When it comes to backing up a system, the first thing most people think of is Ghost. But Ghost usually backs up an entire partition. What if you only want to back up a single piece of software?
When many programs are installed, they do more than copy their own program files into the installation folder. They may also add .dll dynamic-link libraries to the Windows installation directory or the WindowsSystem system directory. Some programs also write information to the registry or to other folders. As a result, simply copying a program's installation folder is often useless if you want to back up that software. InstallRite can solve these problems.
Getting to Know InstallRite
InstallRite quick profile:
- Software version: 2.5c
- Software size: 4993 KB
- Software type: freeware
- Supported platforms: Windows 9x/2000/XP
- Download: http://olseeling.qjwm.com/down_1173304.html
- Chinese localization patch: http://olseeling.qjwm.com/down_1173268.html
After the software is installed, whenever you want to install a new application, its installation monitoring feature can save the application's installation data. This information includes system settings, user settings, software defaults, software registration information, and more. InstallRite then stores the generated installation image file as an executable file. You can save this image file on a local hard drive, CD, or server. Later, you can run the image file directly on the same machine or on another computer to complete the corresponding software installation, configuration, registration, and related operations.
So, after that introduction, do you feel like trying it out?
InstallRite Creation Example
To better explain how InstallRite works and what it can do, the following example uses the installation of "SnagIt 6.2.0 Chinese-localized version," a screenshot tool commonly used by technology writers.
Step 1
Run InstallRite and select "Install new software and create an installation package" on the main screen. In the pop-up window for configuring how monitoring should be performed during installation, click the "Configure" button, then set the disks, registry, extensions, and other items to monitor in the window that appears.
Advanced users can modify these settings as needed to capture more additional information. For most users, the default settings are enough.
Step 2
Click "Next." InstallRite will prompt you that, to track a software installation process, a system snapshot must be created before tracking begins.
InstallRite's system snapshot contains information about the current system state. During the subsequent installation wizard process, it uses the snapshot to identify every change caused by the installer. So we must first create a snapshot of the system.
Click "Next," and InstallRite will automatically create the snapshot.
Step 3
In the window that appears after the snapshot is created, InstallRite asks for the filename of the software installer. In the text box under "Setup program to run," enter the path and filename directly, or click the button beside it to browse and select the file. After setting it, click "Next."
Step 4
InstallRite will now automatically open the "SnagIt 6.2.0" installer. Install the English version just as you normally would when installing "SnagIt 6.2.0" by itself.
Because we have not yet installed the "SnagIt 6.2.0 Chinese localization program," nor completed software registration and configuration, click "Please wait... I am not finished yet" in the InstallRite installation wizard window that appears, and choose a waiting time from the pop-up options. InstallRite will then wait in the system tray for our next instruction.
Step 5
Close the running SnagIt 6.2.0, run the Chinese localization program, then open SnagIt 6.2.0 again to complete software registration and configure the related image-capture settings. Exit after the settings are complete.
Step 6
Click the InstallRite icon on the taskbar to return to the wizard window. InstallRite will now rescan the system disk, registry, and other related settings.
After the scan finishes, a dialog box titled "What is the name of the software you are installing?" will appear, asking us to enter the name of the installation package to create. Enter the name and click "OK."
Step 7
In the "Installation Complete" window, click "Build Install Kit," choose where to save the installation package, enter a filename, and click "Save." Then select the installation options in the "Options" window. If the installation package you are creating requires a system restart, you can set that here as well.
After confirming, InstallRite will quickly generate a brand-new installer package for the "SnagIt 6.2.0 Chinese-localized version," including the program files, configuration parameters, registration information, and other data.
From then on, whenever you need to install the "SnagIt 6.2.0 Chinese-localized version" again, you only need to run this installation package, and SnagIt 6.2.0 will immediately be installed, localized into Chinese, registered, and configured.
Usage Tips
Installation packages generated with InstallRite are usually somewhat larger than the original software program. How much larger depends on the software.
When creating an installation package, it is best not to run any applications other than the necessary installer, to avoid adding useless files and information to the package.
In addition to the installation monitoring and packaging mentioned above, InstallRite has another notable feature: installation packages created with it install much faster than running the original installer directly. However, it also has one inconvenience: the installation package reuses the installation directory and related settings from the time it was created, so you cannot freely change them during installation.