Can you copy program files over to an external hard drive?

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  1. Posts : 1,255
    Windows 10 Pro
       #11

    hollyoaks777 said:
    Just a thought. They make Billions. If not trillions. If I had the money that's what I would do. Starting up a new company and OS. Then I think you would see everyone move to that OS. Why do they bother about transferring to a new computer. If they shouldn't bother about it.
    Creating a new OS is a huge undertaking. If it wasn't compatible with existing applications, either Windows, Linux, or Mac, it would be a VERY hard sell, no matter how good it was. If it was compatible with existing applications from any platform you would inherit many of their problems, and no doubt create many of your own.
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  2. Posts : 296
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #12

    But not impossible correct? I am sure a software writer could do it. As soon as you launch the program. Make it enter the registry. When you upgrade to a new OS. There must be a similar problem. It's just an idea guys. No need to get carried away with it. I know it wouldn't be easy. But anything is possible. If the time and most important of all money was put in. But it's the same thing no matter what it is all comes down to money. And I am not just talking about computers. I am talking about everything! Greed is the problem.
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  3. Posts : 13,895
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #13

    hollyoaks777 said:
    But not impossible correct?
    No, not impossible but check with the programmers that are providing more than 200 versions of Linux that are available, most are free. The biggest issue with creating a new OS is in not running afoul of any patents and copy rights, just ask those who tried with Lindows.
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  4. Posts : 296
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #14

    That's all I am saying. Not impossible and in 10 years time you will be able to do it. It's funny how people go crazy over an idea. If it wasn't for pushing the boundaries. We wouldn't have what we have today. The end. It will be done in the future. When it's affordable to do. And they can still make huge profits.
    Last edited by hollyoaks777; 14 Jan 2017 at 19:54.
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  5. Posts : 19,516
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       #15

    They are in business to make profit, as big as possible. Even free Linux developers have to make some money to keep going on. Many distros have been abandoned for that raeson.
    Anyway. I think Steam has some way of transferring their games to another disk so it's quite possible for other SW developers to do same thing if they only wanted to.
    There are games and programs other than ones clearly marked as Portable that can work from any storage device. They are mostly ones that don't write anything in registry, use shared or have to register DLLs. First instances of MOHA and COD games were like that.
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  6. Posts : 2,068
    Windows 10 Pro
       #16

    When I reinstall Windows, I look at it as an opportunity to not reinstall a bunch of crap. I install many things with ninite, which makes a nice single installer. I don't reinstall games I am not playing. The rest of the apps are in a folder, probably only about 6 things total. Only takes an hour or so.

    I'd suggest a clean install, then take an image. Then install the stuff you absolutely need, then take another image. Use that second image later to get back to a quick starting point. That first image is good for times when maybe there was a big change, like MS office, or the Adobe Suite or ProTools. Perhaps you would like to start fresh verses installing that 2nd image, uninstalling and then reinstalling.
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  7. Posts : 340
    Windows 10 Home 64 bit (with Creators OS)
       #17

    I have 66 programs on my C drive. With Macrium (free) making regular images of the C drive I am hoping that if I get a crash etc. one of those images will save me.

    However, it is possible for a fault to occur un-noticed some time ago which is contained in all my images but which one day becomes critical for some reason and none of the images will return me to a place before that un-noticed fault occurred. My reaction would be to download from Microsoft's site the current Win 10 system and then laborously reinstall all those (like Adobe Photoshop) which undoubtedly require installation, and simply copy the many simpler programs that do not. I don't see any simpler slution.

    But perhaps permanently storing macrium images every six months (which hopefully would not contain the fault) might save a lot of time.

    I keep a list of the names of all my 66 programs so that I know which to re-install or copy.
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  8. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #18

    hollyoaks777 said:
    Can you copy program files over to an external hard drive? And copy them back onto your hard drive after installing Windows 10 pro? Or do you have to install all the programs again? If so is there any software that would do it for you?
    What are you trying to do? You can simply insert a new licence code to upgrade to Pro or use disk imaging like Macrium reflect if you want to move your installation to another drive.
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