Programs not in list after re-install and backup

Vino4me

New Member
This will be long so I apologize in advance.

I dropped my laptop and the hard drive was not working properly, so I bought a new one and re-installed Vista on it. Cloning it would not work due to the damage. I then did a backup of my files and programs from my external. All of my pics and files are back where they were before.

The problem I am having is that none of my programs are in the programs menu when you click the start button. On the hard drive there are 2 program file folders, and one has the programs in it, and the "new" one doesn't. My music from itunes is in the itunes folder, but no icon to start it or drag it onto the menu.

So my questions is how do I get these to the programs menu or am I going to have to reload every program seperately?

Thanks for your help. I should have listened to my wife and just bought a new computer, but I'm stubborn and now have over 20 hours invested in trying to fix this thing. lol
 

My Computer

Which program did you use to create the original backup to your external harddrive? Did you use it for the restoration? Did it include the operating system files?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
Sorry, yes I did use it for the restoration as well. If by OS files you mean Vista, then no, it did not have that in it. I reloaded Vista from a Disc sent to me by Dell.
 

My Computer

IMHO, you need to reinstall all your programs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
Programs must always be reinstalled. Unless you reinstall from an image, such as the kind that can be made from the Free Macrium Reflect.
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
After everything is back, just the way you want, back an image. You will never have this problem, again
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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