Computer and Software Support


Moving a Program to a New Computer

If you have a program installed on a computer that you want on another computer, you will need the installation disks to install the program on the system. When a program installs, it installs files in numerous places. You would have to know what all locations the program installs to in order to copy the files to a new computer. Even if you managed to copy all files necessary for the program, you can still have issues with the program.

Numerous programs can use the same file. The installation disk informs the registry which files a program uses and therefore avoids conflicts. When you just copy the files, it doesn't inform the registry of the change. Other programs that use the file will not know the file has changed and this can cause issues.

When a person moves to a new residence, they put in a change of address form. This lets everyone know of the new address. When they send you mail, they send it to your new address. If the person doesn't submit the address form, people will not know you moved and will not send it to the correct address.

This is the same with program files. When you install the program it gives the change of address to the registry. When you just copy the program, it doesn't give the change of address. 

Here are other pages that may help you as well.