[SOLVED] How to run/restore programs from secondary hard drive?

[euangan]

Hey there,
My computer recently got fixed since it's HDD had something corrupted in it, so they've given me a new SSD which windows boots from, and they left the 'secondary' hard drive in there so I can access my files still.
I am still able to find my games on it, however when I launch them (eg OBS) they have no configuration.
I would like to know if it's possible to link the config files with the programs, and maybe even make the entire computer seem like my 'old' one.

Help is much appreciated!
Euan

 

[jay32267]

I would reinstall the programs on the SSD.
I think any way that you try and link them is going to add confusion and down the road has the potential to cause you grief.

 

[euangan]

I would reinstall the programs on the SSD.
I think any way that you try and link them is going to add confusion and down the road has the potential to cause you grief.

Thanks, but there's a problem if I do that; The SSD is only intended to launch Windows, hence it has a very small storage space. The tech repair company said that if I want to use/install any programs, I would have to do so on the secondary HDD...

 

[jay32267]

Then I would reinstall them on the HDD.
I think that would be easier than linking them to the SSD's OS.

 

[euangan]

Then I would reinstall them on the HDD.
I think that would be easier than linking them to the SSD's OS.

Ok, I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[jay32267]

Ok, I'll try that. Thanks!

You're welcome.
Just a suggestion...I would get any data files I had off the HDD (put them somewhere else for now) and blow everything off the HDD and make it one big partition.
Then I would install the programs...and when you go to install them....specify the HDD as the destination.
This way they will all be linked to Windows and their files will be in the right place and Windows will know where to look.

 

[euangan]

You're welcome.
Just a suggestion...I would get any data files I had off the HDD (put them somewhere else for now) and blow everything off the HDD and make it one big partition.
Then I would install the programs...and when you go to install them....specify the HDD as the destination.
This way they will all be linked to Windows and their files will be in the right place and Windows will know where to look.

Ok, I deleted all the 'Program Files' folder contents

 

[jay32267]

Ok, I deleted all the 'Program Files' folder contents

You can do that....but you still have Windows on there taking up all sorts of space.
As I said...I would delete everything on the drive and make it one big partition.

 

[euangan]

You can do that....but you still have Windows on there taking up all sorts of space.
As I said...I would delete everything on the drive and make it one big partition.

Oh, so do things like AppData matter on that hard drive?

 

[jay32267]

Oh, so do things like AppData matter on that hard drive?

No. I'd get rid of everything on that drive.
You can google how to wipe a drive.
You can also google how to make one partition that takes up the whole drive.
Just be careful and don't delete anything on your main drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks, but there's a problem if I do that; The SSD is only intended to launch Windows, hence it has a very small storage space. The tech repair company said that if I want to use/install any programs, I would have to do so on the secondary HDD...

What size/make/model is this very small SSD?

 

[euangan]

What size/make/model is this very small SSD?

i dont know what type it is, but it can hold 512gb i think

 

[USAFRet]

i dont know what type it is, but it can hold 512gb i think

512GB is NOT "very small", or "only windows".
That's the size of my current C drive, 500GB Samsung 850.

You can and should install all your applications on it. even a large game or two.
Everything else, on the HDD.
Just don't go over 400GB actual consumed space on the SSD, and all is well.

 

[euangan]

512GB is NOT "very small", or "only windows".
That's the size of my current C drive, 500GB Samsung 850.

You can and should install all your applications on it. even a large game or two.
Everything else, on the HDD.
Just don't go over 400GB actual consumed space on the SSD, and all is well.

Ok, turns out it's actually 223gb. I'll still install a couple of applications on it, but do I need folders like AppData and Program Files etc on the hdd?
Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, turns out it's actually 223gb. I'll still install a couple of applications on it, but do I need folders like AppData and Program Files etc on the hdd?
Thanks

You need to wipe that HDD clean.
AppData and ProgramFiles are holdovers from the previous OS. Irrelevant now.

You can install probably ALL your applications on the SSD, with the exception of games.

Other stuff, like videos, etc...store them on the HDD also.

 

[jay32267]

Ok, turns out it's actually 223gb. I'll still install a couple of applications on it, but do I need folders like AppData and Program Files etc on the hdd?
Thanks

You don't need them on the HDD because those are for your OLD apps.
As I said before....wipe the whole HDD.
If you see these folders on the SSD...leave them alone.

 

[euangan]

You don't need them on the HDD because those are for your OLD apps.
As I said before....wipe the whole HDD.
If you see these folders on the SSD...leave them alone.

You need to wipe that HDD clean.
AppData and ProgramFiles are holdovers from the previous OS. Irrelevant now.

You can install probably ALL your applications on the SSD, with the exception of games.

Other stuff, like videos, etc...store them on the HDD also.

Ok thanks, ill do it now