Read through this information before using Application Mover for the first time!! 

Most Important

• Most Important: Do not move paths (folders) that contain un-related program(s) underneath that parent path. For example, DO NOT move C:\Program Files to D:\Program Files. Moving C:\Program Files\Editor to F:\Program Files\Editor is OK, where "Editor" is the name of a program you want to move. But do not attempt to move all of C:\Program Files! Aside from the fact there are folders under C:\Program Files that we recommend you not move, trying to move a folder that contains multiple programs increases the risk that something will go wrong.

• Important - Windows 7 & Windows Vista Users: Application Mover must be run 'As Administrator'. The latest version should prompt automatically with a request for elevated UAC permission. Please allow the elevated rights. Older versions of Application Mover do not request elevated permission so you must manually run the program 'As Administrator'. Do this by right clicking on the program shortcut and select 'Run As Administrator' to run the program. This should be done even if your user account is one with full access permissions. Alternatively you can manually modify the shortcut properties for the shortcut to launch the program (Right click on the shortcut; Click on Shortcut tab; Click on Advanced; Check 'Run as administrator').

• Important: Most software programs save 'data' files (documents, spreadsheets, CAD layout files) in a folder other than the folder where the program itself is installed. You should always have fresh backups of all 'data' files before using Application Mover. This is doubly important if the program you want to move saves 'data' in the same folder as the installation path. It is up to you to investigate this on your own. Application Mover has no special knowledge of any particular programs.

Folders & Programs You Should Not Move

• Important: Do not attempt to move your 'My Documents' folder. 'My Documents' may other folders (sometimes hidden) that contain special files related to your user account OR other users on your computer. Consult other information (F1 Help or online) for operating system instructions for how to change the location of 'My Documents'.

• Do not move folders or paths related to your operating system. Application Mover cannot be used to relocate a windows installation! For example, do not try to move C:\Windows to D:\Windows!! You will break your computer if you attempt this!
  
  - Do not move any folders underneath your 'Windows' path. For example, don't move C:\Windows\System!!
  
  - Do not move C:\Program Files\Common Files. Folders under this path is used by many programs and files there will be probably be "busy". If you know what you are doing you can possibly move specific paths under C:\Program Files\Common Files, one at a time. But in general we suggest you leave things be when it comes to C:\Program Files\Common Files.

• We recommend against moving highly complex programs such as Microsoft Office. Programs like MS Office install files in many different subdirectories and make hundreds (even thousands) of registry entries. We have successfully moved components of MS Office ourselves but we do not support this.

• We recommend against moving Flight Simulator 9. As of Jan 2012 we have two reports of attempts to move Flight Simulator not going well. Symptoms in each case differ but we now recommend against moving Flight Simulator, especially if you have lost your license details &/or original installation disks. Users should especially note that the Flight Simulator 'folder' can be a very very large and can contain thousands of files. Moving Flight Simulator will be a long process even on a very fast computer so if you proceed, be patient! Let your computer focus exclusively on the task!

• Do not move Norton System Works. By report, System Works may come along after Application Mover and try to "correct" some registry changes that Application Mover makes. Follow Symantec/Norton recommendations if you need to move System Works.

• Do not move Quicken. By report some files are left behind in the original installation path after the move. We have not been able to repeat this ourselves so we do not know if this is because users ignored the "Some files are busy, reboot now?" prompt after Application Mover was finished. Nevertheless, caution is advised about moving Quicken.

• Do not move iTunes. There are multiple iTunes-related processes running at all times on a Windows computer and we recommend you follow guidelines from iTunes support when moving your iTunes media folder. For example, see iTunes for Windows: Moving your iTunes Media Folder.

• By report Microsoft MapPoint may be difficult to move. We suggest that you not move MapPoint unless you have your original installation media and/or license key.

• We have reports that Adobe Photoshop can be moved successfully but we suggest you not do so if you lost your original installation media or license key.

• We have no reports or experience moving "STREAM". Application Mover has no special functions for moving STREAM installations so we recommend against attempting move that software.

• CAD software installations are often highly complex and may contain file references to the original installation path that Application Mover is not able to change. We recommend against attempting to move any CAD software installations if you do not have the original installation disks!

• Do not attempt move the path Application Mover itself is in. If you need to relocate Application Mover, uninstall and reinstall.

Logging and Backups

• Please use the Log File feature. This is the "Log changes made to output file" setting in the main dialog. The info may be helpful if something goes wrong. 

• Back up all data files associated with your program before you use Application Mover. By this we mean any document collections, databases, and/or data paths that are used by your program to store whatever information it is your program is used for. Application Mover has been tested extensively but you should update your backups first. You do have recent backups, right?

Before You Move Anything

• Close all running programs before you run Application Mover. Most important, close program(s) directly or indirectly related to the Current Path and New Path fields in the Application Mover main dialog. If you are not sure about what this means, close all programs so that your Windows taskbar is clear.

• If you complete the Current Path and New Path fields by hand in the main dialog be sure to specify only  subdirectory (folder) names. Do not specify a specific file!! The program works on paths, not specific files within a path. For example, if the program you want to move is in the folder C:\Program Files\MyApp, specify that in the Current Path field. Do not specify C:\Program Files\MyApp\MyApp.exe.

What Application Mover Is Not

• Application Mover is not a 'migration' or 'installation clone' utility. Do not use the program to move programs from one computer to another. It is not designed for this.

• Application Mover is not intended to for drive swapping usage such as copying files to a new hard disk and then swapping that hard disk. See Technical Notes below for more information.

• Application Mover is not an 'installation discovery tool'. It does not attempt to discover file references your program may have to files outside of the Current Path field in the Application Mover main dialog.

Other Suggestions

• Application Mover is not a substitute for buying a larger hard disk for drive C:. Consider other options if you are woefully low on disk space and wonder if you can avoid replacing your drive C:\ by using Application Mover to, for example, move C:\Program Files\ to D:\Program Files\. Did you try using Microsoft's Disk Clean Up first? Is your Internet Explorer cache using 20% of your hard drive? Maybe now is the time to off-disk archive some of those old documents you haven't opened in years? Many drives come with 'clone utilities' to copy your old drive to the new drive. Yes, putting in a new drive is technical and time consuming. For a few $$ more your neighborhood computer shop will do it for you. 

General Background About What Happens

• Application Mover moves 'applications' based on the path specified in Current Path field in the main dialog. The program moves all files from that path (and any subdirectories under that path) to the path specified in the New Path field. The program then uses the Current Path and New Path strings to make changes to the windows registry, Windows shortcuts, and .ini & Install.log files in the program path. 

• The order of operations is: 1. Files are copied to the new path. 2. Registry Changes are made. 3. Shortcuts are changed. 4. Files are deleted from the old path. 5. .ini and Install.log files are changed.  

• Advanced Users: If you have a multi-boot system please consider the consequences of moving a program that is installed under two operating systems. Only the actively loaded registry will be changed. Enable replacement confirmations if you want to supervise the operation more closely. 

Additional Notes

• The program works on entire paths only. You cannot move single files. For example, you cannot move only C:\Program Files\MyApp\MyApp.exe to a different path. Application Mover moves all of C:\Program Files\MyApp\.

• If you use a "Start Menu" replacement utility or program launcher, changes made by Application Mover may not be reflected in your utility. If your utility keeps data in a database of some kind, Application Mover will not be able to change those settings. If your utility stores program data in the registry, refreshing the utility's menu after Application Mover is finished may help.  

• Application Mover will not permit operations involving the root path of any drive. For example, you cannot move C:\ to D:\. 

• The 'Update Current Path in Registry', 'Update Shortcuts to Current Path', and 'Update Installer log Files' checkboxes in the main dialog are intended for advanced users. Most users should leave these checked.

Some Technical Notes

Application Mover moves 'applications' based on the paths specified in 'Current Path' and 'New Path' fields in the main dialog. 

The table below lists some paths and results related to moving a fictitious program named 'MyEditor' from 'C:\Program Files\MyEditor' to 'D:\Programs\MyEditor':

Assuming 'MyEditor' is a modern Windows program, as long as physical hard drives retain their original letter assignments, 'MyEditor' should continue to function normally from drive D: even though some files remain in the paths on drive C:.

From the above you can see why problems will arise your goal is to move 'MyEditor' to another computer. Why won't that work? Because some files related to 'MyEditor' are still on drive C:. For the same reasons you can't move 'MyEditor' to a new hard disk and then physically swap that hard disk so it has a new letter assignment.

If you have a strong technical knowledge about your program you could potentially get around this by using Application Mover repeatedly on various paths (and perhaps with some manual follow-up). However, this type of usage is not supported.

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