Windows XP question

OK, the wireless network's sorted, so here's another question for the tech buff section of rhp:

I recently changed my hard disks over (I have two), so the big one is the default. I also changed the operating system to XP Pro. Now the problem is, programs which were installed before the change of OS do not appear in the programs menu, as they have not been "installed" on this operating system. Is there a way to fool Windows into thinking that I have installed them, or do I have to delete them and reinstall?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies (helpfully).

Guess.

Sounds like you did a clean (new) install on your new master disk? If so, then none of the old programs will be registered with your new Windows installation.

I don't know of any way to 'use' your old installations.

Better re-install everything you need. It will be a good idea in any case - as Windows machines need a good 'ol format and re-installation now and then...

Originally posted by mosquitorespect
OK, the wireless network's sorted, so here's another question for the tech buff section of rhp:

I recently changed my hard disks over (I have two), so the big one is the default. I also changed the operating system to XP Pro. Now the problem is, programs which were installed before the change of OS do not appear in the programs menu, as they h ...[text shortened]... do I have to delete them and reinstall?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies (helpfully).

i'd guess no. MS wants you to buy new stuff. there is a "Documents and Settings" migration wizard, i think, but i doubt it extends to programs.

a. try googling on google and at microsoft.com, see if you can do it. if not, then:

b. install a boot loader that will let you boot off the old hard drive as well as the new. like grub (freeware):
http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/
or partition commander (commercial).

you couldn't read an NTFS filesystem (your XP drive, probably) while running the old O/S, though. XP can read FAT, i think.

(make backups of everything. watch out you don't screw something up. read the documentation very carefully.)

Even if you did re-add all the shortcuts so they were pointing to the executables, the necessary registry entries would not be there., hence the requirement to reinstall each application.

Originally posted by mosquitorespect
OK, the wireless network's sorted, so here's another question for the tech buff section of rhp:

I recently changed my hard disks over (I have two), so the big one is the default. I also changed the operating system to XP Pro. Now the problem is, programs which were installed before the change of OS do not appear in the programs menu, as they h ...[text shortened]... do I have to delete them and reinstall?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies (helpfully).

Thanks to everyone that posted. Every human, that is.

Originally posted by mosquitorespect
Thanks to everyone that posted. Every human, that is.

Originally posted by Bowmann
Don't mention it.


Final tip: Try Linux instead.

Originally posted by mosquitorespect
I have a Mac, which runs Mac OS X and therefore Unix. You can run programs without all this hassle. If the icon's there, you're away. And of course it's beautiful.

Originally posted by jimslyp69
Can you run Mac OS X on a bog standard PC hardware setup, or do you need specific MAC hardware components?

Originally posted by jimslyp69
Can you run Mac OS X on a bog standard PC hardware setup, or do you need specific MAC hardware components?