my pc wants can not reinstall software lost off HDD | Thread profile

i recently had remove one of my SATA HDD. it was my third one i used for storing games. this was removed due to it dying on me and i re-arranged everything else and all is working fine. No Virus, no hardware faults nothing. all legal copies of all software. when i try to re-install any of the software that was on the defunct HDD windows vista tells me there is an error on the H: drive (...

I was going to give you a suggestion but then realized your using vista, sorry man. Welcome to the forum anyways jjreynolds, someone will chime in

Removing bits of each program from the registry could take forever. Personally, I'd just bite the bullet and reinstall everything

** Two threads merged **

You can use the "Find" in the registry to find remnants. That's what the "Find" is for.....but yeah back up your registry before deleting anything.

Did you uninstall the software prior removal? I think you problem is in registry. Most likely there is a reference in there to those software and once you try to install, OS try to repair to H drive.

thanks sounds right to me. how do i remove these from the registry...is there a way to do it

Quote: Originally Posted by harley2ride The best method, would be to format your pc and do a fresh install of windows, then reload all of your stuff. Just make sure you make a backup of anything that you might need. Formatting wipes out everything on your hard drive. I agree.

thanks for the help...i have now got rid of the links and am now installing my software again...you guys are great

i have been told that i might have old software links within my registry. when i try to re-install a game that was on an old HDD now removed the OS is trying to repair the link to the old HDD in order to re-install. does anyone have any ideas how i go about removing these software links still remaining behind, so that i can re-install to a new location many thanks