Hard drive died now i got broken software and can't fix it


  1. SirChick
    Posts : 36
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Hard drive died now i got broken software and can't fix it


    So i had software installed on a hard drive that died.

    When i now reinstall the software it claims it already is installed, but if i go to add and remove programs it does not list any such program as being installed... clearly some residual information is left on my main drive or something but i do not know how to clean up such data related to software that was on my dead hard drive.

    Does any one know what causes this issue and how to fix it ?

    Windows 10 version number: 1909
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  3. Berton
    Posts : 14,022
    Win10 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home, Win7, Linux Mint
       New #2

    That can happen when custom installing programs on drives different from the OS, Registry entries are still pointing to the software as being installed. It was similar back in the Shareware days, try and buy or uninstall but there was always a pointer left behind when uninstalling so it couldn't be done again. After some frustrating tries the definitive solution was to reinstall the OS. This may be a time to use a Registry cleaner but that's the last thing to try keeping in mind it may still be necessary to clean install everything.
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  4. idgat
    Posts : 2,144
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       New #3

    SirChick said:
    So i had software installed on a hard drive that died. Did you do a clean (re) install of Windows ?

    When i now reinstall the software it claims it already is installed, but if i go to add and remove programs it does not list any such program as being installed... clearly some residual information is left on my main drive or something but i do not know how to clean up such data related to software that was on my dead hard drive.
    Firstly, can we assume that you're re-installing the software onto a new drive ? Did you do a clean (re)install of Windows (or was it imaged) ?


    What is the software ? Some types of software have limitations on the number of (re)installs, irrespective of when and where it's being (re)installed - the error message about being already installed relates to it having been done before, anywhere, and not necessarily on the current (new?) OS.
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  6. SirChick
    Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    I'm trying to install the software on a new drive.

    The windows 10 is the same OS as ever I've never reinstalled it since i first got it as its never done anything wrong - that particular drive with the OS (my SSD) did not die. The drive that died was just all my programs/games etc.

    The software is Steam launcher for games. I can install it as many times as i want if it will work. I'm sure other software will have same issues - steam was just the first thing i tried.

    Are we sure i can't just delete all registry files that point to software on the drive that i have since removed? I don't want to reinstall my OS when all my other drives are fine, plus then those software that are still working will not have their registry files and it would be broken on all drives then.
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  7. idgat
    Posts : 2,144
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       New #5

    SirChick said:
    I'm trying to install the software on a new drive.

    Are we sure i can't just delete all registry files that point to software on the drive that i have since removed? I don't want to reinstall my OS when all my other drives are fine, plus then those software that are still working will not have their registry files and it would be broken on all drives then.
    Still confused ... if it's a new installation (OS and software) on a new drive, there should be no registry entries to delete ?

    EDIT : Now thinking a bit more ... was it installed on a different drive to the crashed OS ?
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  8. SirChick
    Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    The drive with the OS is fine (The C drive). That is on my SSD. I have not reinstalled windows or anything as nothing is wrong with that drive.

    The drive that died was just a hard drive with random software installed on it.
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  9. eLPuSHeR
    Posts : 2,935
    Windows 10 Home x64
       New #7

    Make sure drive letter and path stays the same as before.
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  10. SirChick
    Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    eLPuSHeR said:
    Make sure drive letter and path stays the same as before.
    Huh? I think you misread what i said..the drive is dead i don't have a replacement the other drives already exist.
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  12. eLPuSHeR
    Posts : 2,935
    Windows 10 Home x64
       New #9

    Well. Can you assign same drive letter as before even if it involves making new partitions?
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  13. SirChick
    Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    I don't really want to make partitions i just want to install it on another drive and clean up old pointers of my dead drive.

    Even if i do that, it would still claim the software exists but the OS claims it does not so i still have the same problems.
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