. then Windows 10 reset is likely fine.

[JaredBusch]

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

I've never noticed that. Chocolatey had nothing to do with that process.

Chocolatey simply runs the msi/exe from the software vendor.

Maybe someone setup a package with switches or something that didn't register the install?

[dbeato]

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@JaredBusch said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@dbeato said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@DustinB3403 said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

st of software that is already installed on your system so you can go through and just reinstall things from a list.

If I recall, the reset option of Windows 10 leaves a installed apps file on the Desktop. But might have been on previous versions.

Useless. I would never trust that. It Windows is leaving something installed and working, then shit is not reset.

No, it is a list file of the installed apps not leaving installed apps...

I think JB's point is, if the reset leaves anything behind - how can you really trust you have a clean system?

Frankly - if you're trying to get rid of a virus, using Windows 10's reset just seems crazy to me - what keeps a virus from living in the restore partition of the system and just reinfecting?
If you're resetting because of some crappy software or glitch, etc.. then Windows 10 reset is likely fine.

I understood that, it is usually for a software issue. If it is a virus, it is blown away and started over.

[scottalanmiller]

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

[Dashrender]

@JaredBusch said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

I've never noticed that. Chocolatey had nothing to do with that process.

Chocolatey simply runs the msi/exe from the software vendor.

Maybe someone setup a package with switches or something that didn't register the install?

It was ages ago when I noticed it - at least 3 years, likely more. When that changed, I was happy because it made things more 'normal'.
I recall that Chocolatey also didn't install in the typical directories, but into it's own subfolder.

[Dashrender]

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

You and JB are likely right - but I recall pretty much everything I installed back then was being installed to Chocolatey's own folder, not the typical default, then at some point that all changed.

[Obsolesce]

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

[scottalanmiller]

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

I have. Many times. Most of the time I think that it does, but it is not Chocolatey that does it when it does.

[JaredBusch]

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

I have. Many times. Most of the time I think that it does, but it is not Chocolatey that does it when it does.

As I stated, choco has zero control over this. It is all in the executable used. Which has nothing to do with choco aside from it being used to download and call the executable.

[Obsolesce]

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

I have. Many times. Most of the time I think that it does, but it is not Chocolatey that does it when it does.

With what software specifically?

[Dashrender]

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

I have. Many times. Most of the time I think that it does, but it is not Chocolatey that does it when it does.

With what software specifically?

It used to do that with Greenshot and Adobe Reader and Citrix - but again, it's been more than 3 years since that changed.

[dbeato]

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@scottalanmiller said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Dashrender said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@gjacobse said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

@Obsolesce said in Generating a list of Software to Reinstall on Windows 10:

I usually just copy/paste a Chocolatey install command that does it all at once. Everything else is on separate media that requires no install. Example, copy over games, import them in... such as into Steam.

I was going to mention... with Chocolatey tool choco list -lo just pipe it to a text file.

But that only gives you things installed through Chocolatey. Dustin's OP gives you everything installed through the normal Windows installer process (and registers the install).

I recall when chocolatey didn't use the windows installer process for everything - things are much better now.

It is package by package. Lots of things, through Chocolatey or not, don't use the Windows installer process.

I've not seen Chocolatey not register software installs in Windows, ever.

I have. Many times. Most of the time I think that it does, but it is not Chocolatey that does it when it does.

With what software specifically?

Try installing Sysinternal tools, it will not register at all, that is one example. You can do so with Chocolatey.