The rule is really, really simple: if you buy it, save it and if you save it, back it up. This is all stuff that you’ve purchased stuff that you need to save should you ever need to reinstall the software again, as you’re finding out. The same is true for the email that contains things like your registration code and proof of purchase. If you buy it, save it and if you save it, back it up Everything else I can probably live without even if I bought it. Mainly, I want to keep Nitro PDF Pro, Wondershare Video Converter and Dragon Naturally Speaking. I found some freeware that allowed me to obtain the keys to some of the Microsoft software on the PCs but for no other legitimate third party software. I wasn’t sure from your articles if I could somehow use the backup from Macrium to reinstall just the software. One in particular was actually expensive – Dragon Naturally Speaking. On the Windows 7 PC, however, I have the disc for Office 2007 Pro but not for several software packages that I bought and downloaded. So, how can I reinstall Windows as well as the software on the PCs? On the XP PC, I really only want to keep Office 2007. I read your articles on that so I’ll be getting discs in the future.
However, what I don’t have are the discs for much of the software.
Both have become very slow and I’ve done almost everything written about to speed them up.
I’d like to reinstall Windows XP on one PC and Windows 7 on another.