Can't Use HDD Files, New SSD

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Stuneree

Stuneree

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Aug 2, 2013
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10,640
Hello,
I just purchased a new SSD and loaded my OS onto it. I then dragged my most played game, WoW, into it. WoW works fine now.
My problem now is I can't seem to search for any of my files that are still on my HDD (I kept them all there, did a clean slate OS for SSD). The HDD is detected and all, and if I go into it manually I can FIND the files... I just can't use W8 tablet screen thing to search for them.
The other issue is most of the files don't actually work. When I try Steam for example, it just says "Steam is not properly installed on this computer".
I imagine it's a simple fix, just not sure how.
Thanks:)
 
Solution
F
When you say you kept all your files on the HDD, do you mean your old OS as well?

Applications should be reinstalled on the new OS to work properly. Some apps might work just by dragging their folder to the new OS drive, but if they are not properly installed the OS will not "see" them correctly. Things will be missing from the registry, some options might not work and you will not see the app in the "add-remove programs" on the control panel.

If you still have your old OS on the HDD and are trying to run apps from there, you will also run into problems. Some folders and files on Windows are tied to the user account. When you try to access that drive without being logged in to that OS, access to some of the content might be locked...
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fixxxer113

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Aug 26, 2011
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When you say you kept all your files on the HDD, do you mean your old OS as well?

Applications should be reinstalled on the new OS to work properly. Some apps might work just by dragging their folder to the new OS drive, but if they are not properly installed the OS will not "see" them correctly. Things will be missing from the registry, some options might not work and you will not see the app in the "add-remove programs" on the control panel.

If you still have your old OS on the HDD and are trying to run apps from there, you will also run into problems. Some folders and files on Windows are tied to the user account. When you try to access that drive without being logged in to that OS, access to some of the content might be locked for security reasons. If you haven't done any changes to your old HDD you should:

1) Transfer all the files you need (NOT APPS) to another drive or your SSD if you have enough space.
2) Format the old HDD, wiping the old OS. You will end up with an empty drive.
3) Put your files back on the HDD. They should all be visible now, since they are just files and folders on a disk, without any OS or system files.

Your steam library can be transferred as a folder after installing Steam on your SSD (just move the "Steamapps" folder to the new installation location".

If you have other games that don't use Steam, be sure to locate their save/user files and leep them so you can put them back to their respective folders when you reinstall the games on the SSD. Usually game saves and game user profiles are in the "My Games" or the "My documents" folder.
 
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Stuneree

Stuneree

Honorable
Aug 2, 2013
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10,640
Ah, I think that might be it, thanks. The old files are on a different user technically. But I don't have enough space on my SSD to transfer everything, so I'll probably just delete a lot of stuff too.
 
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