SSD migration and using programs/applications on slave drive

[theblueflash]

Ive had an extensive search since installing a new ssd over easter but cant find the answer I want.

quick breakdown. Ive installed windows 7 onto my ssd (primary drive) and updated and installed all drivers. so its now a blank canvas. ive got a 500gb wd hd which has all my programs, data, pictures etc on it, including the old o/s.

files and folders I can easily backup and move across as i please but ideally id like to keep the ssd relatively clutter free. (for games, data hungry apps)

do i need to back that old drive up, reformat it and start again, installing the same programs to it minus the o/s?

or does anyone know if i can run those original programs from a slave drive and if so how can i access them in the new o/s?

in particular things like antivirus programs, itunes (which has a 130gb library) and so on which are already installed on the old drive but at the moment inaccesible as programs except for their folders.

any advice much appreciated

cheers

 

[sl2222]

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure it'd be a nightmare trying to setup those programs to run from the slave drive without them being installed thru your new OS.
You could copy your user folder from the slave drive to your new drive (Hopefully you used the same user name) and maybe the common files folder too. Then try some of your programs. They 'might' work but things like antivirus would have to be re-installed. You can just install them to the existing slave drive folders and just overwrite what's there.
I was wanting to do this a while back and couldn't find a program that would transfer programs from one drive to another. Back in the win98 days there was one available but I don't think there's anything out there now.

 

[cyclic]

I believe you could run off the other drive by editing the registry, all games and programs have to have a registry entry telling the system where the files are located. So if you change the drive and it's now say E: whereas you want it to read F: Highlight the line in regedit (HKLM\Software\Name of maker (EG; EA games)\title of game.

 

[bbinnard]

Assuming you did a "clean" install of Win7 on your SSD you need to reinstall all your software. That's the only way to make sure your new registry is set up properly. You can install the software right on top of it's old locations on the HDD if you wish, but most people with your type of configuration use the SSD for Windows and software, and the HDD for everything else (like temp, swap, hibernate, My Documents, etc.)

Programs like iTUnes etc. that have their own data usually let you define where that data is. So you should be able to reinstall these and then point them to where the data actually is.