Sorry, 'Senior Moment'! Program Files should go into 'Program Files.'

Think I've got it!

Jane

If you reinstalled Windows you generally can't just copy programs and expect them to work. You will probably need to reinstall them too.

Wiping and re-installing the operating system and other programs has become a 2 day job really. Then you need another week to tweak things to your liking I find. As Mike notes, you will need to install all those programs otherwise they will not work. The data you created and saved can be copied to your location of choice of course.

With XP there is SP3 to install if you bought early as I did and have the original XP only then there are over 100 updates to be added.

Thanks, I did the reinstall and everything is updated. Its trying to bring all my files back to the right places that's a hassle. I'm not sure where to place the data files. I know I have to reistall the programs, its their files that's the problem. I need the programs to 'find their files.'

I'm not sure where to put the backups. I assume C drive, Program Files.

Jane

Jane, it very much depends on the software. For something like Office, the default is "My Documents" but others will use a sub-folder within the software's folder in "Program Files" and yet others will stick them other places. Fortunately most will let your reassign a default location or you can always move the files if you find the software balks.

So how do I proceed? Install the software first? Then put the files - Where?? How will the program find the files.

I reinstalled a business software, brought the backed up files back to My Docs and they don't show up in the software. I'm not sure where to put the files.

Jane

Yes, install the software first. What do you mean by "they don't show up in the software"?

I like all my own data saved inside their respective folders I have created in My Documents (Documents for Win7). That way I can easily back up all my data at any time to the external drive without necessarily creating an image.

Once you have installed the program copy your own data folder that you had saved prior to wiping the drive for that program to My Documents. Then Open the program and probably look in Tools/Options or Preferences to change where the program saves and point to your saved folder.

In MS Office 2007 Word for example you click the MS icon in the top left corner, click Word options at the bottom of the drop down menu and make any changes you wish.

Hi Jane,
Once you have opened your documents in Word (for example) it should show up in your recently used list of documents. The first time you open a document, you will need to navigate to it...click File...Open...choose My Documents on the left or in the drop down above the dialog box. Is that what you meant by 'they don't show up in the software'?

Thanks for the help. I haven't tackled Word yet as I don't have the disk. I installed software I use for my work and the program installed but it is not finding the data base. I moved the data base back into MY Docs. but I think I should take it out of the folder I made.
The program operates, but is not seeing the data base. I'll call the company tomorrow.

Jane