I know this is a standard solution, and my machine is full of accumulated stuff, but the task of reinstallaing is so overwhelming that I can't see how it could ever get done, lets say I have 100 applications, that would take me an hour on the average to re-intstall, I have to pull out the CD, get the install passwords [which I actually have an orgazined way of keeping track of]. But then I have to figure out how to re-install each one, which directories, which options etc.

So that 100 hours, which means two weeks work, and I probably have more than 100 applications and it probably will take longer. Then there are all the Windows patches etc. etc.

I started to do this, by rebuilding my machine to have a pull out primary drive and have two different drives I can plug in there,one with a new Windows installation. I can keep my data on the second drive, and windows and programs on the first drive. Theoretically I can then bit by bit reinstall stuff on the newer drive. Thats way I was able to bring up InstallSheild on the newer Windows install drive.

However, it's turning out to be not as easy as I thought.

In the meantime, I just downloaded a 30 demo of the latest InstallShield, and it surpisingly works just fine, on the old Windows.