Im Downloading Opensource/public domain programs, such as PDF editor and so forth. After downloading the program im going into program files and moving the file to CD, or I even tried to create zip file for the files, then move that zip file to a cd. That goes fine, but this CD is for a friend, so I need to test it out first. So after I move the files to the CD I delete the program on my pc. Then I put the cd in my drive with the program files on it, double click to start the program or installation and I always get an error message saying that a file/files are missing. If I dont delete the program on my pc then I dont get the error message and the program starts up from the CD. What Im I doing wrong. In a Nut shell, how do I burn a Program file onto a CD. Please advise, iv been working on it all day.
Why are files missing after moving program files to CD?
- Thread starter dell
- Start date
strollin
Well-Known Member
Not only do installed programs store their files in a myriad of places on the drive but they also put entries in the registry. It is not possible to simply copy an installed Windows program to a CD for someone else to use, you really need to provide them with the installation files.
Is there some reason this person cant download them like you did? You need to make a copy of the program before you install them. You cant just copy the files from the program folder after the installation.
S.T.A.R.S.
banned
Of course it's not going to work.
When programs are installed,they usually copy files in different locations and usually create many registry entries.
And this is why the program from your CD runs fine AS LONG AS the program is installed to your computer.Once removed,running it from the CD will not work and that's why you get that error message.
So just download the program's installers and burn them to the CD so that your friend can install them on his/her computer.
Of course there ARE ways to simply copy all the data from one computer and transfering it to another computer and making it work.Usually that is called CLONING,but that's a different story and it's not that simple for everyone.
S.T.A.R.S.
banned
No.
Program's installers are the files you download/get from the internet or somewhere else and use to install programs.
For example the following link is a link to download the installer file for the 7-zip program and it's called "7z922.exe":
http://fs34.filehippo.com/1066/b94c8b774b8c43adb581a624cc7d32f5/7z922.exe
So what you need to do is to download program's installers for the programs you want and burn THOSE files to the CD and NOT the files from already installed programs.
Today, with a different program, I was able to ''Move'' the program files to CD. Then I put in a different computer and all I had to do was drop the program file from the CD to the C drive and that was it, presto...no download, the program started right up. And I like that because many of the exe installers have options to download search bars and other unwanted programs along the way, and I know how to remove those spyware, but my friends might not. I think maybe it worked on this program, but maybe not all programs are built the same way in relation to how files can be transferred.
you are correct
I decided to go into file search and search for all the files for the name of the program, there were many more then what was in the program file. So in file search after the search had ended I highlighted all the files and saved to CD, went to a different pc and sure enough I was able to download the file without having to use the installing file.
strollin
Well-Known Member
I guarantee that won't work with most software since many of the associated files may not contain the program's name. Installers also check for certain requirements like ample disk space or look for certain Microsoft files to be present before installing.
Not sure what software you are trying to do this with but you should look into what are called "portable apps". From Wikipedia: " ... a portable application is software that can be used from portable storage devices such as USB flash drives, digital audio players, PDAs [1] or external hard drives. To be considered for inclusion, an application must be executable on multiple computers from removable storage without installation, and without writing settings or data onto a computer's non-removable storage.
http://www.portablefreeware.com/
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S.T.A.R.S.
banned
You don't seem to understand how these things work.
Not ALL programs will work this way.Some will and some not.
Most of the programs during their installation process not only copy files to HDD locations,but also create a lot of registry keys and values inside those keys which are used for various purposes such as loading program's settings on load event and a LOT LOT LOT more.
Here is an example.Let's say that you have installed Microsoft office on your computer.
And now let's say that you copy ALL POSSIBLE FILES of that program on different computer and then try to run Office.
Do you think it will work properly?
Of course not.It won't.Because all the registry keys and their values will not be where they are supposed to be and when Office tries to load them,it will fail miserably because they do not exist on different computer.
Same applies for ALL other programs of this type!
Now...there are 2 ways on how you can transfer installed programs from one computer to another and make them work the same without problems.
Way 1:
Copy all the files from a specific program to another computer in correct locations.After that copy all the registry keys and values from the OS registry of that specific program to another computer OS registry.
NOTE: If the program is drive letter sensitive then the drive letter on another computer from which the program executes must also be the same as it is on the original computer on which the program was installed on!
Way 2:
Install all the programs you want on your original computer then clone the drive and transfer it on another computer.After that perform the REPAIR process to adapt Windows OS on new hardware and after that manually install all the missing drivers.
Again note that if the programs or/and other stuff are drive letter sensitive then the drive letter on another computer from which the programs execute must also be the same as it is on the original computer on which the programs were installed on!
So as you can see things are not that simple.You cannot just COPY files to another computer and expect things to work right out of the box.
On the other hand this is the reason why the programs which I make store all their files AND settings in just one single folder so copying it directly to another computer WILL work like a charm.
Unfortunately most of other programs not made by me do not work this way so just copying them to another computer will not work in most cases.
Also some programs even install virtual drivers which are neccessary for them to work so in those cases even if you copy all the files AND registry keys and their values will not be enough.So in that case you will also need to make sure to transfer those virtual drivers also!
BB flash back player and recorder is a great example of this.
So...if you think this is too complicated for you then just connect to your friend's computer with a Team viewer and install the programs for him if he doesn't know how to do that properly.
It's definetely a lot simpler than you transfering all these programs on the CD and giving it to him.
Hell even if you do that and give him the CD,do you REALLY think that your friend who doesn't even know how to install programs properly will know where to copy all those files from the CD INCLUDING all the registry keys and their values and possibly even the virtual drivers???
I don't think so.
Things are not that simple.
Also what Mr. Strollin said is also very important and completely correct so you need to pay attention on that also together with everything else I just said above:
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