How to move a program to a new PC

[DatabaseBen]

cant be done, because some of the files you need are modified operating
system files...
you might move the hd to the other pc, then set up a dual boot...

 

[Mervyn Thomas]

Can anyone advise how to identify all the dll's, registry settings etc
belonging to a program so I can back them up and move them to a new PC?
I've lost the install disk!!

 

[Mervyn Thomas]

Thought perhaps there was a way to replicate manually what "Laplink PC
Mover" appears to do which is to move all the files and registry settings

 

[DatabaseBen]

actually, you can move a program from one folder or partition into another
as long
as its in the same o.s. Otherwise, people would be copying programs from
one pc to another for free.....

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

actually, you can move a program from one folder or partition into
another as long
as its in the same o.s.

No, not at all true. The problem is that almost all programs are not simply
a single file or even a bunch of files. Besides the files that constitute
them, they also have, and need, many entries referring to them and where
they are located--in the registry and elsewhere.

So if you try to move a program, those pointers will all be wrong and the
program won't work. There is software that purports to find and change those
pointers (for example, the freeware COA2.exe) but in my experience these
don't always work perfectly. It's much better and safer to uninstall from
its existing location, and reinstall in the new one.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

actually, you can move a program from one folder or partition into another
as long
as its in the same o.s. Otherwise, people would be copying programs from
one pc to another for free.....

No, that's not true of modern applications. It would work with only
small, self-contained executables.


--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Can anyone advise how to identify all the dll's, registry settings etc
belonging to a program so I can back them up and move them to a new PC?
I've lost the install disk!!

There may still be software available to do this; search Google. Of
course, all such utilities that I've ever heard had to be installed
*before* the application that you want to move, so they can monitor the
installation to identify modified registry keys, files, dlls, etc....


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Can anyone advise how to identify all the dll's, registry settings etc
belonging to a program so I can back them up and move them to a new PC?
I've lost the install disk!!

Contact the application's manufacturer to obtain a replacement.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[DatabaseBen]

i have been successful with moving programs with system mechanic between
folders and partitions.

It may take a good while, but oh well, it makes all
those miniscule changes to the o.s......

But of course, I paid for the software....
My reliance on "freeware" is limited, because there
is usually some underlying reason that it is "free"..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

i have been successful with moving programs with system mechanic
between folders and partitions.

It may take a good while, but oh well, it makes all
those miniscule changes to the o.s......

Yes, as I said, there is software that purports to do this. I mentioned only
one program, as an example. There are several others.

I believe you if you say you've been successful. I know others who have also
been successful. I've even been successful myself. However despite some
successes, there were also failures. It depends on what programs you move.
Such programs find some things, but not others. That's why I said "It's much
better and safer to uninstall from its existing location, and reinstall in
the new one."

 

[DatabaseBen]

oh, sorry..
there are some days i'm not tuned in...

 

[Pop`]

It doesn't work that way.