Question How do I get Windows 11 to recognize programs installed on secondary SSD?

[RocketRunaway]

I've tried digging through the internet to find help with this problem but I couldn't find anything similar. Originally I had a computer with two SSDs, one with Windows installed and one with a bunch of recreational programs such as games and 3d printer programs. I just bought a new computer with a built in SSD. So I took my recreational SSD out of my old one, plugged it into my new one, and I'm able to open and run those programs just fine. The issue comes up when I try to find those programs. Windows Search doesn't seem to be able to recognize the programs. Windows also doesn't recognize any of the programs being installed when I search for Installed Programs. I have to manually open File Explorer, go to the SSD, find the executable, then run it in order to open the program. How can I fix this and make it so I can use Windows search to find these programs?

 

[USAFRet]

You don't.

When an application is installed, it makes dozens, often hundreds, of entries in the Registry and elsewhere. This new OS knows nothing about them.
Generally, only small programs can be moved around like this.

You'll need to reinstall all these applications.

Games on the Steam platform can be moved, but that is only because the Steam client handles all that interface.

 

[RocketRunaway]

You don't.

When an application is installed, it makes dozens, often hundreds, of entries in the Registry and elsewhere. This new OS knows nothing about them.
Generally, only small programs can be moved around like this.

You'll need to reinstall all these applications.

Games on the Steam platform can be moved, but that is only because the Steam client handles all that interface.

Thank you. I was afraid this was the case, but I was hopeful since they still opened manually.

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you. I was afraid this was the case, but I was hopeful since they still opened manually.

The Installed Programs gets its information from the Registry.

Also, some applications simply fail to run, because they're lacking all the other little parts. Those parts exist, but lacking the Registry entries, the exe does not know where to find them.

 

[Bob.B]

I've tried digging through the internet to find help with this problem but I couldn't find anything similar. Originally I had a computer with two SSDs, one with Windows installed and one with a bunch of recreational programs such as games and 3d printer programs. I just bought a new computer with a built in SSD. So I took my recreational SSD out of my old one, plugged it into my new one, and I'm able to open and run those programs just fine. The issue comes up when I try to find those programs. Windows Search doesn't seem to be able to recognize the programs. Windows also doesn't recognize any of the programs being installed when I search for Installed Programs. I have to manually open File Explorer, go to the SSD, find the executable, then run it in order to open the program. How can I fix this and make it so I can use Windows search to find these programs?

Can you just create a shortcut to these progs?