thank you for responding with your help. I've been away, so now I'm working at my problem again.

I'm wondering, WR-UK, "Yes you can, but you would have to install it twice to ensure you had the required registry entries on both computers. (i.e. instal on the one at the cottage, then manually delete the file, then reinstall it again then install again via the laptop - do not use the uninstaller otherwise the registry entry will be deleted.) "

I understand the install on first machine, but what I'm not understanding?

"then manually delete the file"
what file? just one?

What I did was install the program on the 'external drive J:' All the files are there, and the necessary files are on the C: drive I'm thinking with the registry files where they should be to make it work on that machine, and it does work.

Now, I'll delete 'some file' ???

and do the same on the second laptop, right?

well, the games you have to create the shortcut by hand after the install, those would probably work...

If you have the option, install "portable" program versions on non-hard disk drive (HDD) drives otherwise GMMan has the best solution with "dual" installs.

When you install the program on a external hard drive, the only files that are copied are the main program files. Other needed components such as registry entries, library files, and anything installed to profile folders are not copied. The best way is to install the program separately on both computers, and use a "briefcase" on a USB drive to synchronize the data.

Yes you can, but you would have to install it twice to ensure you had the required registry entries on both computers. (i.e. instal on the one at the cottage, then manually delete the file, then reinstall it again then install again via the laptop - do not use the uninstaller otherwise the registry entry will be deleted.)

I was told I could install my accounting program on an external hard drive and use it on my laptop here and at the cottage.

It's not working for me.

Even though I have the option of runing the program on more than one machine, I thought this way I could keep the 'information entered' file up to date and not need to update each location.

I was told I could work on each laptop and save a copy to that machine and backup on the external hard drive. That way I'd have a current and backup (really up to date) if a problem I'd have very little work to re-do.

I don't know who set up my friends system this way, but it's not working for me.

Any suggestions?