How to Create a List of Installed Programs on Windows
Preparing for a Windows Reinstallation: Documenting Your Software
A Windows reinstallation can effectively resolve significant computer issues and provide a clean operating system environment.
However, prior to undertaking a Windows reinstallation, it’s crucial to compile an inventory of your currently installed programs.
This list will serve as a guide for reinstalling your preferred applications onto the newly installed system.
Why Create a Software Inventory?
Maintaining a record of installed programs proves beneficial not only before a reinstallation but also when setting up a new computer.
If you’ve recently acquired a new PC, this list allows for the swift replication of your software setup from a previous machine.
Methods for Listing Installed Programs
Several approaches can be utilized to generate a list of installed applications across various Windows versions, including Windows 10, 8/8.1, and 7.
- Manual Documentation: A straightforward method involves manually recording each program as you navigate through the Control Panel’s “Programs and Features” section.
- Using Command Prompt: The command prompt can be leveraged to generate a list of installed programs, which can then be redirected to a text file.
- Third-Party Software: Numerous third-party applications are specifically designed to scan your system and create a comprehensive list of installed software.
Generating a List with the Command Prompt
The command prompt offers a quick way to export a list of installed programs.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator and execute the following command: wmic product get name.
This command will display a list of installed programs directly in the command prompt window.
To save the output to a text file, use the following command: wmic product get name > installed_programs.txt.
Leveraging Third-Party Applications
Several free and paid applications simplify the process of creating a software inventory.
These tools often provide additional features, such as the ability to export the list in various formats and even automatically reinstall the programs.
Examples include CCleaner and Revo Uninstaller, both of which offer software inventory capabilities.
Remember to carefully review the list generated, ensuring it accurately reflects the programs you wish to reinstall after the Windows reinstallation process.
A Simple Method: Utilizing a PowerShell Command
Related: Geek School: Discover How to Automate Windows with PowerShell
PowerShell represents a remarkably potent tool integrated within Windows, and is fully capable of performing tasks as straightforward as compiling a list of your installed applications. Indeed, accomplishing this requires only a single command, readily available for copying and pasting directly from this article.
To begin, launch PowerShell by navigating to the Start menu and entering "powershell". Select the initial result presented, which will open the PowerShell prompt.
Copy and paste the following command into the prompt, then press Enter to execute it:
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher, InstallDate | Format-Table –AutoSize
PowerShell will then generate a comprehensive list of all programs installed on your system, including their respective versions, developer names, and installation dates.
Frequently, it is desirable to export this information to a file. This can be easily achieved by redirecting the output using the > symbol, followed by the desired file path.
For instance:
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher, InstallDate | Format-Table –AutoSize > C:\Users\Lori\Documents\InstalledPrograms-PS.txt
Remember to substitute C:\Users\Lori\Documents\InstalledPrograms-PS.txt with your preferred file path and name.
The true utility of PowerShell lies in its ability to facilitate comparisons between software installations on different machines. Simply generate text files from each system and utilize the following command:
Compare-Object -ReferenceObject (Get-Content C:\Users\Lori\Documents\PCapps.txt) -DifferenceObject (Get-Content C:\Users\Lori\Documents\LAPTOPapps.txt)
In this example, one text file contains the software list from a desktop PC, while the other holds the list from a laptop. Entries marked with a right-pointing indicator (=>) signify software present on the laptop but absent from the PC. Conversely, left-pointing indicators (<=) denote software installed on the PC but not on the laptop.
Generating a List of Installed Programs with CCleaner – A Non-Command Line Approach
CCleaner is a widely-used Windows utility primarily designed for optimizing PC performance. It achieves this by removing unnecessary files and safeguarding user privacy through the deletion of browsing data and temporary files.
Beyond its cleaning capabilities, CCleaner offers a convenient method for generating a comprehensive list of all applications installed on your system. This is especially beneficial for users who prefer a graphical interface over utilizing the command line.
Accessing the Program List
To begin, launch CCleaner. This can be done by double-clicking the application’s icon on your desktop.
Alternatively, you can right-click the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop and select “Open CCleaner” from the context menu that appears.
Navigating to the Uninstall Section
Within the main CCleaner window, click on the “Tools” option located in the left-hand navigation pane.
Ensure that the “Uninstall” screen is currently selected. This will display a detailed list of all programs currently installed on your computer.
Saving the Program List
CCleaner provides functionality not only to uninstall, repair, or rename programs, but also to export the installed program list.
To save the list, click the “Save to text file” button, which is positioned in the lower-right corner of the Uninstall window.
Saving the File
A “Save As” dialog box will appear. Use this window to navigate to the desired location for saving the text file.
Enter a descriptive name for the file in the “File name” field, and then click the “Save” button to finalize the process.
Accessing Your Program List
The process is now complete, and you will have a text file containing a list of all programs installed on your computer.
This list includes key details for each program, such as the developing company, installation date, file size, and version number.
Formatting and Storage
The data within the text file is formatted using tabs, allowing for easy import into other applications.
For improved readability, you can open the text file in a word processor like Microsoft Word and convert the tab-delimited text into a table.
However, remember that accessing a Word document requires Microsoft Word to be installed on the target system.
To ensure accessibility after a system reinstall or migration, it is recommended to save the text file (or the converted Word file) to an external storage device, such as a USB drive, or a cloud-based storage service.