Ok basic situation, every now and then for various reasons I have to get a new hard drive or some such thing that leaves me with an old drive full of program files, and a new almost empty drive running my OS (windows XP).

Usually I can just copy from the program files folder and use the program as normal with shortcuts on my desktop (seriously who ever actually uses the start bar haha)


But with one program which would TAKE too LONG to reacquire, it doesn't work, is there some application or some way of editing the registry or something that will allow me to get the program to be recognized as an installed program?No not really.
During the installation, the installer can add any number of entries to the registry. There is really no way of knowing what entries the software MIGHT require to run.
Except of course by monitoring what entries are added during the installation.
An installer might also have added files to other folders than the main program folder. For example to the windows folder.

I think you should count yourself lucky you've not run into this problem before. Always keep the installer disc/file handy.There are very few PROGRAMS that can simply be copied to another drive and run properly...this is by design.

Looks to me like you need to start investing in the programs you need/use regularly...they come with CD's just for this kind of situation.