Run Applications From External Drive

Question

I intend to move a number of software applications like Photoshop from my local disk drive 'C' to my external drive. I would like to then run these applications from the external drive. I assume that I just click on the external drive to bring up the application and then click on an application like Photoshop Elements. Also I intend to REMOVE the application from the C drive. Any problems in doing that? How do I remove the application from only the C drive. Dimension 8250    WindowsXP USB 2.0   Firewire  Seagate 200Gb External Drive connected via Firewire Sherr

volcano11 · Answer

You will have to use Add/Remove programs to remove the programs from your C: drive, then use the original installation CDs to install the programs on your external drive. You cannot simply move programs as installation writes information to the Windows registry and this information is not easily changed without reinstallation.

Steve

ejn63 · Answer

Be sure you selectively move programs - you do not want programs that load pieces in memory all the time on the external drive (firewalls, antivirus, MS office, CD writing programs, etc.).

simpswr · Answer

If you do not follow Steve's advice, you are going to have a huge mess on your hands

Sherr · Answer

I intend to use the SEND command to move the programs from one drive to the other. Then I would just REMOVE the software from the C drive. I assume that if I ever want to remove a software package from the external drive that I can just delete it.

Thanks

Sherr

Sherr · Answer

I have a 60Gb C internal drive and a 200Gb external drive partitioned into two 100Gb partitions. What I am trying to do is create more space on the C drive by moving applications packages and anything else that takes up alot of disk space to the external drive. But I would guess that the applications on the C drive that take up the most space are the ones that you say should not be moved. How can I determine which applications take up the most space on the C drive. I am planning to add a two layer Sony DVD burner with Nero software. But the Nero software takes up ten Gb of space and it is the type of software that you say should not be moved. Thanks for your help. Sherr

ejn63 · Answer

If you need more space, buy a larger internal drive and a copy of Acronis TrueImage, and clone the existing drive to the new one.

It'll take you far less time than cleaning up the mess you'll make by manually copying programs (which won't work in most cases, as others have noted) and far less time than manually uninstalling and reinstalling programs.

klbf · Answer

very few programs will run if you copy paste , because they need regisity files and will not start if you copy paste lol... i have tried from my external drive as i sync my c drive to my external drive using a backup program.... most programs don't run on other computers as they need the registry

Dimension 8300
P4 2.80GHz 800MHz w/HT BIOS A07
1GB PC3200
Sparkle 6600GT oc (500mhz/1000mhz)
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (retail)
Seagate sata 120Gb, sata 160Gb, USB2 external 200Gb
NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD
Pioneer 16x DVD+/-RW DL DVR-109
BearPaw 2400TA Scanner
USB 2.0 tv tuner
HP usb CD-Writer+ 8200
256Mb-64mb Usb drives
Wacom graphire3 4x5inch
Conexant SmartHSFi V.9x 56K DF PCI Modem ,ADSL DSL-200
HP deskjet 3550
15inch LCD
pci cooler
3dmark03 8446...3dmark05 3498...PCmark05 3448

europa303 · Answer

I agree with all the above recommendations, and there is no way the Nero software takes 10 gig of space. It might suggest you have 10 gig available for movies or huge video files on the hard disk, but the program itself is not all that big.

klbf · Answer

lol the only program i know that takes over 10gb is unreal 2004 editors pack 13gb:)) nero takes about 160mb ultra 6 edition

Sherr · Answer

Sony is saying that the PC should have a 10Gb hard drive and 128 Meg of RAM. I just misinterpreted this. So what I will do is not move any applications that I call work applications. Like burning DVD's. I will only move simple minded applications like documents and Excel worksheets and photos. Another question. What type of DVD should be used? DVD+R seems to be the recommended type. There are no DVD+RW around. Sherr

Sherr · Answer

Sony is saying that the PC should have a 10Gb hard drive and 128 Meg of RAM. I just misinterpreted this. So what I will do is not move any applications that I call work applications. Like burning DVD's. I will only move simple minded applications like documents and Excel worksheets and photos. Another question. What type of DVD should be used? DVD+R seems to be the recommended type. There are no DVD+RW around. Sherr

Sherr · Answer

I mean DOUBLE LAYER DVD's. Sherr

europa303 · Answer

Double layer dvd's are very expensive.  Far more cost efficient to use two regular DVD+R disks than one double layer disk.    BTW, you can edit a post you have already sent by clicking options, edit, rather than typing a new post.  The edited post will look like mine. Message Edited by europa303 on 10-29-2005 09:27 AM

photobug41 · Answer

More questions about this...I emailed Dell for a chat about adding another internal hard drive. They said my machine (Dimension 8300) has room for only 120 GB hard drive and I have 80 GB. I use external drives mostly for backups and photos. The 80 GB doesn't give room for a lot of programs. I do a lot of photography and have several related programs installed--Photoshop Elements, PaintShop Pro, Nero, Portfolio and plan to add ProShow Gold and Nikon NX. I do not want to buy another computer, especially if I have to get Vista. Which of these programs could be run on an external hard drive? Can I catalog photos on an external drive? What about editing software? There is not much else I can remove from the C drive. Altough I don't use some of the program much, I still want them. How do I know if I can run a program just from the CD? I have 3D Globe and 3D world atlas and wonder if they could be used just from an external drive or the CD drive. I don't think it would be worth adding 40 GB to my internal drive. I am going to use this computer as long as I can since we have already had 2 Dells die within 3 years of purchase and I have had several problems with this one. I can't afford to keep upgrading computers. Any additional help would be much appreciated.

shesagordie · Answer

photobug41

The Dell Techies are wrong.

If you have XP SP-1 or XP SP-2, then any size hard drive can be installed.

Bev.

===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

Message Edited by shesagordie on 09-15-2007 09:50 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

Run Applications From External Drive

Was this post helpful?