Programįiles typically do not work, and usually have to be reinstalled on the newĪs far as possible, I download setup files and store them in the same subdirectory as the program they install, along with any textfiles containing any relevant license or activation codes, or what-have-you.

Some program installed on the new computer that knows how to open them. In short: data files work just fine from old hard drive, as long as you have That’s why getting and keeping the original installation media is so That means you’ll need the original installation media in The rule of thumb is that if a program needed to be “setup” when it wasįirst installed on your old computer then it will need to be set up again to You’ve found Word.exe on your old drive and are trying to run it from the oldĭrive, then no – most of the time that will simply not work. If by “open a file” you’re attempting to run a program – perhaps What alternatives work for you will depend once again onĮxactly what types of data files you’re working with. It has its pros and cons, but it is free and might be a

Program – using Word as my example, that “.doc” file can also be read by theįree Open Office Suite. Remember, though, replacements don’t have to be the exact same That were installed on your old computer, you do need to go out and get Installed on your new computer that knows how to work with whatever type ofĪnd yes, if you don’t have the original installation disks for the programs The concept applies though: your externalĭrive contains your data files, and to open them you likely need a program I have no idea what kinds of dataĭocuments you might be working with. Onto your old computer you can just use that again to install it on this new

If you have the original installation media that you used to install Word – which typically means installed on the new computer’s hard drive. The program actually needs to be installed on your new computer

It’s not enough that the Word program files might be on the old, nowĮxternal drive. Long as you have some program installed on the new computer that knows how to “… data files work just fine from old hard drive, as

Why wont my word document open