RUN OLD PROGRAMS ON NEW COMPUTER?

[bygeek]

I have a friend who wants to buy a new pc, but does not have the cd's for some of the software he has on his existing hard drive. It's all legal, he just lost them. If he buys a new computer, can we put his existing hard drive in the new machine as a slave and still run the existing programs off the slave? does the master have to have the same o/s?

 

[KimLeece]

It depends on the programs. Many programs write some files into Windows directories (.dll's etc) - and add entries in the registry. These will not run without a full re-install. Some programs however are "stand-alone" in that all the files neccessary are in the programs own directory - these would run ok.

Kim Leece.

 

[bygeek]

Thanks, Kim. Is there any way to tell what programs would or would not run?

 

[KimLeece]

You could get some idea by looking in the registry.
HKey_Local_Machine>Software lists what has been installed.
Regedit.exe in the Windows directory will open it - but be careful when it's open - don't change or save anything unless you know what you are doing! You can safely browse it though and just close it when you have finished.

Kim Leece.

 

[KimLeece]

One idea might work. I presume the drive now has the OS still on it? If you simply use the new drive with whatever OS for new programs then you could probably use a bootloader and boot from the original drive when you want to use one of the older programs. This would mean though that you have to keep the old drive on the same Drive letter that it is now as many programs include the drive letter in their config files. I noticed that Wolluf (I hope he doen't mind) gave this as a place to get a bootloader:

http://www.boot-us.com).

You will also have to intall some new drivers for the new hardware to the old drive - but using a bootloader you could also install a new OS on the new drive.

Kim Leece.

 

[wolluf]

Kim - I certainly don't mind!

Couple of things - if bygeek does want to boot from o/s on old drive, depending on the o/s, there's a lot of advice about how to prepare for the move (basically by removing as many drivers for the existing hardware - particularly motherboard - as possible), as such moves can sometimes render the operating system unbootable.
Also - if you use boot-us, the old system should retain its (presumably C drive letter wherever you put it.
Finally, with dual boot in place, you could try copying the Program Files folders over to new operating system and trying out the apps. As you will still have system files on old disk, if when you run app it complains of missing dll etc, that dll may be on old drive (though, with different o/s it may not be) - so you could copy it across too.

 

[KimLeece]

Thanks Wolluf!

bygeek - out of interest - what operating system does your mate have now? Does he want to change this OS on the new machine. If he didn't and is happy with whatever he's using now then there shouldn't be too many problems with this. Could you post us back current OS/desired new OS/current hardware/potential new hardware? It would make it easier to judge what to advise!

Kim Leece.

 

[bygeek]

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. He has a compaq presario probably 2-3 years old running win98, not sure of processor. He uses it in a small recording studio in conjuction with some very expensive recording equipment and mixing software. He's getting some buzzing noises intermittently on some of his recordings, and it may be some interference from his motherboard, since he's already tried 2 different sound cards (very expensive ones). My thinking is that he really needs some additional "horsepower" anyway, so why not upgrade to a new system with more power? New o/s would probably be xp, but i'm not sure because there may be some hardware compatibility issues, so we may stick with 98 or go with 2000. There's also a possibility that the noise is coming from his cd burner, so he's supposed to borrow another one to test it out and let me know.

Thanks for the help....