Running software from a slave drive?

[dirtydan_uk1]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer
have the cd or have it on floppy.[My new pc has no floppy]
Is there any way I can run software from my old disc?

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

 

[Kerry Brown]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer
have the cd or have it on floppy.[My new pc has no floppy]
Is there any way I can run software from my old disc?

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The most likely answer is no. There are some programs that will run without
being installed. They are rare. Most programs need to be installed as they
write information to the registry that is needed for the program to
function.

 

[dirtydan_uk1]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer

[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The most likely answer is no. There are some programs that will run without
being installed. They are rare. Most programs need to be installed as they
write information to the registry that is needed for the program to
function.

Thanks Kerry,
Is it possible to switch between the 2 as the old drive has Windows xp prof.
installed?

 

[Alias]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer

[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The most likely answer is no. There are some programs that will run without
being installed. They are rare. Most programs need to be installed as they
write information to the registry that is needed for the program to
function.

Thanks Kerry,
Is it possible to switch between the 2 as the old drive has Windows xp prof.
installed?

No, because the new motherboard would freak out. What you need to do is
re-install all the programs onto your new computer, sorry.

Alias

 

[Kerry Brown]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer

[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The most likely answer is no. There are some programs that will run
without being installed. They are rare. Most programs need to be
installed as they write information to the registry that is needed
for the program to function.

Thanks Kerry,
Is it possible to switch between the 2 as the old drive has Windows
xp prof. installed?

It's possible, but again unlikely. You would have to edit the boot.ini file
to set up a dual boot then most likely perform a repair install on the old
installation. As Alias has pointed out the hardware has changed. Windows
will need new drivers for the new hardware.

 

[DL]

Well you could but it would require some specific installation / repair
procedures and I note you say 'I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak'
which leads me to suspect that the procedures might be a little involved for
you.
It might also depend on you having a retail winxp cd as apposed to
OEM/Restore cd

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer

[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The most likely answer is no. There are some programs that will run without
being installed. They are rare. Most programs need to be installed as they
write information to the registry that is needed for the program to
function.

Thanks Kerry,
Is it possible to switch between the 2 as the old drive has Windows xp prof.
installed?

 

[dirtydan_uk1]

Thanks all..I'll just transfer any floppy progs to a cd at work and try to
recover any discs I can..Thanks for all your help.
Dirtydan//[quite clean really lol...]

Well you could but it would require some specific installation / repair
procedures and I note you say 'I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak'
which leads me to suspect that the procedures might be a little involved for
you.
It might also depend on you having a retail winxp cd as apposed to
OEM/Restore cd
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]

Is it possible to switch between the 2 as the old drive has Windows xp prof.
installed?

 

[Vanguard]

I have recently purchased a new pc but I have a lot of
software on my old hard drive that I either no longer
have the cd or have it on floppy.[My new pc has no floppy]
Is there any way I can run software from my old disc?

p.s. I am definitely NOT adept at computer-speak.,,,,,,,,,,,,
In anticipation ... Cheers!

The software made changes to the registry. Some of those registry keys
may list the location of the program along with data paths. How good
are you at editing the registry? There also may be config files for the
program that you will need to edit. From your self-description, you
don't have the expertise to make the software work on a different volume
(i.e., the second drive which was the old drive).

When the old drive dies, you will lose all that software, anyway. Start
shopping for replacements.

You bought a new computer but cannot afford an $8 floppy drive?

Is the drive that came in the new computer actually better than what you
had in the old computer? That is, is the new hard drive better than the
old hard drive? If not, why not use the old hard drive as the OS drive?
You will need to perform an in-place upgrade (i.e., Repair) using the
Windows installation CD to update the OS install on the old drive so it
syncs to the new hardware for the new computer.