Windows 10: Can you copy program files over to an external hard drive?

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?

:)

 

Computer restarts continuously, Installing Windows page stuck on 64%, then it turns off, turns on, and does that same loop over and over.

If you have an external hard drive you can copy data over that way. Make a hirens boot cd/usb and run mini windows xp to copy files over to your external drive

 

Transferring programs and files

Hi,

I would suggest doing both, transfer first all the program and files to an external hard drive to assure that you will have a backup and not lost program and files then transfer it to new. If you only need to transfer or move the program files and not
the program itself, you can locate the folder file that contains all of the program information and copies it to an external drive. If the program will not operate from the external hard drive, it is tied into the computer registry of the initial computer
and cannot be circumvented. If that is the case, only the data files for the program can be used from the external drive.

If you have further question feel free to post.

 

If they are "installed" you need to reinstall them, because of the registry.
If they are portable's, you can copy & paste(might want to get any .ini files belonging to them, as they contain any specific settings)

See here: installation - What's the difference between portable and install versions? - Super User.

 

You would think Microsoft would have come up with solution for this. It will take me 2 days to install everything. Is pro much better than Home Cliff? I think I have reported you from my phone pressing the wrong button to add to your rep. Let me know if you get any problems and I will put them straight very sorry. But message was thanks for your help. Hopefully common sense will prevail. Going to do it correctly now. Can you please add text below the button to give the person who is helping you the correct response. Going to add to rep now. Let me know if I have indeed done this very sorry if I have.

 

First: What Are These desktop.ini Files I Keep Seeing?
They also are used to save any settings a portable program might offer you, like Ccleaner does on both their installer version and portable version(if on a USB stick this is useful so you don't have to select/unselect what you want to clean before each use, on different PC's)




I use Pro because it has Hyper-V(only good if your CPU supports virtualization) It also has Bitlocker encryption, but I don't use that, as it just complicates some things, like possible data recovery from a dead HDD, or taking my data disk and placing it in another PC.
But Pro & Home, as far as Windows and normal day to day stuff are the same.

 

Thanks Cliff I have put that straight for you and you shouldn't get any hassle. Let me know if you do. Thanks again Cliff just going to stay with Home.

 

Why should it be Microsoft's responsibility to make sure that hundreds of thousands of programs by just as many different software makers be transferable to new Windows installations?

 

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.

 

You can't do it in Linux, either.

 

There are multiple problems with this for installed applications. When applications are installed they typically create registry entries and they do so wherever they please. There are no firm standards for this, only recommendations, and they are frequently ignored. Even if there were standards they could not be enforced. Many applications also have support files which are stored wherever the developer wishes. All of this is known only to the developer and the application installer and is very rarely published. Applications manage their own registry entries and support files and Windows knows next to nothing about it. The problem cannot be solved by Microsoft without major changes to the way applications are installed and that would have huge compatibility problems.

There are programs that claim to be able to do this but I have no experience with them and do not trust them.

 

As mentioned, when a Windows-based program is installed it makes Registry entries so Windows knows how to run it but it also installs support files such as DLL in the Windows Folders and/or subFolders, installs the program files in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) and creates the icons in the menus where needed.

C:\Program Files is on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows.
C:\Program Files (x86) exists only on the 64-bit version, is where 32-bit programs get installed.

It used to be possible to do as asked back in the days of DOS and sometimes Windows 3.xx but things started changing with advent of Windows 95.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.