Windows not recognizing programs on secondary hard drive.

[Swervingwall5]

I recently reinstalled windows 7 on my SSD (primary), but it is not recognizing all the programs on my second hard drive. I can still open them, but if I go to Control Panel: Programs and Features, only the default programs from windows are listed. What can I do?

 

[USAFRet]

Right. That's the way it works.

Applications that were originally installed on a different drive will not be fully recognized in a new OS install.
'Fully recognized' = not seen in Control Panel, or the Registry, or otherwise fully functional.

 

[Swervingwall5]

Right. That's the way it works.

Applications that were originally installed on a different drive will not be fully recognized in a new OS install.
'Fully recognized' = not seen in Control Panel, or the Registry, or otherwise fully functional.

I understand that now. So is there still a way I can still fix this? Or do I have to reinstall everything?

 

[USAFRet]

Right. That's the way it works.

Applications that were originally installed on a different drive will not be fully recognized in a new OS install.
'Fully recognized' = not seen in Control Panel, or the Registry, or otherwise fully functional.

I understand that now. So is there still a way I can still fix this? Or do I have to reinstall everything?

Reinstall is by far the best way forward.

 

[boosted1g]

Well you could find out what every registry key that needs to be manually added and any files added to be the users appdata folder, program data folder, etc.
Or you could spend hours lees time to just reinstall it.


The reason why the programs do not run is because the above listed items are missing, thus its just gibberish data on your second drive.

 

[combfoam319]

Hi guys, I've done the same as Swervingwall5. If the programs installed on the HDD are essentially useless should I just delete everything in the Program Files/Program Files (x86) folders and start again?

 

[USAFRet]

Hi guys, I've done the same as Swervingwall5. If the programs installed on the HDD are essentially useless should I just delete everything in the Program Files/Program Files (x86) folders and start again?

You should probably wipe the entire drive (the HDD) and start over.

 

[combfoam319]

OK great, will do , thanks.