[mlcrrc]

I just purchased a new computer. Some of the programs on my old computer do not have the original cd-rom disk. How can I transfer the programs over to my new computer?

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you rarely can...most programs copy files all over the harddrive, add registry settings, drop initialization files, adjust the startup files.

I know that is not the answer you want to hear.

On rare occassion, you can accomplish it, but it great depends on the program and is an arduous process.

Some programs retain a setup file in the program directory, so simply copying the PROGRAM FILES\??? folder over, it will work. Sometimes, dragging that folder over and clicking a *.reg file will do it. Sometimes, doing the above, try to run the program will result in error messages like "Could not find ????.dll in c:\windows" and dragging that file to a like folder on the new computer will do it.

But it is a crapshoot.

[gerryf]

you rarely can...most programs copy files all over the harddrive, add registry settings, drop initialization files, adjust the startup files.

I know that is not the answer you want to hear.

On rare occassion, you can accomplish it, but it great depends on the program and is an arduous process.

Some programs retain a setup file in the program directory, so simply copying the PROGRAM FILES\??? folder over, it will work. Sometimes, dragging that folder over and clicking a *.reg file will do it. Sometimes, doing the above, try to run the program will result in error messages like "Could not find ????.dll in c:\windows" and dragging that file to a like folder on the new computer will do it.

But it is a crapshoot.