Running a software from an external hard drive

[Roy]

Is it possible to run a software installed in another hard drive
already converted to an external one by emplacing it in an HDD casing.
via USB connection?
That converted external drive comes from another pc that was recently
been dismantled( retired<grin>)

 

[R. McCarty]

Not very likely. Years ago software apps were sometimes just a
single executable file. More modern apps are more modular and
depend on Dlls, Registry keys and common components to load
and run.

 

[Roy]

 Not very likely. Years ago software apps were sometimes just a
single executable file. More modern apps are more modular and
depend on Dlls, Registry keys and common components to load
and run.






- Show quoted text -

Hmm, ...
There are programs there where I can't find the installation disks or
the original owner have lost it I am having difficulty installing it
in another pC; that is why I was thinking if I can run that drive in a
soft of virtual PC( if that is possible)
BTW both PC was run by WinXP, the dismanted pc was just Sp1 while the
current pc is Sp2.

If that is the case , is it possible to just copy aparticular
software file from the program files of that hard drive ( converted to
an external drive) to the program file of the local PC? Or is there a
better way to do it.?

 

[Jim]

Not very likely. Years ago software apps were sometimes just a
single executable file. More modern apps are more modular and
depend on Dlls, Registry keys and common components to load
and run.






- Show quoted text -

Hmm, ...
There are programs there where I can't find the installation disks or
the original owner have lost it I am having difficulty installing it
in another pC; that is why I was thinking if I can run that drive in a
soft of virtual PC( if that is possible)
BTW both PC was run by WinXP, the dismanted pc was just Sp1 while the
current pc is Sp2.

If that is the case , is it possible to just copy aparticular
software file from the program files of that hard drive ( converted to
an external drive) to the program file of the local PC? Or is there a
better way to do it.?

===========================================
Programs which require special keys in the registry (such as nearly all
current ones) must be installed from the original media.
So, the answer is no.
Jim

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Only if the software needs no registry entries - which obviously will not be
in your current installation on your internal hard drive. You can reinstall
the software to the external drive, which will create the correct entries in
your current registry.

 

[Roy]

Only if the software needs no registry entries - which obviously will notbe
in your current installation on your internal hard drive.  You can reinstall
the software to the external drive, which will create the correct entriesin
your current registry.
--
Cari (MS-MVP) Printing & Imagingwww.coribright.com/windows






- Show quoted text -

So how about in master slave configuration of two hard drives, will it
not offer any possibility?

 

[Roy]

Only if the software needs no registry entries - which obviously will notbe
in your current installation on your internal hard drive.  You can reinstall
the software to the external drive, which will create the correct entriesin
your current registry.
--

So there is a possibility? Could you please elaborate on this matter
as this sound interesting..

I thought that it was as simple as that( copying one program from the
program files of another HDD into the program folder of an internal
HDD as I remember in the past I did something like that...
I would like to replicate that with the current situation but would
first know the feedbacks from people that may have experienced or
knows something about it.

 

[Nate Grossman]

So there is a possibility? Could you please elaborate on this matter
as this sound interesting..

I thought that it was as simple as that( copying one program from the
program files of another HDD into the program folder of an internal
HDD as I remember in the past I did something like that...
I would like to replicate that with the current situation but would
first know the feedbacks from people that may have experienced or
knows something about it.

You can NOT do what you want to do.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

No.

 

[dadiOH]

Is it possible to run a software installed in another hard drive
already converted to an external one by emplacing it in an HDD casing.
via USB connection?
That converted external drive comes from another pc that was recently
been dismantled( retired<grin>)

Most everyone will tell you no but I tell you there is a good chance it
will. Most will just create new entries in the host registry. If the
program was purchased, it will ask for the registration number again. Try
it and see, won't hurt anything.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[dadiOH]

Most everyone will tell you no but I tell you there is a good chance
it will. Most will just create new entries in the host registry. If
the program was purchased, it will ask for the registration number
again. Try it and see, won't hurt anything.

And to elaborate a bit...

I ran Win98 for years, had many programs on it; don't know exactly how many
but there are 18,678 files in 2,042 folders under "Programs".

About a year and a half ago I switched to XP keeping the Win98 as a dual
boot. The two OSs are on different physical drives. I have not run all the
programs on the Win98 drive with XP but I *have* run a goodly number. All
except a handful run just fine and create new entries in the XP registry.
You usually have to redo any internal settings in the program; the exception
is if the program kept those settings in a INI or CFG file in its folder.

Of those that wouldn't run, most complained of a couple of missing files;
copying those from the Win98 location to the same XP location fixed them. A
few - very few (3? 4?), thus far - just won't work without reinstalling on
XP.

That's my experience, YMMV.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Roy]

Hello Roy. Today, there are portable versions of softwares available
that work exactly the way that you intend them to be. If you could give
us the software name, we could perhaps try and look for a portable
version of it.

Also, if all you want to do is install those programs on the newer
computer, then there is a high probability that it will have a
downloadable version available. So you might want to weigh the options
again.

Let me know which way you want to go.

-- Goku

Thanks goko but the things I am looking are proprietary wares used by
certain laptop companies are hard to come by in portable form...
If I can't find it I will let you know...

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is it possible to run a software installed in another hard drive
already converted to an external one by emplacing it in an HDD casing.
via USB connection?
That converted external drive comes from another pc that was recently
been dismantled( retired<grin>)

The answer depends on what program you are talking about. However, be
aware that almost all programs except an occasional one, typically
small, will *not* permit you to do this.

That's because the program is not just a single file (or even files)
that you can move in that way. Most programs also consist of registry
entries, and other files and references within files located
elsewhere.

You can move data from computer to computer, but you can hardly ever
move programs.

 

[Roy]

The answer depends on what program you are talking about. However, be
aware that almost all programs except an occasional one, typically
small, will *not* permit you to do this.

That's because the program is not just a single file (or even files)
that you can move in that way. Most programs also consist of registry
entries, and other files and references within files located
elsewhere.

You can move data from computer to computer, but you can hardly ever
move programs.

If that is the case, is there a possible tweak make it happen?..
What I mean is....
Is there a any
Can we just move everything for the particular installed software
( including the registry from the converted external HDdrive to in
the internal hard drive of the PC...( lock stock and barrel<grim>)?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

If that is the case, is there a possible tweak make it happen?..
What I mean is....
Is there a any
Can we just move everything for the particular installed software
( including the registry from the converted external HDdrive to in
the internal hard drive of the PC...( lock stock and barrel<grim>)?

No, there's no way I know of to do this. If you move a program from
one place in a computer to another place in the *same* computer, there
is software that purports to search out, find, and change all the
needed references, in the registry and elsewhere. My experience with
such software is that none of it works perfectly, and I wouldn't trust
it.

And moving it to as different computer is far too much even for such
software.

Do not expect to find a way to do this. It is generally impossible.

 

[Roy]

No, there's no way I know of to do this. If you move a program from
one place in a computer to another place in the *same* computer, there
is software that purports to search out, find, and change all the
needed references, in the registry and elsewhere. My experience with
such software is that none of it works perfectly, and I wouldn't trust
it.

And moving it to as different computer is far too much even for such
software.

Do not expect to find a way to do this. It is generally impossible.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well I am asking this question as there are softwares that can be made
portable and can be made to run on any PC

Therefore this led me to think that there is a possibility. If
generally speaking programs are that tenacious then
how come it can be made mobile( converted to portable version)

 

[dadiOH]

No, there's no way I know of to do this. If you move a program from
one place in a computer to another place in the *same* computer, there
is software that purports to search out, find, and change all the
needed references, in the registry and elsewhere. My experience with
such software is that none of it works perfectly, and I wouldn't trust
it.

And moving it to as different computer is far too much even for such
software.

Do not expect to find a way to do this. It is generally impossible.

As an addendum to my previous comments, let me say that all my Win98
installed programs - and the XP under which they continued to run - were
originally on a computer with an MSI mobo. They are now on one with an
ASRock mobo and continue to run. New CPU too, Phenom II x3. Whoopee,
things are zippy

I'm not trying to argue with you because over a number of yeras I've come to
trust and value your advice, just stating my experience.

To the OP, I repeat: try it and see.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

As an addendum to my previous comments, let me say that all my Win98
installed programs - and the XP under which they continued to run - were
originally on a computer with an MSI mobo. They are now on one with an
ASRock mobo and continue to run. New CPU too, Phenom II x3. Whoopee,
things are zippy

I'm not trying to argue with you because over a number of yeras I've come to
trust and value your advice,

Thanks very much for your kind words.

just stating my experience.

To the OP, I repeat: try it and see.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with your advice to try it and see.
As I said, it works with some programs, but very few.

But Roy needs to be very careful not to rely on the possibility that
he will be able to do what he wants. It's highly unlikely, and if he
can do it, it will almost certainly only be for a few programs.

 

[Roy]

Thanks very much for your kind words.



There's absolutely nothing wrong with your advice to try it and see.
As I said, it works with some programs, but very few.

But Roy needs to be very careful not to rely on the possibility that
he will be able to do what he wants. It's highly unlikely, and if he
can do it, it will almost certainly only be for a few programs.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

But there is one burning question that remain , how come, some
software can be made portable...what's the difference with those that
can't...?

 

[Roy]

And to elaborate a bit...

I ran Win98 for years, had many programs on it; don't know exactly how many
but there are 18,678 files in 2,042 folders under "Programs".

About a year and a half ago I switched to XP keeping the Win98 as a dual
boot.  The two OSs are on different physical drives.  I have not run all the
programs on the Win98 drive with XP but I *have* run a goodly number.  All
except a handful run just fine and create new entries in the XP registry.
You usually have to redo any internal settings in the program; the exception
is if the program kept those settings in a INI or CFG file in its folder.

Of those that wouldn't run, most complained of a couple of missing files;
copying those from the Win98 location to the same XP location fixed them. A
few - very few (3? 4?), thus far - just won't work without reinstalling on
XP.

That's my experience, YMMV.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it athttp://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Hmm if you can copy all the missing files then the program will work
100%....?
From that reasoning, If the software files of the converted hard
drive can be copied to the installed internal drive of the PC then the
software willl likely run....

If these programs share the same mechanics on how they run then there
is a likelihood that they can all be made run regardless of their
location... so it solves my problem....
Which means in my case......the niche software that I want to run
outside its location by copying all files and the missing details they
will work?
But how about the registry values, do they have a mind of their own
that can search for themselves their proper location of the hives they
belong?...This area is kinda hazy to me....