external hard drive data transfer

[loukr]

We've just bought a 320GB external hard drive for our computer.

If I was to cut and paste 'program files' from the C drive into the new hard drive, would all the programs still work? Or can I not move them from the C drive?

Thanks in advance

Lou x

[Ethel]

You could try opening your Windows Explorer -- my computer - C drive - Program Files.

Right click on a program a 'send to' your external hard drive.

Then see if you can run the program from your hard drive.

If you have a program you no longer need, or can download easily from the internet, try it with that program.

If it does run from the external drive, delete it from your C drive and see if it still runs.

[Billy_Bones]

Sorry, but I can think of no Windows programmes that would work after having their program folders moved to another drive. All of the pointers, in the registry, configuration files and shortcuts would be wrong.

The only way to do this would be to uninstall the programmes from their current locations (using the 'Add/Remove Programs' applet in control panel) then reinstalling them to the external drive.

The thing is, I really wouldn't recommend this it is very problematic.

The best way to utilise your nice new external drive would be to use it for holding your data files, keep your internal fixed drive for the operating system and programmes.

[fo3nix]

As Billy says, it won't work too well. There are lots of little links made to where the programs are stored, that won't get updated as you move them.

It's best to just keep other personal files, perhaps music, videos, documents, etc., on your external drive. Since it's likely to be a fair bit larger than your internal, I'd strongly suggest you make semi-regular backups to the drive too of your entire internal drive (if you can spare the space).

[stevie21]

Ethel, no offence but you do have some very bizarre computing advice/guesswork.

[loukr]

thank you I will do this. Thanks very much :D

[Ethel]

stevie21 - no offence taken.

My answer was a safe suggestion to try. Nothing bad would have happened, and lou would have been able to discover by experience whether it would work or not.

[stevie21]

But anyone with any computing knowledge can tell you in advance it wouldn't work