Copy paste programs if replacing HDD?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
V

Valentine_

Reputable
Oct 7, 2014
4
0
4,510
My current hard disk is failing and i have gotten a new one for replacement. Can I copy paste the entire old hard disk (E:/) to the new hard disk, and then after that, just change the drive letter of the new hard disk to E:/?

This is a non-OS hard disk and is just programs installed on it? Any potential problems or alternative method without reinstalling everything?

Thanks.
 
Solution
USAFRet


As long as the new drive ends up with the same drive letter as the old, and the structure is the same, this should work.
However, don't try to grab the whole drive and copy at once. Do a few folders at a time.
Sort by date Sort by votes
G

Guest

Guest
Long story short, might work. Some software don't mind, others use tricks to see if it's installed on the same drive (using UUID or similar), and won't work.

If it's Steam, (which is a pain, since it's so huge), the trick is to move them all to the other driver, with it out, uninstall all games, then re-install them on the target, and it sees it's already there.

Your mileage with other software will vary. I suspect it won't work with Adobe or other expensive software.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,442
17,908
184,590


As long as the new drive ends up with the same drive letter as the old, and the structure is the same, this should work.
However, don't try to grab the whole drive and copy at once. Do a few folders at a time.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
COLGeek

COLGeek

Cybernaut
Moderator
Apr 6, 2009
54,218
3,416
179,340
MERGED QUESTION
Question from Valentine_ : "Copy paste programs if replacing HDD?"





 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom