Software to document/archive post-OS apps installed.

Is there software out there which can document what applications I have installed on my laptop (after it came with OS pre-installed form factory) and maybe even where I can download/install it from?

I am thinking of the scenario where your OS crashes and you need to reinstall the OS or restore to factory image. Having a list of applications which were installed on the pc pre-crash would be a huge help in re-instating the pc to where it was pre-crash.

right now I have an excel spreadsheet where I have the app name, source (CD/DVD, URL, etc) serial, etc...

 

Try Belac Advisor

Belarc Advisor builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, missing Microsoft hotfixes, anti-virus status, CIS (Center for Internet Security) benchmarks, and displays the results in your Web browser.

 

Thanks - this rocks! All I could figure out was to save the html (or as pdf) on an external HDD - does it actually save the info somewhere else?

 

The html file should be located here:

(should be the same for Vista)

or just print it as a PDF with CUTEPDF(its adds a virtual printer to your list of printers-comes in handy when you dont want to copy/paste or waste paper )