How to copy a program

GT60

Hi I have a progam on the old pc and i want to put it onto the new pc.

I have been told to goto my computer -local disc- prog files and copy the prog from there but i can not get it to work.

Advice please

grimsalve

What's the program and what's the error? It could be that the program won't work with the operating system running on the new PC, or maybe it needs to be installed properly, or maybe there's a missing dll, or it could be any number of things.

Sublime_2

Haven't you got the installation disk, or executable file?

savemoney

Some programs require additional files/libraries which may not be copied in c:/program files/directory

fwor

And many programs write entries to the Windows registry when originally installed, and will refuse to run if they aren't found - primarily to stop people from copying their product from one PC to another.

esuhl

GT60 wrote: »

I have been told to goto my computer -local disc- prog files and copy the prog from there but i can not get it to work.

The "Program Files" directory contains programs that have been installed on your PC. Usually, when you install software, the installer will add/modify registry keys, create start menu shortcuts, check that you have any prerequisites (library files/frameworks) installed, etc. Because of this, you can't (usually) just transfer files from the "Program Files" directory and hope that they will work on another PC; you would need to find the original installer application.

There are exceptions, though - I have an installation of Foxit PDF Reader that can happily be transferred between the "Program Files" directories on different PCs. Software that is referred to as "portable" will often allow you to do that too.

Short answer: find or download the original installer and run that on the new PC.

paddyrg

In almost every case, you can't just copy a file or folder. Installers do more than just copy files, they also may install dll/libraries, regidter them intio the registry, register file extensions, etc.

Go back to the original install disk, every time.

googler

How did the program get onto the old PC?

Installed from a disk?
Downloaded from a website?
Already on the PC when you bought it?

In the first case, find the disk you installed it from, and use that disk to install it on the new machine
Second case, look for the same program to download, or a more recent version of it
Third, look for the PC maker's backup or restore disk(s), and use to install on the new machine.