How to Copy Software programs to Hard Drive Drive at DVinfo.net

David Ruhland · August 22nd, 2009, 06:24 AM

I just had to reinstall my C drive in one of my pcs. OF course this is a very time consuming task, but not nearly as time consuming as looking for all my program cd's that grew legs and disapperead! ie SONY VEGAS, PHOTOSHOP, FRONTPAGE etc.

It got me to thinking and wondering, If I create a folder on an exteral drive-or partition one of the other drives in the PC. Can i make a folder for each CD and Copy the complete contents of the software CD/DVD to that folder and then install it from there?

For example, I would copy my Photoshop CD's (all 3 of them) into one folder. Then when it came time to find them again for reinstall I would simply click setup from this hard drive.

It sure would eliminate hunting for those CD's that always seem to disappear!

Ray Bell · August 22nd, 2009, 07:05 AM

Yes what you are describing works fine... its the same thing as loggin on to Adobe and
downloading the programs...

If you plan on doing this you should create a file that also contains the registration codes...

that way if and when you need to re-install and the installation asks for the codes you will
have them there too...

David Ruhland · August 22nd, 2009, 07:52 AM

registration code! great point! do u think i can copy my windows xp OS disk to a file in the same way? im thinking to burn a cd from if i neeed to reinstall and boot from cd

Boyd Ostroff · August 22nd, 2009, 07:57 AM

Instead of going to all this trouble, why not just buy a PC backup program which will make an image of your hard drive on a cheap external drive? I use Macs most of the time, but I'm sure such a thing exists for XP.

Victor Wilcox · August 22nd, 2009, 08:09 AM

Windows XP comes with a backup application. It's in the Accessories\System program menu.

Norton Ghost is also a great option. I create an image of the OS drive.

David Ruhland · August 22nd, 2009, 08:22 AM

I use ACRONIS for complete disk imaging. What i am trying to accompolish here is having all my program disk on 1 external Hard Drive.

I dont know about you, but where i live these lil bugggers grow legs and seem to walk away. Never move two times in 6 months!

Don Bloom · August 22nd, 2009, 09:41 PM

it can be done but make sure you have the EXE and INSTALL and any other files you need to install and register the program otherwise...

August 22nd, 2009, 06:24 AM	#1
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	How to Copy Software programs to Hard Drive Drive I just had to reinstall my C drive in one of my pcs. OF course this is a very time consuming task, but not nearly as time consuming as looking for all my program cd's that grew legs and disapperead! ie SONY VEGAS, PHOTOSHOP, FRONTPAGE etc. It got me to thinking and wondering, If I create a folder on an exteral drive-or partition one of the other drives in the PC. Can i make a folder for each CD and Copy the complete contents of the software CD/DVD to that folder and then install it from there? For example, I would copy my Photoshop CD's (all 3 of them) into one folder. Then when it came time to find them again for reinstall I would simply click setup from this hard drive. It sure would eliminate hunting for those CD's that always seem to disappear! __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

August 22nd, 2009, 07:52 AM	#3
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	registration code! great point! do u think i can copy my windows xp OS disk to a file in the same way? im thinking to burn a cd from if i neeed to reinstall and boot from cd __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

August 22nd, 2009, 08:09 AM	#5
Victor Wilcox Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Iron Horse Guest Ranch, Waller County, TX Posts: 340	Windows XP comes with a backup application. It's in the Accessories\System program menu. Norton Ghost is also a great option. I create an image of the OS drive. __________________ Vic Wilcox, http://wilcoxvideoproductions.com/Default.aspx Sony FDR-AX100, DJI Phantom 4 Pro, GoPro Hero 8 Blk, Vegas Pro 15, DaVinci Resolve 18

August 22nd, 2009, 08:22 AM	#6
David Ruhland Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Madison WI Posts: 340	I use ACRONIS for complete disk imaging. What i am trying to accompolish here is having all my program disk on 1 external Hard Drive. I dont know about you, but where i live these lil bugggers grow legs and seem to walk away. Never move two times in 6 months! __________________ Vegas 8.0c (Build 260)-(Upgraded to Sony Vegas 10 pro)Canon GL2, Canon HV30, HF200, HF20-Sony UWP Wirelesss Mic Kit, Intel Core 2 CPU-6600@2.40GHz-3.00GB Ram

August 22nd, 2009, 09:41 PM	#7
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	it can be done but make sure you have the EXE and INSTALL and any other files you need to install and register the program otherwise... __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

August 22nd, 2009, 07:05 AM	#2
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	Yes what you are describing works fine... its the same thing as loggin on to Adobe and downloading the programs... If you plan on doing this you should create a file that also contains the registration codes... that way if and when you need to re-install and the installation asks for the codes you will have them there too...

August 22nd, 2009, 07:57 AM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Instead of going to all this trouble, why not just buy a PC backup program which will make an image of your hard drive on a cheap external drive? I use Macs most of the time, but I'm sure such a thing exists for XP.