Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Installing files downloaded from another computer...

by Reaper2794 Jul 12, 2010 1:54PM PDT

Hey guys. I've noticed before that with a lot of setup files, you cannot set those files up on a computer that's different than the one you downloaded em from. Is this cause of some sort of encryption/key/hash sorta thing that makes the setup file only available to the one you downloaded it to or what?

Is there any way to fix this?

Thanks for your time

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
The installation program requests you register on line
by Dick Humfrey Jul 12, 2010 7:42PM PDT

Now if you have purchased a program for use on a single computer you need to uninstall it from that computer to release the registration for the new computer.

Then load it on the new computer which will take the "fingerprint" of the new computer and allow registration.

The way to fix this is buy a registration for more than one computer when you purchase the program.

- Collapse -
Can you provide examples?
by Steven Haninger Jul 12, 2010 8:54PM PDT

That's not a problem I've really noted. I can download software on a PC that I have no intention of installing it on but run it over the network to install on another. These downloaded programs seem to be oblivious to where they are being deposited but will determine compatibility during actual installation. Exactly what programs, or sort of programs, are you having these problems with?

- Collapse -
I'm talkin bout even freeware programs...
by Reaper2794 Jul 13, 2010 2:20AM PDT

Hey guys. So I guess I'll have to try doing this with a few files. Now that I think about it, maybe it's cause it was setup files that I used on that computer and THEN tried to transfer them. Even though it was freeware, I think it leaves a fingerprint.

I believe WinRAR did that but yeah. I'll try some programs and see.

- Collapse -
You said you tried to transfer the setup files
by Steven Haninger Jul 13, 2010 4:30AM PDT

I have to wonder what the exact procedure was. If you can download a compressed executable file to one machine, the proper way to transfer it to another would be to copy the entire file to some media first or copy across a network if you have one. You install it once the entire executable is on the other machine. Alternatively, if your PCs are networked, you can often install them directly by navigating to the installation file and clicking on it. It should install on your local PC from the remote one. But, if you're trying to copy and paste a folder to which the program installed itself, that won't work. Freeware and shareware are meant to be easily distributed and don't lock themselves down. Some will be crippled or time limited if payment is expected, however. If you want to share more about what these files were for, their names, and where you got them, that might get you a better answer.

- Collapse -
I concur.
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Jul 13, 2010 5:42AM PDT

A setup.exe file can be copied to any other machine and then run to install the application.

But transferring installed software is not usually possible.

If any of the software does have registration or license codes, then there may be a problem, but not with freeware.

Mark

Back to PC Applications forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info