Can I put a laptop HDD into a desktop and still run software off of it

[ktjame02]

I have photoshop (PS) and other programs on my laptop that I would like to use it on my desktop. Can I put my laptop HDD (SATA) into my desktop either as the primary or secondary and be able to run PS and other programs as if off the laptop? I see other forums that say you can do so and just need a conversion cable, but they never really address whether you can run software off it or not.

 

[faalin]

long story short yes you can put the laptop drive in a desktop. no you will not be able to run the programs off that drive without installing then to the desktop.

 

[ktjame02]

long story short yes you can put the laptop drive in a desktop. no you will not be able to run the programs off that drive without installing then to the desktop.

Ok, thanks. I figured as much but just wanted confirmation.

 

[yoji]

Not really.. in general.
Some progs you can.. for example World of Warcraft would work
But any programs (including Photoshop) write a lot of info to the registry - and that info will not be in place when you try and run the prog from a HDD you just attach to your original PC.
So doing am "over the top" resinstal would write all the registry entries,, and then it would work..
But it (probably) wont work without doing that step.

HTH
Cheers