Re: Replaced my boot Hard Drive, now can't use MS software

[Roger Abell]

Are all drive letters now the same as they were originally?

--
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows Server System: Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4) MCDBA
"NJPeasant" > wrote in message
...
> I have Windows XP Pro SP1. I use NTFS w/ encryption. I login without a
password with my own User Account with Admin rights. I replaced my C: drive
with a new Seagate HD. I used Seagate's software to copy the entire
contents of my old hard to my new one in order to make the new one the Boot
HD.
>
> Now, whether I am logged into my computer in my own User Account or as
Administrator, all of my Microsoft Software is either buggy or does not
work:
>
> Office 2K, SP3: I see the Windows Installer with the prompt to insert the
Office Setup CD. Whether or not I do I get the same alert: "An error
occurred & this feature is no longer functioning properly. Please run Setup
and select "Repair..." to restore this application." When I do, I then get:
"The package could not be opened. Verify that the patch package exists and
that you can access it, or contact the application vendor that this is a
valid Windows Installer patch package." It is indeed the "O2kSp3.exe" I can
eventually start Office2K programs but find this troublesome.
>
> Visual Studio.Net 2K2 and FrontPage 2K2: I cannot use. I get the alert:
"Microsoft FrontPage has not been installed by the current user. Please run
setup to install the application." And the application terminates.
>
> In addition to trying to run Repair from within Office 2K without success,
I have also tried to uninstall Office 2K, VS.Net, & FP 2k2 -I am not allowed
to...I get a few error alerts and it cancels itself I am also not allowed
to reinstall the software.
>
> One last related bug is when viewing files in Windows Explorer (and in the
Start menu's "All Programs" folder) the unknown icon replaced the proper
associated application icon. However the association still works.
>

[njpeasant]

Can anyone help? Should I just delete these software applications through Windows Explorer and then try to install them??

[JW]

Since the old C: drive (now H: drive) is empty, it is clear that you
destroyed your old directories on C: (\Windows, \Program Files, etc.). You
clearly do not have any MS software loaded on your old C: drive (now your
empty H: drive).

So you will have to reload all your MS software onto your new C: drive. As a
rule, never delete software applications using Windows Explorer, because it
does not remove Registry entries. Always use Add/Remove Programs in Control
Panel.

"njpeasant" > wrote in message
...
Can anyone help? Should I just delete these software applications through
Windows Explorer and then try to install them??

[njpeasant]

It is not quite so clear. All of my files and subdirectories were copied to my new C: drive. But, it is only the Microsoft software that I cannot use...all other software works fine (expect for the icon demonstrating association). The Microsoft software
starts but then I get the error message. Where I think the problem lies is somewhere in the registry. But, manually repairing that just seems so daunting.

The only reason I brought up the idea of trying to delete my files using Windows Explorer is that I am being prevented from installing, re-installing, or repairing the MS software. I am desperate. All of software is there and the messages I get tell me t
he software is not installed for my User account...it was. And, that account has admin privileges. It also does not matter if I try to use the software when I am logged in as the administrator.

[JW]

Like I said. You will have to reinstall the software from the installation
CDs. The explanation is simple. Some software is designed on purpose to
fail, when it is copied from one disk to another. This design is intended
to prevent it from being endlessly copied from one disk to another.
Regardless of whether it sometimes worked out for somebody else's product,
and regardless of what account was used to copy it or run it, and regardless
if it starts, it still might fail if it is not installed properly. Copying
files does not have the same meaning as proper installation. You will just
have to run the proper installation program from the proper installation
CDs. Exactly what is preventing you from reinstalling it from CDs, Mr.
Peasant ?

"njpeasant" > wrote in message
...
It is not quite so clear. All of my files and subdirectories were copied to
my new C: drive. But, it is only the Microsoft software that I cannot
use...all other software works fine (expect for the icon demonstrating
association). The Microsoft software starts but then I get the error
message. Where I think the problem lies is somewhere in the registry. But,
manually repairing that just seems so daunting.

The only reason I brought up the idea of trying to delete my files using
Windows Explorer is that I am being prevented from installing,
re-installing, or repairing the MS software. I am desperate. All of
software is there and the messages I get tell me the software is not
installed for my User account...it was. And, that account has admin
privileges. It also does not matter if I try to use the software when I am
logged in as the administrator.

[Your answer here]

Read this link it will explain what is not being told to you about the "whys" of drive copying.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/file/progCopying-c.html

Hope this helps... invest in Partition Magic, you will get miles out of the price you will pay to purchase this. In the "good ole days" you could use a program called "Drive Copy".

Good luck!