Is it possible to set it up so you reinstall windows without reinstalling all programs?

[RockGuitarDude]

My only issue is that while I don't mind reinstalling windows, I do mind having to deal with reinstalling all my programs. Is there a way to reinstall windows and maybe copy certain files and then copy them back so I don't have to reinstall everything? Otherwise, will I have to use Norton's Ghost to copy the whole thing?

 

[DaveSimmons]

This is a Software issue, but no you must use imaging software and take the snapshot after instaling the programs.

The only trick is that if you have partitions C:, D:, etc. then you can install programs to D: and only image D: once (say in January), not every time you image C: (January, February, March). This works because the program files don't change.