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Subject: "How can I get XP to see these programs??" Previous topic | Next topic
1DCAceSun Sep-12-04 06:39 PM
Member since Sep 12th 2004
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"How can I get XP to see these programs??"


          

Having ridden to the rescue and saved everything on my friend's laptop's dying harddrive, I now need to get his new laptop's install of XP pro to see the programs I've put on it. (I had to transfer everything on his drive to a partition on my desktop, then on to his new laptop)

In a perfect world, I'd like it to see things like the file with the desktop shortcuts, wallpaper and such from the old drive, which are now in residence. (Nice guy, but he knows **nothing** about computers...and, of course, has no idea where all his installation disks may be). More importantly though, I want to make sure he can access the programs he needs.

Can anyone suggest a way to get XP to play along???
Many thanks.

"If Stupidity got us into this mess; then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

  

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Replies to this topic
Subject Author Message Date ID
RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
Sep 12th 2004
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RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
Sep 12th 2004
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      RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
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           RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
Sep 12th 2004
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                RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
Sep 12th 2004
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                     RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
Sep 12th 2004
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                          RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
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                               RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??
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Night_rider666Sun Sep-12-04 07:20 PM
Member since Feb 15th 2002
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#1. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to 1DCAce (Reply # 0)
Sun Sep-12-04 07:23 PM by Night_rider666

  

          


Welcome to the Forum

If you mean you've copied across the Program folders from the dying harddrive, clean installed XP to a new harddrive and want to copy the Program folder back and have the programs work it's not gonna happen.

Most programs not only install files and folders but add entries to the registry to allow them to work. Without the registry entries, which you won't have if you've clean installed, the vast majority of programs will not work.

The programs will need reinstalling - tell him to get searching

If you just copied across the C: drive you should be able to recover emails and such - it's just a case of moving it to the new installation.




'Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity'

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1DCAceSun Sep-12-04 07:31 PM
Member since Sep 12th 2004
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#2. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to Night_rider666 (Reply # 1)


          

>
>If you mean you've copied across the Program folders from the
>dying harddrive, clean installed XP to a new harddrive and
>want to copy the Program folder back and have the programs
>work it's not gonna happen.
>
>Most programs not only install files and folders but add
>entries to the registry to allow them to work. Without the
>registry entries, which you won't have if you've clean
>installed, the vast majority of programs will not work.
>
>The programs will need reinstalling - tell him to get
>searching
>


Thank you!
As I recall, that's what the end process was (I tried everything, including PCRelocator, which is a nice idea, but is very restricted in what it will do).
So far the only ideas I've been able to come up with are to try to use the repair function to get it to see what's there, or make shortcuts to the .exe files for the programs and dump them on the desktop and hope for the best. The last resort would be to try to get in to the registry files from the old drive and copy the keys...but I'm not sure even the regular offerings of roses are enough for that kind of drudgery, especially when I'm not sure if it would work.

If I may vent for a moment, to all who want help with their computer problems--if your advisor says your hard drive looks like it's failing in February, DO NOT wait until August to panic when trouble starts and expect things to go smoothly
And just hand over any and all disks to your advisor, who will then be able to find them when you mess something ELSE up.

"If Stupidity got us into this mess; then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

  

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Night_rider666Sun Sep-12-04 07:41 PM
Member since Feb 15th 2002
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#3. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to 1DCAce (Reply # 2)


  

          


He'll just have to find the CD's or find alternatives. Some major programs may have thousands of entries in the registry. With some really small, simple programs you may be able to just make a shortcut but the majority will be fubarred. Just go to the copy you made and double click the exe files in the Program folders. You'll get the same errors that you'll get if you transfer the folders straight over.

Doesn't matter how many times you advise people of the easy way to go about things they never listen until it's too late

A friend of mine thought me really geeky to have hard drive imaging software. Until 6 months later when he lost his 3rd drive Now he's a convert




'Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity'

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1DCAceSun Sep-12-04 08:04 PM
Member since Sep 12th 2004
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#4. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to Night_rider666 (Reply # 3)


          

>
>He'll just have to find the CD's or find alternatives. Some
>major programs may have thousands of entries in the registry.
>With some really small, simple programs you may be able to
>just make a shortcut but the majority will be fubarred. Just
>go to the copy you made and double click the exe files in the
>Program folders. You'll get the same errors that you'll get if
>you transfer the folders straight over.
>
>Doesn't matter how many times you advise people of the easy
>way to go about things they never listen until it's too late
>
>
>A friend of mine thought me really geeky to have hard drive
>imaging software. Until 6 months later when he lost his 3rd
>drive Now he's a convert
>


Thanks--I appreciate having not only the info, but the backup when I break the news to him. The one thing on my side right now is time--the longer he uses the laptop as it is, the better my case is that he doesn't really need *some* of the orphans...

I just have this sinking feeling that I'm the ones who's going to have to find ways to get a disks or downloads for some of that stuff. That's going to cost him a LOT more than roses

Yes, isn't it amazing that they make fun of us geeks because we have things like imaging software and backup regularly. Of course, those who do make smart remarks get the sweet smile and the comment that I may be a geek, but I'm a geek who's never lost her data. Oh, and by the way, I hope you know a good repair shop/data recovery service or whatever it is, since I'm not going to clean up your mess for you..

"If Stupidity got us into this mess; then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

  

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Night_rider666Sun Sep-12-04 08:15 PM
Member since Feb 15th 2002
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#5. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to 1DCAce (Reply # 4)


  

          


A clean install is always good for weeding out the extra crap we stick on there but never use again. Then it starts to build up a new layer




'Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity'

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1DCAceSun Sep-12-04 08:25 PM
Member since Sep 12th 2004
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#6. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to Night_rider666 (Reply # 5)


          

>
>A clean install is always good for weeding out the extra crap
>we stick on there but never use again. Then it starts to build
>up a new layer
>


At the moment my plan is to make him sit there next to me as I go through the program files and answer yes or no to whether he actually *uses* each. If he says yes, he'll have to tell me for what before I put it on the list of things to find. I'm betting half of it is stuff that was pre-loaded that he's never even looked at and would never use. I may *suggest* that he not load anything, if he needs or wants a new program--I'll do it...

He does grasp that the cleaner and less cluttered, the better applies here! ...I think...


"If Stupidity got us into this mess; then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

  

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Bob HSun Sep-12-04 10:52 PM
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#7. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to 1DCAce (Reply # 6)
Sun Sep-12-04 10:53 PM by Bob H

  

          

If you can still access the old HD and use a true imaging program, like DI or True Image, to yours, you can copy it to a new HD and it should be ready to go.

edit: but if it's a completely new PC, that won't work.



  

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1DCAceMon Sep-13-04 03:18 AM
Member since Sep 12th 2004
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#8. "RE: How can I get XP to see these programs??"
In response to Bob H (Reply # 7)


          

>If you can still access the old HD and use a true imaging
>program, like DI or True Image, to yours, you can copy it to a
>new HD and it should be ready to go.
>
>edit: but if it's a completely new PC, that won't work.

What I've got, other than an urge to give the owner a swift kick, is a copy of the entire C: drive on a partition on my computer. The new laptop is completely new, I installed XP Pro on it for him and loaded a couple of things he couldn't manage without, like his AOL and Norton Utilities and Anti-virus. I tried to use Ghost and it hacked hairballs left and right trying to ghost the old drive. PC Relocator claimed it have moved everything--but it moved file FOLDERS, not the files.... This has been quite an adventure, to say the least.

I'm still willing to try something that has a chance of working, but I'm reaching the end of my patience. I mean, he's cute, but NOBODY is that cute, if you know what I mean...

I really appreciate any suggestions anyone has...
Thanks!

"If Stupidity got us into this mess; then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers

  

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