Got a SSD for boot, did a clean install of windows on it, but windows can't open programs intalled on the HDD

[FudgeBot47]

So recently I added an SSD to my system, I intended to only use it as a boot drive so I got one smaller than the space used on the HDD. I installed windows on the SSD, it saved the windows settings I had on the HDD (Background, colors, preferences, etc) But when I try to launch a program on the HDD an error message comes up. ALSO when going to the list of programs currently installed on windows, the programs on the HDD do not show up. I know the HDD is there because I can view normal files like pictures. But windows is not recognizing the programs on the HDD.

Edit: Windows search also doesn't find programs installed on the HDD. And it's not just steam stuff, it's other programs like afterbunrer, firefox, etc

[Tristerin]

Im not super versed on this but if you reinstalled that would be the issue, whereas a mirror image may not cause these problems.  Ill also follow the thread to find out

[The1Dickens]

10 minutes ago, FudgeBot47 said:

So recently I added an SSD to my system, I intended to only use it as a boot drive so I got one smaller than the space used on the HDD. I installed windows on the SSD, it saved the windows settings I had on the HDD (Background, colors, preferences, etc) But when I try to launch a program on the HDD an error message comes up. ALSO when going to the list of programs currently installed on windows, the programs on the HDD do not show up. I know the HDD is there because I can view normal files like pictures. But windows is not recognizing the programs on the HDD.

Edit: Windows search also doesn't find programs installed on the HDD. And it's not just steam stuff, it's other programs like afterbunrer, firefox, etc

If the HDD was the only drive in your system originally, then what likely happened is all the links are just broken. I.e. default 'main' storage is C:\, so an app is likely at C:\Users\FudgeBot47\Mozilla\Firefox.exe . So, now your SSD is the new C:\ drive (or named something else if C:\ couldn't be used because old drive, in which case the "default" would be whatever letter that is not 'C'). which doesn't have the file at the specified location. It gets worse when there are sub-files that are automagically pulled when a program starts, and is usually saved in the registry for ease of use, but since that registry is using an address that doesn't exist, it causes the program to freak out, crash, and cry in a corner.

 

If you boot your PC, and hit the key to select boot drive, can you still run Windows from your HDD? If so, it might be worthwhile to note which programs you have and re-install them (otherwise you could risk breaking dependencies and dlls and all that jazz). Use the SSD for the program, and save all files to the HDD.

 

Though it might be tedious, you might want to set aside a day and move any pics/docs/files to external drive, clouds, or something, then format the HDD and start over to use it as your files drive. Might make for less headache down the road.

[FudgeBot47]

My PC is no longer booting from the HDD, it shows an error. Is there any way that I can get to the Roaming folder on my HDD? I don't seem to able to boot from the HDD anymore. I want to get to the roaming folder because a lot of important data is stored there like saves.

[FudgeBot47]

OK so update: I got it to boot from the HDD and I am copying all needed appdata onto a USB, I do not need help anymore