Question Programs not loading from old hard drive used as a 2nd drive in new computer

[crmjware]

I just had a new computer built. I took the SSD hard drive out of the old computer and now have it as a 2nd drive in the new computer. When I go to try and open a program from the old computer, I would get different errors and they won't open. I don't know if it matters, but the old drive was configured to Win 10 and the new computer is running Win 11. What can I do to get the programs to run on my new computer?

 

[RealBeast]

You need to reinstall the programs when you move a drive from being the OS drive to a 2nd drive that still has programs on it. The new OS must have all the registry entries that are created by installing the program in the new OS install.

 

[helpstar]

Backup imortant data, format the "old" SSD and reinstall all of programs under Windows 11.

90 % of all programs have to be installed under the used operating system to work properly afterwards. It´s not possible to just drag the files and try running these. Win11 or any other OS doesn´t know the programs and can´t run these without installing

 

[NerdyVixen]

Anything that is installed via a setup wizard needs to be reinstalled on the new windows in order to work.
Stuff like images, movies, text or other files that do not require installation can be accessed immediately without problems.

 

[geofelt]

Installing a program will put needed entries in the windows registry.
On a clean install of windows in a new build, the old apps will not find the needed registry entries.
But, if the games are steam games, I think there is a procedure to save reinstallation.

 

[USAFRet]

What can I do to get the programs to run on my new computer?

Reinstall them with the new OS.

When an application is installed, it makes dozens/hundreds of entries in the Registry and elsewhere.

Those do not exist in your new OS.
(and no, you can't just suck them out of the old reg and import to your current one)

 

[crmjware]

I was worried about these answers! 😀 I think deep down I knew this, but I had hopes! Thanks for all the answers.