Have you tried contacting MS and speaking to someone?

I went to their site and left a message, but have not heard back from them. Thought if I mentioned it in a forum, maybe someone else might try contacting microsoft too. I went through my sent messages and it was older than a month - so I don't have the email address anymore.

Im not sure exactly what your asking so before i answer id like to clarify.

Are you asking for a program (or feature) that saves all of your installed applications to an .EXE type launcher? To then use that in your new build or OS?

I was thinking a feature that saves the NAMES of all your programs. That would make it easier to install programs without forgetting programs on a new system. This list on a thumbdrive or a cd would help to get the system running faster.

There are third party programs that will actually transfer programs and data AND registry info to a new machine, crossing the version and bit issues that have always been a problem. Microsoft has never seemed to really care to offer upgrade tools like that, and I almost seem to think it is a marketing strategy... new PC, new software, whether you like it or not.

LapLink's "PCMover" software works very well. I've used it to facilitate moving from XP 32-bit to 7 64-bit. Only issue is that you need A) the old system intact, or B) the old hard disk intact. Not so good for just upgrading one machine, unless you are willing to update the drive, too. This is probably a bit over what you are really looking for.

Just install the Software on a flash drive and then use it again.