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Windows Migration Made Easy: Scans your current Windows system → Restores everything on a fresh Windows system

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🚀 ReWin - Windows Migration Made Easy

Too lazy to setup a new Windows system? Scan, backup, and restore everything in minutes.

Migrate your entire Windows setup effortlessly:

  • Scan your current system → Copy folder → Install Windows fresh → Restore everything
  • No complex bootable USB workflows, no confusing menus
  • All your software, settings, licenses, and configs - exactly as you left them

Tested on Windows 11

TODO:

  • improve online lookup of software not on knrepos - for now just google search links are provided for each, in manual_downloads.md (produced by the restore tool on request, in your chosen ouput folder).

⚠️ Important - Please Read

This tool is designed for clean installations:

  • ✅ Perfect for: Fresh Windows installs, new hardware, system rebuilds
  • ❌ Not for: Running on already-configured systems you're actively using

Use at your own risk:

  • This tool modifies system settings and installs software
  • Only use the Restore function RIGHT AFTER installing fresh Windows
  • Don't restore on systems you've been using for a while - it may overwrite settings
  • Always test on non-critical systems first
  • Keep backups and a bootable Windows USB handy

The author assumes no responsibility for data loss or system damage.

✨ Features

  • ✅ Complete System Scanner - Finds ALL installed software (Registry, Store, Winget, Chocolatey, Portable apps)
  • ✅ License Key Extraction - Windows product key, WiFi passwords, Office keys
  • ✅ Smart Config Backup - Environment variables, tasks, services, file associations, app configs
  • ✅ Automatic Username Path Replacement - Paths update automatically if you use a different username
  • ✅ Package Manager Integration - Auto-maps software to Winget/Chocolatey for one-click reinstall
  • ✅ Live Download URL Resolver - Finds fresh download links with architecture detection (GitHub, Winget, & Official Vendor sites)
  • ✅ Persistent Debug Logging - Full audit trail for both scan and restore processes
  • ✅ Selective Restore - Choose exactly what to restore with GUI checkboxes
  • ✅ Simple Workflow - No bootable USB complexity, just scan → copy → restore

📋 Step 1: Scan Your Current System

Before you reinstall Windows or switch hardware:

  1. Right-click Launch-Scanner-GUI.vbs → Run as Administrator
  2. Click "Run Scanner" and select where to save the scan
  3. Wait for scan to complete (PowerShell window closes automatically)
  4. Click "Export Migration Package" in the GUI
  5. Save the output folder to:
    • USB drive (easiest)
    • Cloud storage (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive)
    • External hard drive
    • Network location

✅ What gets scanned:

  • All installed software (Registry, Store, Winget, Chocolatey, portable apps)
  • Windows product key + WiFi passwords
  • Environment variables + PATH settings
  • Browser bookmarks (Chrome, Edge)
  • VS Code, Git, SSH, Terminal configurations
  • Application settings (VS Code, Cursor IDE, Claude, OpenAI)
  • System preferences and file associations

💿 Step 2: Install Fresh Windows

On your new system or after format:

  1. Boot and install Windows normally
  2. Complete Windows setup (use any username you want - it auto-adjusts!)

💡 Tip: Don't worry if you use a different username than your old system - ReWin automatically updates all file paths in environment variables to match your new username.

🔄 Step 3: Restore Everything

On your fresh Windows installation:

  1. Copy your saved scan folder to the new system

  2. Copy this ReWin project to the new system

  3. Right-click Launch-Restore-GUI.vbs → Run as Administrator

  4. In the Restore GUI:

    • Overview tab: Understand what will happen
    • Software tab: Review what will be installed (399+ items)
    • Online Installer Lookup tab: Find fresh download URLs for software not in package managers
    • Restore Options tab: Select what to restore:
      • ✅ Enabled by default: Licenses, Env Vars, Network, File Associations, Windows Settings
      • ⬜ Optional: Scheduled Tasks, Service Configuration
    • Configuration tab: See all backed-up configurations
    • Drive Settings tab: Choose where to install apps/data (C:, D:, etc.)
    • Progress tab: Monitor restoration progress

  5. Online Installer Lookup tab (for manual downloads):

    • Click "Search All for Download URLs" to bulk search for software
    • Tool finds fresh download links via GitHub API, Winget fuzzy matching, and official vendor mappings
    • Architecture-specific links detected (x64/x86)
    • Results saved to manual_downloads.md and appear in the Select to Download list
    • Batch download selected installers directly to your choose folder

  6. Click "Full Restore" and wait:

    • Installs software via Winget
    • Installs software via Chocolatey
    • Restores WiFi passwords
    • Restores environment variables (with username auto-replacement)
    • Applies Windows settings
    • Restores file associations

  7. Done! Your system is restored with all your software, settings, and configurations.

🎯 What This Tool Does

Scans & Backs Up:

  • ✅ All installed software from Registry, Store, Winget, Chocolatey
  • ✅ Windows + Office product keys, WiFi passwords
  • ✅ Environment variables (PATH, custom vars)
  • ✅ VS Code, Git, SSH, Terminal, PowerShell configs
  • ✅ Browser bookmarks (Chrome, Edge)
  • ✅ Application settings (Cursor, Claude, OpenAI Desktop)
  • ✅ Scheduled tasks, services, file associations
  • ✅ Maps software to Winget/Chocolatey for automated reinstall

Restores on Fresh Windows:

  • ✅ Auto-installs all your software via package managers
  • ✅ Provides fresh download URLs for manual installs
  • ✅ Restores WiFi passwords automatically
  • ✅ Restores environment variables with automatic username path replacement
  • ✅ Applies Windows settings and preferences
  • ✅ Restores all app configurations
  • ✅ Selectively restore only what you want (GUI checkboxes)

🔑 License Keys - What Gets Extracted

Product What's Saved Notes
Windows Full product key Extracted from BIOS/Registry
Office 2010-2016 Full product key Volume license keys
Office 2019/2021 Retail Partial key (last 5 chars) Check your email receipt or Microsoft account
Office 365/Microsoft 365 Account info only Just sign in with your Microsoft account
WiFi Networks Full passwords All saved WiFi profiles

💡 Office Note: Microsoft 365 users don't need product keys - just reinstall Office and sign in with your account.

⚙️ Advanced Options

Quick Software Install (No Config Restore)

Only reinstall software, skip settings:

ReWin.bat → [4] Quick Install
  • Installs all software via Winget/Chocolatey
  • Skips environment variables, WiFi, app configs
  • Fastest option for clean slate with same software

Direct Launcher Shortcuts

Launch-Scanner-GUI.bat        # Opens scanner GUI
Launch-Restore-GUI.bat        # Opens restore GUI (needs admin)

Manual Command Line

# Scan only
.\src\scanner\main_scanner.ps1 -OutputPath "C:\Backup"

# Restore only configs (no software install)
.\src\restore\restore_config.ps1 -ScanFolder "C:\Backup\Scan_..."

# Refresh manual download URLs
.\src\restore\manual_download_resolver.ps1 -ScanFolder "C:\Backup\Scan_..."

🛠️ System Requirements

  • Fresh Windows 10/11
  • PowerShell 5.1+
  • Python 3.8+ (for GUI)
  • Admin rights
  • Internet connection (Restore on New System only)

📦 Complete Scan Output

After scanning, your migration package contains:

Scan_2026-01-14_230046/
├── software_inventory.json        # All installed software
├── license_keys.json              # Windows key, WiFi passwords  
├── config_backup.json             # Environment vars, settings
├── scan_summary.json              # Scan statistics
├── scan_log.txt                   # Detailed scan log
├── manual_downloads.md            # Software not in package managers
├── package_mappings.json          # Winget/Choco package IDs
├── AppConfigs/                    # Application settings
│   ├── VSCode/
│   │   ├── settings.json
│   │   ├── extensions.txt
│   │   └── snippets/
│   ├── Git/
│   │   └── .gitconfig
│   ├── SSH/
│   │   ├── config
│   │   ├── known_hosts
│   │   └── *.pub keys
│   ├── Chrome/
│   │   └── Bookmarks
│   ├── Edge/
│   │   └── Bookmarks
│   └── WindowsTerminal/
│       └── settings.json
└── Installers/                    # Downloaded installers (optional)

📁 What's Inside

ReWin/
├── ReWin.bat                     # Main menu launcher
├── Launch-Scanner-GUI.bat        # Direct scanner launch
├── Launch-Restore-GUI.bat        # Direct restore launch
├── src/
│   ├── scanner/
│   │   ├── main_scanner.ps1      # Scans system
│   │   ├── software_scanner.ps1  # Finds installed software
│   │   ├── license_extractor.ps1 # Extracts keys & passwords
│   │   └── package_mapper.ps1    # Maps to Winget/Choco
│   ├── backup/
│   │   └── config_backup.ps1     # Backs up configs
│   ├── restore/
│   │   ├── restore_config.ps1    # Restores everything (with username replacement)
│   │   └── manual_download_resolver.ps1 # Finds fresh download URLs
│   └── gui/
│       ├── scanner_gui.py        # Scanner interface
│       └── restore_gui.py        # Restore interface
└── output/                       # Scan results stored here

🤔 FAQ & Troubleshooting

GUI won't start?

  • Install Python: winget install Python.Python.3.12
  • Restart terminal after installation

Software installation or restore fails?

  • Check internet connection
  • Review restore_debug.txt and restore_installer_lookup_debug.txt in your scan folder for detailed errors
  • Review scan_log.txt for issues related to the initial scan
  • Check manual_downloads.md for manual links if automation fails

Different username on new system?

  • No worries! Environment variable paths auto-update
  • Example: C:\Users\OldName\ → C:\Users\NewName\

Want to restore only some things?

  • Use the Restore GUI checkboxes
  • Default enabled: Licenses, Env Vars, Network, File Associations, Windows Settings
  • Optional: Scheduled Tasks, Service Configuration

📝 Manual Download Resolver

For software not in package managers, the resolver finds fresh download URLs:

Features:

  • Live lookups from GitHub releases and vendor sites
  • Architecture detection (x64/x86)
  • Direct download links for verified software
  • Search fallback for unknown software

How to use:

  1. In Restore GUI → Online Installer Lookup tab
  2. Click "Search All for Download URLs"
  3. Wait for live URL searches to complete
  4. View results directly in the tab or open manual_downloads.md to see organized links
  5. Download and install manually or copy URLs as needed

Results Organization:

  • ✅ Ready - Direct download URLs found
  • 🔍 Manual Search - Google search link provided
  • ❌ Unable to Find - Needs manual search

📄 License

MIT License - Free to use, modify, and redistribute (personal or commercial) with attribution.

Must include:

  • Copyright notice with original author
  • Copy of MIT License

See LICENSE file for full text.

👤 Author & Contact

Jany Martelli

Contributing: Fork, improve, and submit PRs! Attribution appreciated.

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Windows Migration Made Easy: Scans your current Windows system → Restores everything on a fresh Windows system

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