title: EC2 AMI and installed third party software - how does this work?
body: <p>I've been using a Windows 2008R2 EC2 instance for some time. As of today, it still works. I started working with the AWS API, and I was unable to start my instance using the API, the error message being "not authorized for images", specifically : <strong>An error occurred (AuthFailure) when calling the RunInstances operation: Not authorized for images: [ami-088dab1e]</strong></p>
  
  <p>That's when I learned about deprecation.</p>
  
  <p>From what I read, what this means is that the AMI being used is no longer publicly available. When using the API call "describe-images", this image cannot be queried. While it apparently can still be used from the console, the API simply doesn't support it and will not start an instance using that image ID.  On the console, the AMI description reads : <em>Cannot load details for ami-088dab1e. You may not be permitted to view it.</em></p>
  
  <p>I understand how to find a new image and I think I understand how to launch my instance using a new image.  However, I have lots of custom software installed on this instance. So before I try it, I want to know if I will lose that custom software installation if I launch my existing instance with a new AMI.  I'm hoping that my custom software won't change, but I'm skeptical.  I don't want to fire up a brand new version of Windows and start from scratch. Mostly, I don't want to lose what I've already got.</p>
  
  <p>I know this is a basic question, but I've looked all over, and I haven't yet found a straightforward answer.  I was hoping y'all would know.  Thanks.</p>