Moving Applications from D: to C:

A few weeks ago I was running out of room on my C: drive and installed two large programs (9+ GB) to D:. Since that time, I upgraded my HDD (cloned) and have plenty of room. I'd prefer to have my OS and all programs on C: Is there a way of moving them from D: to C: without uninstalling, reinstalling?

I thought maybe it would be possible this way rather than C to D. I'd like to save several hours of uninstalling, reinstalling updates, etc.

 

Just move the program folders from d: back to c:. The only thing you have to do is update the "shortcuts" to the exe files.

As long the original programs where installed in the c: windows registry during it's original installation, those programs installation folders, can be moved anywhere and still work. I've done it many times (move from c: to d:, :e: to c: etc ) as long as the programs are properly referenced in the registry they have always worked.

 

Thanks. I'll try it when I have time to fix it, if it goes wrong!

 

A quick try with one program didn''t work so well. I moved the entire folder under D:/program files to C: in windows explorer. Right clicked on the desktop short cut icon, changed the values from D to C, hit apply. As soon as I did that I lost the program icon to a generic one. Rebooted, an installer popped up, with a C drive temp folder or something. Hit Ok, blah, blah, hit cancel and tried the shortcut. The program opened somewhat but with no content, pretty much blank GUI.

Reversed my steps and it's back working.

 

Hiker,

I wasn't fast enough in warning you about this. The program files registry entries will point to D: drive. I guess you have the program files back in the D: drive?

 

Checkout Application Mover.

 

Yeah, it's back in D and working.

 

Yeah, I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

This is one of the programs, I want to move.

 

you could just move all files from d: to c:, then create a fake folder at d: using junction.exe/linkd.exe/ln.exe. Unless you want a clean d: drive?

 

you need to go into the program's folder once you moved it to c: , next right click on the exe file and create a new shortcut. Next drag that shortcut to the desktop.

When you said that the icon changed, that's a clear sign that it's no longer pointed to the exe file.

If moving the program folder doesn't work, do a copy and paste of the program folder. In rare cases when you move program folders any files that might be locked will not be moved, but in copy/paste everything is moved.

You don't need any special programs etc. Also no need to reboot the computer. You had a simple problem of the exe file not being properly indexed to the shortcut. Next time you move it, just go into the program folder and doubleclick the exe file directly (bypassing the shortcut) so you can test it.

 

This is KEY and I think there's a little bit of disconnect in this thread regarding that. OP states they installed [them] to D:. If the program depends on registry entries in any way that were set up for D: drive in the beginning then I would hardly expect simply moving them from D: to C: to result in a fully and correctly functioning program.

Application Mover may work well, but I've never tried it and Rice4Lunch proposes a workaraound. IMO, both of those solutions carry less risk than a simple wholesale move from D: to C:, especially if the programs' functionality depends on registry entries. Of course, a brave and competent soul might could back up the registry, then hunt down those registry entries and change references D:\ into references to C:\ and MAYBE things would work out right. Then you'll have to check for .ini files and other things in the program folder or application data folders and even THAT search would guarantee nothing.

The best way to learn how to avoid the reinstall would be to talk with someone who's successfully moved those specific programs themselves - try any of the GPS or otherwise topography oriented forums out there.

Of course, you could have those programs uninstalled and the CDs (or memory cards) stuck in and the programs reinstalled to C: drive easily in the almost 24 hours this thread has lasted so far. ... unless, like me, you have only about an hour of spare time 4 evenings out of the week.

 

programs must be installed in the drive that has windows installed usually c: drive, the program folder with the exe file was installed in d: drive (data drive). The registry in c: drive has the necessary installation/serial number/registration etc data.

There are programs that can migrate programs including registry entries (pcmover/softrescue) but those are not needed here since the c: drive already has the necessary registry entries.

The only way the program can be installed in d: drive, is if the computer is a dual boot and d: drive has it's own windows.

 

Yeah, you're right. I was just looking for a quicker way.

 

I'm not sure if I'm following you. I don't dual boot (yet) and nothing is on D but what's listed below

I originally installed the programs in D because I didn't have room in C., When they asked where I wanted them installed, I chose D:/Program Files (I created the folder) Installation went fine and the programs work.

The reasons I want to move them now are because I upgraded my HDD (cloned) to a bigger hard drive and I back-up C:/XP (and programs) to external using Seagate Discwizard.

D:/Data is default My Documents I back up separately.

 

Not true, give it a try sometime. Yes, your registry will always be on the system partition, but most MS Windows compliant programs give you the option to install to another drive partition the system partition.

and the registry will also contain the INSTALL path, i.e., a pointer to that folder on D:. You can't just move a program willy-nilly without updating that pointer and any other program location dependent information.

I've never run across a program that contains information in the registry that allows you to move a program to where you want - I'm amazed that you know this about OP's programs.

Absolutely untrue.