Software transfer advice please.

[JDH]

Got a new pc on the way, but being a bit of a pc numpty I'm dreading the change-over. Any tips please on the easiest way to transfer software? I want to be selective in what I transfer, rather than automatically putting all the old stuff onto the new pc.

John

 

[Chunky]

Do you mean software or data?

You won't be able to transfer your software as it will need to be reinstalled on the new computer from the original installation files.

As far as your data is concerned you have several options. Copy it from your old computer to a CD / DVD / removable drive and then onto the new computer or, network the old and new computer and transfer the data direct from one to the other.

 

[cookie]

transfer files & settings with window's "files & settings transfer wizard"

 

[GSwadd]

transfer files & settings with window's "files & settings transfer wizard"

That's the one.......built into Windoze.

 

[Fanum]

You could transfer everything, all in one go, and pretty easily as well.......(Or uninstal stuff from the old machine first so it's not taken over)

You'd use Norton Ghost or Acronis true image....that would create a mirror image of your 'c' drive and others if you wanted, that you could then put onto the new machine..it would effectivley clone the old PC onto the new one.

(It would also clone all the problems, fragmented files, virii, registry problems etc across though)

You'd need a USB2 hard drive that's as big as your existing disk and the software......other than that it's pretty easy to do.


The files and settings wizard as mentioned above would do exactly as it says on the tin....transfer all your data and settings (email accounts, emails themselves, documents etc) across to the new computer, but you'd still have to install all of the software you use on the new machine......

For this, you'd ned either a USB hard drive that's big enough to take the backup file that's created (and they can be damn big) or a big pile of DVD's and a burner.

It would mean though that you're starting off on a 'clean' install of windows, which is a good thing.


First step with the new machine BTW, before you load ANYTHING else on to it, is check it's not running Norton antivirus....remove it if it is.

Then d/load and install AVG or one of the other, better av progs.......a search here will turn up some good threads (type in Norton and you'll see why).

Only then should you start installing your other progs


If you have any probs, give me a shout...I'm only in Dartford and have a spare 250gb USB drive etc etc.....quite happy to nip along and hold your hand for a bit.

We can even mess about with the PC as well if you want

 

[JDH]

Thanks one and all for the info and advice, reassuring to know that there are people out there like you guys who are prepared to help numpties like me

Fanum, cheers for the offer, may I take you up on that? Help with the pc will be good as well Dell are coming to install the new pc, it's part of the package but that only involves setting up the internet and hardware connections. Regarding Norton, I have already bought the AVG all singing all dancing Antivirus package and firewall, but am concerned that as my internet is via the BT Homehub which comes with the dreaded Norton that I may not be able to avoid it initially when they set up my new pc, and from what I understand uninstalling Norton is a bit of a bu**er, tends to leave bits of itself buried within. What do you think? I'll pm you if that's okay and give you my home number for contact to start with. Thanks again, very grateful.

John

 

[ovenpaa]

You could t

You'd use Norton Ghost or Acronis true image....that would create a mirror image of your 'c' drive and others if you wanted, that you could then put onto the new machine..it would effectivley clone the old PC onto the new one.

(It would also clone all the problems, fragmented files, virii, registry problems etc across though)

You'd need a USB2 hard drive that's as big as your existing disk and the software......other than that it's pretty easy to do.


If you have any probs, give me a shout...I'm only in Dartford and have a spare 250gb USB drive etc etc.....quite happy to nip along and hold your hand for a bit.

We can even mess about with the PC as well if you want

Imaging drives that are based on NT platforms (NT4, W2k, XP, 2003 etc) Is a superb idea as a back up, as the image can then be loaded back up to the original hardware, loading it to a different machine will result in BSOD's and grief. it was possible in the good old 9x days but not now.

250gb will easily cope with an image of the system partition and this is where Norton.Symantec Ghost does quite a good job at compressing data (I still wont use it though!) I can remember thinking I would never need more than 10meg, now I see the 1 terabyte drive is now available at around 500 quid.

 

[Fanum]

No worries John...we'll deal with Norton

Before the new machine comes, go to start>allprogs>accessories>system tools>files and transfer wizard and follow it through.......tell it it's the old pc, and that you want to transfer to a file....it'll churn away for a long time (depending on what you tel it to collect) and eventually produce a file called 'USMT2.UNC'....that's a compressed copy of all your work and settings and so on.

If your emails are important to you, also use whatever email client you use to 'export'.......they should be saved in the .unc file before but it doesn't hurt to be doubly sure

I'd set the file and transfer wizard off at night and just leave it running.....mine come out at about a gig (and that's without all the progs, just data) and takes hours

Not a bad idea to collect all your cd's together with the progs you want to reinstall as well so they're all to hand

Speak to you soon

Bill

 

[ovenpaa]

No worries John...we'll deal with Norton

Try this:

Automatic tool for removal of all versions of Symantec AV (ActiveX driven)

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...56edd0061c0a4&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=

Well they are a competitor of ours I have quite a few more if you ever get stuck.

 

[unhinged]

Assuming your bus is the same type you could just take the hard drive out the old machine and plonk it in the new one.