How do you retrieve your old programs after you have changed your os?

I can not get my old systems programs(vista) on to my upgrade os system 7. Do I need an external hard drive to down load it on or is there a way to get it without one?

2011-07-03T00:14:12Z

cloud service?

David C2011-07-03T00:16:18Z

When you upgrade from Vista to Windows 7, and it says to backup the files, ignore it, just keep installing 7, if you already installed win 7, look for the file name Windows.old, has all your old files IE Programfiles(x86)

Sergei Carter2011-07-03T00:11:26Z

If theres not a cloud service for that theen noo