Solved Links to programs on 2nd HDD after reinstall Windows

[Bengie]

Hi guys.

I would like to install my MS Office onto my second hard drive. No problem doing that, but, if I reinstall Windows, the links to office will be lost.
How do I reinstate those links.

What I want to do is not have to reinstall Office after every reinstall of Windows ?

 

[topgundcp]

I am sorry you have no choice but to re-install office since the installation process will put entries into the registry and in addition, some dll's will be installed under c:\Windows.

I don't see any advantage by installing office in another HD. The whole MS Office folder under C:\Programs Files is small (750MB) so to keep it simple, just install to the default path then make a backup image using: Macrium Reflect Free then you would not have to re-install Windows from scratch.

 

[Bengie]

My thinking was that I didn't want it to come back saying something like 'can't activate' if I installed Office too many times.
Is there a limit, do you know, to the amount of times Office can be activated? It cost a lot and I don't think my pension will cover having to buy it again should that happen.

 

[topgundcp]

My thinking was that I didn't want it to come back saying something like 'can't activate' if I installed Office too many times.
Is there a limit, do you know, to the amount of times Office can be activated? It cost a lot and I don't think my pension will cover having to buy it again should that happen.

I am not sure about the number of times you can re-install it. However, the suggestion I made above will resolve your concern and is the best way to resolve any other problems you might have.

After installing Windows + All applications (3rd party software, MS software etc...) then make a backup image to another Hard Drive or to an External Hard Drive, this will produce a single image file and contains everything in it (Windows+ Applications etc...). The advantage is:

1. If your PC become unbootable
2. If your Windows Hard Drive becomes damaged
3. If your PC is infected by Virus, Malwares etc...
4. If your PC running slower
5. etc....

Then all you have to do is to restore it from the backup image file. This process will take few minutes (depending on how fast your PC is) to get your Windows + Applications back in working condition in no time and requires no re-activation.

 

[Bengie]

That sounds great, thank you. I'll come back and let you know how it goes.

 

[Bengie]

Absolutely cracking advice, thank you Top Gun.

The program isn't that intuitive for someone like me, we get slower as we get older and things get harder to take in at first go, however, I made a backup and then uninstalled lots of things like ccleaner and Skype and then did a restore and they are all back.

I will now do a complete clean and format my hard drive and then do a clean install of Windows and Office plus the other things I need and then do a backup once again. That means when the time come to do a clean install of Windows, I wont have to reinstall Office and set up
Microsoft Outlook again.

This really is exciting and I wish all this technology had been around when I was younger. The most exciting thing for me just before I left school was the invention of the transistor and we felt really good carrying a little radio around in our pocket.

 

[topgundcp]

Great. Glad that we could help.