user81045: The answer to this may already be out there, I just couldn't find it.
The issue: My SSD has a few problems, I got the nasty "Disc Read Error" on boot up and while trying to sort that out, it occurred to me that my Bitcoin software is installed on that drive.
I did have the common sense to locate my Bitcoin wallet on my storage hard drive, so all that info is safe and I was able to boot off a spare drive that I use as a back up.  It doesn't have the Bitcoin Core software installed though.
The question: Can I install Bitcoin Core software onto my spare drive without any hick-ups and then access my wallet, or will I run into some issues? Will I have to go through the whole huge initial download thing again?
I didn't want to try until I asked, just in case there is something to look out for.
Thank you in advance

user15715: You should be able to download/install the software on your safe drive, and then specify as needed the locations of the wallet/data directory using the --datadir option (this should point to the repository containing the blocks directory as well as the wallet.dat file).

81045: <p>The answer to this may already be out there, I just couldn't find it.</p>

<p>The issue: My SSD has a few problems, I got the nasty "Disc Read Error" on boot up and while trying to sort that out, it occurred to me that my Bitcoin software is installed on that drive.</p>

<p>I did have the common sense to locate my Bitcoin wallet on my storage hard drive, so all that info is safe and I was able to boot off a spare drive that I use as a back up.  It doesn't have the Bitcoin Core software installed though.</p>

<p>The question: Can I install Bitcoin Core software onto my spare drive without any hick-ups and then access my wallet, or will I run into some issues? Will I have to go through the whole huge initial download thing again?</p>

<p>I didn't want to try until I asked, just in case there is something to look out for.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance</p>
 15715: <p>You should be able to download/install the software on your safe drive, and then specify as needed the locations of the wallet/data directory using the <code>--datadir</code> option (this should point to the repository containing the <code>blocks</code> directory as well as the <code>wallet.dat</code> file).</p>
