If I move my C: drive to a new computer as D: will I be able to run all my SW from D:?

[Gordy]

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a major
nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could put my
present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine. Delete the
windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in the program files
folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these programs run OK? This
would sure make upgrading the computer easier. Please advise. Thanks.

 

[JBM]

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a major
nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could put my
present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine. Delete the
windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in the program files
folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these programs run OK? This
would sure make upgrading the computer easier. Please advise. Thanks.

You might also have to change paths to point
to the correct drive. And no I don't know an
easy way to do this. Actually I think Partition
Magic has a utility that does this.

 

[Norm]

I doubt whether any of your programs would run. The Registry on your new
machine will not have a single entry for any of the programs that were
installed on your drive D, I think that might be a problem.

 

[T.C.]

If you have the Windows XP CD, NOT AN OEM VERSION, that you installed to the
C drive, you can swap that C drive into the new system, boot from the
Windows XP CD and make a Repair Install (to recognize the hardware of the
new system) which will keep all of your software/settings/data files. If
the new system has hardware that doesn't have native Windows XP drivers on
that old Windows XP CD, you'll have to go to the web site of the maker and
download them. You might also have to do product activation again. Then
you can slave the hard drive that came with the new system to the C drive,
and then format it. For a walk through of a Repair Install, including
screen shots, go to:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

When the page opens, scroll down and click on: How To Run A Repair
Install. There is a step by step walk through including images. Your
software, data files, desktop, etc. are retained.

Windows XP Repair Installs have save me a few times. And NO YOU CAN'T USE
THE METHOD THAT YOU DESCRIBED and expect your programs to run. Also, it you
do a Repair Install, and then opt to slave the new drive to the old drive,
you'll have to change the jumpers on the drives. The C drive to be master
with another drive, and the new drive to be slave. Usually the drives have
a sticker on them showing the jumper positions. If not, go to the web site
of the maker and you find the specs there. You will also have to go to the
Windows Update site and reinstall any updates that you previously installed.
With all that I've mentioned above, it you're not tech oriented, it might be
easier to just reinstall the software, and backup and restore any of your
personal data files, from your old system on to the new one.

 

[JBM]

Would this work if you had a one brand and decided
To buy a different brand and both XP activations or either were tied to the
BIOS?

If you have the Windows XP CD, NOT AN OEM VERSION, that you installed to the
C drive, you can swap that C drive into the new system, boot from the
Windows XP CD and make a Repair Install (to recognize the hardware of the
new system) which will keep all of your software/settings/data files. If
the new system has hardware that doesn't have native Windows XP drivers on
that old Windows XP CD, you'll have to go to the web site of the maker and
download them. You might also have to do product activation again. Then
you can slave the hard drive that came with the new system to the C drive,
and then format it. For a walk through of a Repair Install, including
screen shots, go to:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

When the page opens, scroll down and click on: How To Run A Repair
Install. There is a step by step walk through including images. Your
software, data files, desktop, etc. are retained.

Windows XP Repair Installs have save me a few times. And NO YOU CAN'T USE
THE METHOD THAT YOU DESCRIBED and expect your programs to run. Also, it you
do a Repair Install, and then opt to slave the new drive to the old drive,
you'll have to change the jumpers on the drives. The C drive to be master
with another drive, and the new drive to be slave. Usually the drives have
a sticker on them showing the jumper positions. If not, go to the web site
of the maker and you find the specs there. You will also have to go to the
Windows Update site and reinstall any updates that you previously installed.
With all that I've mentioned above, it you're not tech oriented, it might be
easier to just reinstall the software, and backup and restore any of your
personal data files, from your old system on to the new one.
--
T.C.
Pay it forward...
t__cruise@[REMOVE]hotmail.com
Delete [REMOVE] from email address to respond by email

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a

majo

r
nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could put my
present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine. Delete the
windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in the program files
folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these programs run OK? This
would sure make upgrading the computer easier. Please advise. Thanks.

 

[Michael Stevens]

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a
major nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could
put my present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine.
Delete the windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in
the program files folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these
programs run OK? This would sure make upgrading the computer easier.
Please advise. Thanks.

Major can of worms, when moving a working OS to another system you need to
keep the same drive lettering for the best results.
Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Move XP to new hardware.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html
--

Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No, it wouldn't work. You'll need to reinstall the applications.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a major
nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could put my
present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine. Delete the
windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in the program files
folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these programs run OK? This
would sure make upgrading the computer easier. Please advise.

Thanks.

 

[T.C.]

NO.
--
T.C.
Pay it forward...
t__cruise@[REMOVE]hotmail.com
Delete [REMOVE] from email address to respond by email

Would this work if you had a one brand and decided
To buy a different brand and both XP activations or either were tied to the
BIOS?

If you have the Windows XP CD, NOT AN OEM VERSION, that you installed to the
C drive, you can swap that C drive into the new system, boot from the
Windows XP CD and make a Repair Install (to recognize the hardware of the
new system) which will keep all of your software/settings/data files. If
the new system has hardware that doesn't have native Windows XP drivers on
that old Windows XP CD, you'll have to go to the web site of the maker and
download them. You might also have to do product activation again. Then
you can slave the hard drive that came with the new system to the C drive,
and then format it. For a walk through of a Repair Install, including
screen shots, go to:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

When the page opens, scroll down and click on: How To Run A Repair
Install. There is a step by step walk through including images. Your
software, data files, desktop, etc. are retained.

Windows XP Repair Installs have save me a few times. And NO YOU CAN'T USE
THE METHOD THAT YOU DESCRIBED and expect your programs to run. Also, it you
do a Repair Install, and then opt to slave the new drive to the old drive,
you'll have to change the jumpers on the drives. The C drive to be master
with another drive, and the new drive to be slave. Usually the drives have
a sticker on them showing the jumper positions. If not, go to the web site
of the maker and you find the specs there. You will also have to go to the
Windows Update site and reinstall any updates that you previously installed.
With all that I've mentioned above, it you're not tech oriented, it

might

be
easier to just reinstall the software, and backup and restore any of your
personal data files, from your old system on to the new one.
--
T.C.
Pay it forward...
t__cruise@[REMOVE]hotmail.com
Delete [REMOVE] from email address to respond by email

I have tons of SW all Adobe, Norton etc. etc. Reinstalling would be a

majo

r
nightmare. So I was wondering if I get a new machine if I could put my
present 60 Gig C: drive as the D: drive in the new machine. Delete the
windows folder on D: and make shortcuts from all my SW in the program files
folder on Drive D: to the desktop. Will all these programs run OK? This
would sure make upgrading the computer easier. Please advise. Thanks.