old system drive as external HDD. can I still access installed programs?

G-Dubs · 18 Nov 2012 at 14:05

Built a new system and installed OS onto an SSD. I now have my old 1TB HDD which has all my programs on it such as Office photoshop etc.

Is it possible to attach this via an external HDD enclusre and still access these programs? If I can it will save me a world of work to re install everything.

I have a feeling that on the new PC they won't show up as installed

G-Dubs · 18 Nov 2012 at 20:30

C'Mon guys, you can do better than this.....

What's it to be, yes or no????

andy_mk3 · 18 Nov 2012 at 20:37

It doesn't work like that, when you install programs, some files go into AppData and there's registry keys installed. It basically won't work. Some programs will work standalone, but not things like Office and photoshop.

G-Dubs · 2 Dec 2012 at 14:29

Ok so I figured that was too easy to be true.

So is there a way to transfer the copy from the HDD to the SSD and then instal it without te original discs?