Installation programs?

[theelziebub]

Hi all, Can anyone tell me if there is a way of getting programs from one computer to another without using the original installation disks? I lost a couple of program disks recently due to a house move, and now I need to reinstall the programs onto my new computer, and obviously I don't want to fork out for them again, some I can't even buy anymore. Is there anyway to install the programs onto my new computer using the program files or something which are install on my old computer? I was sure there was a way to do it, but I can't remember how. Can anyone help? Thanks all xox

[stevie21]

No chance - the only way you'd have a chance of doing that would be to move your hard drive from one PC to another and then repair the installation of Windows. If you don't know enough about computers that you need to ask the above question then I wouldn't be bursting with confidence at attempting this.

[deggers316]

i would have thought using a usb card or even a camera to put your folder that is your prog on, then plug in into your new comp and transfer to your chosen disk

[ACtheTROLL]

lol love deggers answer

Stevie is nearer the truth
the answer is that you may or may not be successful .... depending on the prog
MS office .... not a cat's chance.... no way pedro

winrar/winzip ... just copy the folder ... re-config the options ... no problem.

the bigger the prog ... the less chance you have (generally)
the older the prog .... the more chance

method 1 .... just copy the files ... you might be lucky.

method 2 ... copy the files .... look in the registry for the relevant sub hive .... export ... merge on the new pc
win rar lives in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WinRAR]

method 3 .... download new versions of the prog ... on the old machine look in help | about ... if you are lucky you'll see the serial number .... if you have an update agreement .... the serial just might work

failing that .... have a garage sale ... sell your old PC ...use the money to buy new copies.

and ofcourse ... if your new PC runs VIsta ... the old 98/2000/xp prog probably won't run anyhow

[Whiskery Ron]

I am being completely untechnical here, but correct me if I am being foolish, can you backup your progs on your old comp & then download them to your new one? WR

[deggers316]

troll.it depends what progs the guys on about ,it could be off some of the cd roms you get off pc advisor etc which like open office could be one,as you say ,he could down load one from the web or as i said make a copy on a disk on his old comp and transfer or plug in a usb card reader or a plug in a camera as that is basically the same as a card reader its not just for photos and transfer it that way,of course if its a cd rom package i e m/s office then ,no chance

[ACtheTROLL]

deggers
Your answer IS very enterprising ... I can think of a couple of tekkie chums who wouldn't think of using a "non related device" as a portable disc - from that angle I love the answer

However I think the question is how to transfer a working program ... between two machines

not how to transfer just the program's files (that's how I read it anyhoo)

[ACtheTROLL]

whiskery
The thing with many progs is that they often use more files than exist in the program's folder (a simple example is file | save as)

you can either write all the code to make this happen (that's why some progs look totally different to "standard" windows progs or have bits missing.

an easier way however is to have your prog use one of a library of common routines (that's what DLLs do) which are part of the windows O/s ....
that way you have a 100% consistent way of working.
ctrl+x, ctrl+c ctrl+v do cut, copy, paste in (almost) all windows apps ... and between most progs as well.

most progs want to prevent you copying them ... and scattered files and/or a well hidden registry entry (that's why you have serial numbers or online activation) hinder you getting away with it

some progs ... CD burner mp3 player need to interract with hardware ... so again the install ties the prog to YOUR setup
(I use a different CD type ... and on my PC it's "m" drive - so my setup is different to yours!)

to make any or all of this happen ... the prog generally needs to be installed correctly....

(bet you whish you hadn't asked ;-)