Question:
I have removed a hard drive from a defunct laptop and put it into an external case.
I am now trying to access programs from the external hard drive on another laptop.
The external drive from the old laptop was running XP home edition. The laptop I am now using also runs XP home edition.
I click on the my computer icon, and the external drive is there showing as local disc F. When I click on it, all the programs etc appear. So far, so good!
The problem I am having is I have an accounts program (Intuit Quickbooks) on the external hard drive,when I open the relevant program, I get over 200 icons showing. Which one do I click on to run the program and access the stored documents?
Thanks for any help!
Answers:
More than likely you will have to install the programmes on the laptop you are currently using.
You can access data from the external drive but not the programmes.
Answers:
I don't think what you're trying to do will work, but you can try... the execuatble for the program is (I think!) called Qbw32.exe.
In most cases, when you install a Windows program it copies files to more than one location and inserts special 'keys' into something called the 'registry' that tell Windows how to run programs properly (and with correct license information etc). What you are trying to do is use a computer where the registry knows nothing about Quickbooks (the registry containng that information is on the external drive now and can't be seen by Windows).
To sum up, you can try running the executable and it may work, but oitherwise the best thing to do would be to reinstall the application in your new drive using the original CD (I realise you probably don't have it if you're trying this!).
Answers:
As previously stated, you should be able to access the data from the program and shouldn't have any problems installing the program from the disk onto your new system. However, if you didn't get the disk with the install, then you could use this program COA32 (change of address) point it at the program files on the external drive and let it do its thing. You will then need to open Windows Explorer\File Manager and physically drag the appropriate folder to its new home on your C:\ drive, but it should then work from that location.
HTH
Answers:
Wow, thats quick!
Thanks everyone, I do have the original disc, don't know why I was being so dumb! Have now installed it and all is working fine.
More help though please!
The only other question I now have is, how do I access my Outlook email from the external drive on the laptop. I can not see Outlook in the program files on the external drive, only Outlook Express. I used Outlook.
Thanks!
Answers:
Outlook is normally installed as part of Microsoft Office, which you will need to reinstall if you want to use Outlook. Remeber you'll need your username, password and mailserver details.
However, you could try to use Outlook Express and 'import' your Outlook mail file into it. Do a search on the external disk for files ending in ".pst". This should be your mail file. You'll still need the username, password and server details to set up your account in Outlook Express.
Answers:
Outlook is normally installed as part of Microsoft Office, which you will need to reinstall if you want to use Outlook. Remeber you'll need your username, password and mailserver details.
However, you could try to use Outlook Express and 'import' your Outlook mail file into it. Do a search on the external disk for files ending in ".pst". This should be your mail file. You'll still need the username, password and server details to set up your account in Outlook Express.
Thanks for that. I have Outlook on the laptop, and I have now located the .pst files on the ext drive. All of the email passwords etc I have, so no problem there. What I would like to ensure is the smooth import of the .pst files (and presumably address book details) on to the laptop. Have had a click around Outlook and can not see easily how I import this info. Please note I am using Outlook not express as I synch my PDA with Outlook and use the calender function.
Thanks again in anticipation!
Answers:
See for more info.
Answers:
Thanks for the above posts. The only way I can find .pst files on the external drive is by doing a search. I can not then seem to be able to do anything with the files.
Have tried following the instructions in espresso's post, but how do I access the control panel for the external drive? I only seem able to find the resident drive! :-(
Thanks again!
Answers:
Have tried following the instructions in espresso's post
Follow the steps in 'How to import .pst file data into Outlook'. For the file to import simply browse to the .pst file on the external drive.
Answers:
Follow the steps in 'How to import .pst file data into Outlook'. For the file to import simply browse to the .pst file on the external drive.
Chippy, this is not the first time you've come to my rescue! However this time I am still struggling. I can only find the .pst on the hhard drive by doing a search, and then try to get the location by hovering the mouse over the file, which then tells me the file location. However when I try to import, I can not click through the the location of the file, i.e. the 'local settings' part of the location does not click through.
I don't know if I am explaining myself clearly, I'm lost in a fog of confusion.
Answers:
Are you able to copy the pst file to your local drive?
Answers:
Have you got it set to show hidden files or folders? These will show up as 'faded out' if they are there at all, and the folder your .pst file will be in as standard is usually hidden.
Get as far as you can in windows explorer, then go to 'Tools'>'Folder Options'>'View' and check that 'Show hidden files and folders' is selected. If the file can be found by a search then it must be there, so its probably just hidden.
Once you have it set to show hidden folders you should be able to access it through Outlook to import it.
Answers:
Have you got it set to show hidden files or folders? These will show up as 'faded out' if they are there at all, and the folder your .pst file will be in as standard is usually hidden.
Get as far as you can in windows explorer, then go to 'Tools'>'Folder Options'>'View' and check that 'Show hidden files and folders' is selected. If the file can be found by a search then it must be there, so its probably just hidden.
Once you have it set to show hidden folders you should be able to access it through Outlook to import it.
The penny just dropped. I have followed the steps above and checked 'Shown hidden files and folders'.
Now, when I click through to import I can now get as far as the last link, but now there is no .pst in the Outlook folder.
I am looking on the external drive, it does show up when I search for files or folders but not when I get as far as the Outlook file when importing.
Answers:
Arrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
I can find the files on the external drive. I have right clicked and then sent it to the desktop on the laptop. It just shows a shortcut to Outlook but when I try to import from this it is not a Personal Folder File.
When I hover the mouse over the .pst on the external drive it shows the location as:
documentsettings/myname/localsettings/applicationsdata/microsoft/outlook
When I then try and import I can only click through to myname, the local settings does not appear.
What am I doing wrong??!!??!!
Answers:
Just tried a different approach and now a different problem.
I have located the .pst files on the external drive. I have now copied this on to a cd. Then I tried to import into Outlook, only to get the following error message:
File access denied. You do not have permission to access the file D:\outlook.pst.
Help! This is driving me crazy!
Answers:
Just tried a different approach and now a different problem.
I have located the .pst files on the external drive. I have now copied this on to a cd. Then I tried to import into Outlook, only to get the following error message:
File access denied. You do not have permission to access the file D:\outlook.pst.
Help! This is driving me crazy!
Essentially, copy the .pst file to your harddrive and try again.
HTH
Answers:
Finally done! Thanks to all the above posters.