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Alternate Program directory, all programs missing


Hello, I have a multiple SSD/HD setup in my laptop. My main SSD that I use for the system isn't very large, so I use an alternate directory (not C:Program Files (x86)) on my secondary SSD to install my programs. Things like Intuit Quickbooks, Office, and other 3rd party programs.

Quickbooks was running an update of some sort and was in this nasty loop. I had to kill it, and then I rebooted. (I had just uninstalled Steam as well, fwiw) Now, all of the programs that I had installed in my alternate directory D:ProgramsXXXXXXXXXXX are now missing. Most of my directories are gone, except for a few that, what I'm guessing, are files that were locked.

My file associations and program defaults are still intact, so there's still trace of those programs.

I'm at a bit of a loss as to how this could have happened. Any help would be great.

Thanks!

Hello, not obvious to me to suggest what might have happened, I'm afraid. Seems like some unfortunate glitch or bug.

Splitting installed programs from the OS such that the install path is to a different physical disk to that containing the OS is definitely not a preferred configuration.

It seems you can access the second SSD and read it, so I guess you haven't lost a partition. Have you tried any recovery software?

More usefully, do you have any disk images you can restore?

My file associations and program defaults are still intact, so there's still trace of those programs.
That info. is from the registry on your first disk, but the primary files and folders for your programs are on the other disk.

Without disk image backups, I can only suggest you try recovery software, but I doubt this will actually help you recover reliably or completely, and may not achieve anything.

For interest: a discussion about using Recuva (well-known file recovery program) and SSDs:
What to expect when using Recuva on an SSD c.f. HDD - Recuva Discussion - Piriform Community blog

THanks Dalchina, I suspected as much.

Is there a place where a list of the different softwares would be kept? Like a directory list of the D:PRograms directory?

I suggest running chkdsk x: /ragainst the SSD with the problem. Replace X: with it's drive letter.

The best way to run this is to boot a Windows 10 install DVD or flash drive, click on Repair on the 2nd install window then follow to get to a Command Prompt. You'll have to look to see what drive letter is assigned to that SSD. The easiest way is to use diskpart, something like this:

Code:
C:Users
rkurtz>diskpartMicrosoft DiskPart version 10.0.10586  Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation. On computer: DESKTOP  DISKPART> list vol Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info   ----  -  -----  ---  ----  ---  ---  ----   Volume 0     L                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media   Volume 1     C   Lenovo_C     NTFS   Partition    232 GB  Healthy    Boot   Volume 2         Recovery     NTFS   Partition    450 MB  Healthy    Hidden   Volume 3                      FAT32  Partition    100 MB  Healthy    System   Volume 4     D   Lenovo_D     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy   Volume 5     E   Lenovo_E     NTFS   Partition    732 GB  Healthy   Volume 6     F   Lenovo_F     NTFS   Partition    398 GB  Healthy   Volume 7     G   Lenovo_G     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy   Volume 8     H   Lenovo_H     NTFS   Partition    698 GB  Healthy   Volume 9     J                       Removable       0 B  No Media   Volume 10    K                       Removable       0 B  No Media   Volume 11    I                       Removable       0 B  No Media
You should be able to pick out the SSD with the problem from that then run chkdsk x: /r

Replace x:with the correct drive letter. Be patient and let it run to completion.

THanks Dalchina, I suspected as much.

Is there a place where a list of the different softwares would be kept? Like a directory list of the D:PRograms directory?
A list of programs installed? There are programs that can list the software you've installed on your system, and of course there is the Control Panel, Programs and Features list.

Alternate Program directory, all programs missing