Backup/copy program files

[Magsmom]

I have purchased a new pc. I have a number of software programs on my old
compute that I do not have the original installation disks for, either
because they were downloaded programs, or in the case of my Microsoft Office,
I have misplaced the original CD's and license info.

Can these applications be successfully backed up, or copied to, an external
hard drive and then installed on my new computer?

 

[Jim]

I have purchased a new pc. I have a number of software programs on my old
compute that I do not have the original installation disks for, either
because they were downloaded programs, or in the case of my Microsoft
Office,
I have misplaced the original CD's and license info.

Can these applications be successfully backed up, or copied to, an
external
hard drive and then installed on my new computer?

Only if the old program did not make any changes to the registry. Since it
can be quite difficult to determine how old programs were installed, the
practical answer is no.
Jim

 

[Rich Barry]

No, most of the programs need reinstallation due to entries they make in
the Registry. FYI, if you create a image of your system or drive then
whatever programs you have installed
at the time of the image creation will be there when you restore the
image.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have purchased a new pc. I have a number of software programs on my old
compute that I do not have the original installation disks for, either
because they were downloaded programs, or in the case of my Microsoft Office,
I have misplaced the original CD's and license info.

Can these applications be successfully backed up, or copied to, an external
hard drive and then installed on my new computer?

No. Except for a very occasional very small program, all programs have
entries and references within the registry and elsewhere in \windows.
They can't be run under Windows unless they were *installed* in that
copy of Windows.

For the programs that were downloaded, simply download them again. For
Microsoft Office, if you've lost the CDs and especially the license
info, you are probably out of luck, and will need to buy it again.

 

[Dave Cohen]

I have purchased a new pc. I have a number of software programs on my old
compute that I do not have the original installation disks for, either
because they were downloaded programs, or in the case of my Microsoft Office,
I have misplaced the original CD's and license info.

Can these applications be successfully backed up, or copied to, an external
hard drive and then installed on my new computer?

You can try it. Nothing lost and in at least some cases an application
will run and add registry values and/or use default.
Dave Cohen