Dumb question re back up

[Harry Binswanger hb@xxxxxxxx]

Since we're all talking backup...
I'm thinking of upgrading from win98 to win98SE. (My win98 suddenly locks
in to 100% processor usage and slows down--it needs at least a re-install
and it's time for me to reach 1999-level technology.).
Which brings up the issue of preventing re-installing all my apps. I backup
by copying every file from my Boot-and-Main-Drive (C:) over to a physically
separate drive (D:). I use Xcopy32, from within Windows, and it copies
everything except the swap file and a few other in-use files.
My dumb question is: since all the files for all my apps are on D:, is
there any way to scrub C:, install say win98SE, then do some kind of bulk
copying back from D: to re-install the apps? I guess I'm dreaming. I was
thinking about things like copying D:\Windows\System to
C:\Windows\System. But I take it that the idiocy of Windows includes NOT
separating app-files from OS-files in any way that would allow this kind of
restoring of apps.

Or is there hope?



Harry Binswanger
hb@xxxxxxxx