Windows 10: Alternate Program directory, all programs missing

Hello, I have a multiple SSD/HD setup in my laptop. My main SSD that I use for the system isn't very large, so I use an alternate directory (not C:\Program Files (x86)) on my secondary SSD to install my programs. Things like Intuit Quickbooks, Office, and other 3rd party programs.

Quickbooks was running an update of some sort and was in this nasty loop. I had to kill it, and then I rebooted. (I had just uninstalled Steam as well, fwiw) Now, all of the programs that I had installed in my alternate directory D:\Programs\XXXXXXXXXXX are now missing. Most of my directories are gone, except for a few that, what I'm guessing, are files that were locked.

My file associations and program defaults are still intact, so there's still trace of those programs.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how this could have happened. Any help would be great.

Thanks!

:)

 

RegEdit Program Files Question

Microsoft does not support changing the path for the Program Files and Program Files(x86) directory. They should always remain on the Operating System drive.

You will find articles describing how to change these directories but like any change away from the supported configuration should expect to be able to sort out any problems.

If a programs setup utility allows you to redefine the install directory then you can configure an alternative location at that time.

 

Installation problems with PCSuite - NCL...dll not found

I miss the entire Transports/ directory, under my C:\Program Files\Common Files\PCSuite

 

Hello, not obvious to me to suggest what might have happened, I'm afraid. Seems like some unfortunate glitch or bug.

Splitting installed programs from the OS such that the install path is to a different physical disk to that containing the OS is definitely not a preferred configuration.

It seems you can access the second SSD and read it, so I guess you haven't lost a partition. Have you tried any recovery software?

More usefully, do you have any disk images you can restore?

That info. is from the registry on your first disk, but the primary files and folders for your programs are on the other disk.

Without disk image backups, I can only suggest you try recovery software, but I doubt this will actually help you recover reliably or completely, and may not achieve anything.

For interest: a discussion about using Recuva (well-known file recovery program) and SSDs:
What to expect when using Recuva on an SSD c.f. HDD - Recuva Discussion - Piriform Community Forums

 

THanks Dalchina, I suspected as much.

Is there a place where a list of the different softwares would be kept? Like a directory list of the D:\PRograms directory?

 

I suggest running chkdsk x: /r against the SSD with the problem. Replace X: with it's drive letter.

The best way to run this is to boot a Windows 10 install DVD or flash drive, click on Repair on the 2nd install window then follow to get to a Command Prompt. You'll have to look to see what drive letter is assigned to that SSD. The easiest way is to use diskpart, something like this:

Code: C:\Users\rrkurtz>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.10586 Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation. On computer: DESKTOP DISKPART> list vol Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info ---------- --- ----------- ----- ---------- ------- --------- -------- Volume 0 L DVD-ROM 0 B No Media Volume 1 C Lenovo_C NTFS Partition 232 GB Healthy Boot Volume 2 Recovery NTFS Partition 450 MB Healthy Hidden Volume 3 FAT32 Partition 100 MB Healthy System Volume 4 D Lenovo_D NTFS Partition 732 GB Healthy Volume 5 E Lenovo_E NTFS Partition 732 GB Healthy Volume 6 F Lenovo_F NTFS Partition 398 GB Healthy Volume 7 G Lenovo_G NTFS Partition 698 GB Healthy Volume 8 H Lenovo_H NTFS Partition 698 GB Healthy Volume 9 J Removable 0 B No Media Volume 10 K Removable 0 B No Media Volume 11 I Removable 0 B No Media[/quote] You should be able to pick out the SSD with the problem from that then run chkdsk x: /r

Replace x: with the correct drive letter. Be patient and let it run to completion.

 

A list of programs installed? There are programs that can list the software you've installed on your system, and of course there is the Control Panel, Programs and Features list.