Need assistance ???

[seamorton]

Have to replace my main desktop PC with another Unit. Both have XP3 installed and activated. I call the main PC the older PC and the replacement the new PC, if I may. The older PC has my emails, bookmarks, programs, etc, that I acquired over time. I would like to transfer the emails, bookmarks, programs, etc over to the newer PC. so all I would need to do is just start up and have everything available as the old PC. Pretty new at this! Would like the easiest way to accomplish this. Any and all suggestions would very much be appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to help this senior with this matter. SM USAF 62-66

 

[John Connor]

What browser and E-mail client do you use?

For transferring programs you have to use a program because there will be registry entries tied to those programs. You can try this: http://www.easeus.com/free-pc-transfer-software/transfer-programs-to-new-computer.html

You copy all these to an external hard drive or USB stick that has the capacity. Newegg has external hard drives like this one: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...xternal_hard_drive-_-9SIA5AD4AY7738-_-Product

I just bought that and it's on the way. I need it to clone my computer in case I'm SOL and my computer goes south. That way I have a clone. I use AOMEI for clones. It's a straight forward cloning software.

 

[seamorton]

What browser and E-mail client do you use?

For transferring programs you have to use a program because there will be registry entries tied to those programs. You can try this: http://www.easeus.com/free-pc-transfer-software/transfer-programs-to-new-computer.html

You copy all these to an external hard drive or USB stick that has the capacity. Newegg has external hard drives like this one: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...xternal_hard_drive-_-9SIA5AD4AY7738-_-Product

I just bought that and it's on the way. I need it to clone my computer in case I'm SOL and my computer goes south. That way I have a clone. I use AOMEI for clones. It's a straight forward cloning software.

E-mail is an older outlook express. Using Mozilla Firefox presently. Thank you very much for taking the time to assist with this. As you mentioned, would like to clone, I believe that this is the word you used, this New PC as close as possible. However I'm sure that there will be some programs, or downloads that I can eliminate. Hopefully the program you mentioned will give me that option.

Like your suggestions concerning the USB stick, as I don't have a lot of GBs tied up in the system. The external HD drive sounds like it may be the way to go? What would be the advantages and trade offs between the two?? Is it possible with a cloned HD that I could install this separately in another PC and it would start up - boot the OS and run the system to which it was installed just like the original?? Hope this helps as I'm not very PC oriented and this will be the first adventure in this area. Again, thank you very much! Hope that new external drive works out for you. SM USAF 62-66

 

[John Connor]

Okay, so instead of individually transfering your bookmarks, Email, etc. A clone would accomplish putting the whole system as it exists now in the old computer in the new computer, but and that's a huge but. Are the computers the same? If not a direct clone won't work as the motherboard, etc are different. It can be done in theory, and I've never tried it yet, but I will eventfully when I finally get around to building a new PC. But there is a command line tool called sysprep. I know it exists in Windows 7, but I don't know about XP. I have a couple XP computers and after I post this I'll see really quick. But like I said, I never used sysprep before so I can't tell you much on how to use it outside of pointing you to some website tutorials. This may be over your head since you indicated you're not very computer savvy. But if the two computers you got now are the same make and model then all this won't be necessary.

You asked about the trade offs between a USB stick and an external hard drive. Primarily cost per gigabyte. The one I listed there in the link is around $30 for a capacity of around 300 gigabytes. But a USB drive with that capacity will cost you a lot more. I do see a Sandisk Cruzer for $50 with a 256GB capacity though. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sandisk-Cruzer-Glide-256-GB-USB-3-0-Flash-Drive-Brand-New-/272309311358

I wouldn't buy a knock off or no name brand. They won't last and I read their capacities aren't true.

Let me know if the two computers are the same.

 

[John Connor]

Okay, I tried to type sysprep into my XP computer and it wasn't there. A YouTube video indicates it's in the install CD. I thought it could be used for dissimilar hardware, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

The main disadvantage is that the reference computer and the target computers must have compatible Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs) and identical Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI).

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...o-i-use-sysprep-to-create-a-windows-xp-image/

So if your computers are dissimilar. The software I talked about will have to be used to transfer your programs. But bookmarks is easy to do and so are the E-mails. Although, I have to look it up since I'm more familiar to Thunderbird.

 

[seamorton]

Okay, I tried to type sysprep into my XP computer and it wasn't there. A YouTube video indicates it's in the install CD. I thought it could be used for dissimilar hardware, but that doesn't appear to be the case.



http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/wi...o-i-use-sysprep-to-create-a-windows-xp-image/

So if your computers are dissimilar. The software I talked about will have to be used to transfer your programs. But bookmarks is easy to do and so are the E-mails. Although, I have to look it up since I'm more familiar to Thunderbird.

Here's what I've been able to determine so far. The Old PC is P5GC-MX/1333 MB with AMD at Dual core processor - HD 74.5 GB with 54.6 GB free space. So it appears to have 20 GB of space taken. I've been pretty conservative so apparently all the components, hardware, programs, emails & bookmarks take up that space.

New PC is a Intel Dual Core E5300. MB is a DQ4563 or B ending. Has functioning XP3 & email installed & activated however all emails are routed through Verizon and the emails is also available there.

These PCs assembled from components that I purchased from internet sellers. Mostly eBay. My intentions at the time was to have a backup PC similar to the Old PC in case problems would arise. I could then download - upload?? the files to the new PC I now have on standby. I really expected the Old PC to last longer than the year ago I assembled it. It's probably repairable but I just don't have the space on the work bench to see If I could find out what is causing the problem. But that's another matter I may try to take up later. Hope this may help to come up with a workable solution. Thank you very much! SM

 

[John Connor]

Your computers are too dissimilar to do a clone. If you don't have too many programs that you need to migrate into the new computer, then I would just install them into the new computer from scratch. Otherwise use that program I gave a link to. You will want to use an external USB hard drive or big enough USB thumb drive to transfer that data between the two computers.


To backup your bookmarks do the following: This is very simple. In Firefox go to Bookmarks above and select "show all bookmarks." Now under "Import Backup" select backup. Save the JSON file. This file will contain all of your bookmarks. Now copy that file to your external hard drive or thumb drive. Paste that file on the desktop of the new computer. Go into Firefox as before and chose Import. To import that JSON file. Presto! You have now imported all of your bookmarks.

As to E-mail. Read through this tutorial. https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...-Outlook-ca8ecaab-3330-46a1-b925-deac3f3c4359

The process is very similar to importing/exporting bookmarks in Firefox.

 

[deustroop]

Normally there's an easy way and a hard way to do this. Here, I'd say there is no easy way, to change the new into the old ( sounds funny just saying it). The two systems are similar in software but the hardware is too different to allow for the normal process of cloning the old software onto the new hardware. The chipsets are completely different and I doubt XP installed on an Intel board could adjust.
So welcome to the hard way. In this case tho, it appears straightforward at least. Your concerns are having your email, bookmarks and programs similar to those on the old drive. Anything else ?
You should upgrade the new drive manually. First, create an "install programs" folder on the new drive that contains the program install files you want. Second, save the bookmarks as John Connor noted above. Third, access the emails you want from Verizon.
One wrinkle arises where the old comp has apps no longer available. That's just unfortunate. You still have the old machine for such things but if that occurs, let it be a lesson to always have the install files reserved for future use .
Finally I'd suggest looking into whether that new machine will run Windows 10.

 

[seamorton]

Your computers are too dissimilar to do a clone. If you don't have too many programs that you need to migrate into the new computer, then I would just install them into the new computer from scratch. Otherwise use that program I gave a link to. You will want to use an external USB hard drive or big enough USB thumb drive to transfer that data between the two computers.


To backup your bookmarks do the following: This is very simple. In Firefox go to Bookmarks above and select "show all bookmarks." Now under "Import Backup" select backup. Save the JSON file. This file will contain all of your bookmarks. Now copy that file to your external hard drive or thumb drive. Paste that file on the desktop of the new computer. Go into Firefox as before and chose Import. To import that JSON file. Presto! You have now imported all of your bookmarks.

As to E-mail. Read through this tutorial. https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...-Outlook-ca8ecaab-3330-46a1-b925-deac3f3c4359

The process is very similar to importing/exporting bookmarks in Firefox.

Your computers are too dissimilar to do a clone. If you don't have too many programs that you need to migrate into the new computer, then I would just install them into the new computer from scratch. Otherwise use that program I gave a link to. You will want to use an external USB hard drive or big enough USB thumb drive to transfer that data between the two computers.


To backup your bookmarks do the following: This is very simple. In Firefox go to Bookmarks above and select "show all bookmarks." Now under "Import Backup" select backup. Save the JSON file. This file will contain all of your bookmarks. Now copy that file to your external hard drive or thumb drive. Paste that file on the desktop of the new computer. Go into Firefox as before and chose Import. To import that JSON file. Presto! You have now imported all of your bookmarks.

As to E-mail. Read through this tutorial. https://support.office.com/en-us/ar...-Outlook-ca8ecaab-3330-46a1-b925-deac3f3c4359

The process is very similar to importing/exporting bookmarks in Firefox.

You were able to give me some very good suggestions. Now have a better understanding of the process or processes that are available to initiate the procedure. Should be able to handle this when I can get better organized. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts concerning this matter. SAM

 

[seamorton]

Normally there's an easy way and a hard way to do this. Here, I'd say there is no easy way, to change the new into the old ( sounds funny just saying it). The two systems are similar in software but the hardware is too different to allow for the normal process of cloning the old software onto the new hardware. The chipsets are completely different and I doubt XP installed on an Intel board could adjust.
So welcome to the hard way. In this case tho, it appears straightforward at least. Your concerns are having your email, bookmarks and programs similar to those on the old drive. Anything else ?
You should upgrade the new drive manually. First, create an "install programs" folder on the new drive that contains the program install files you want. Second, save the bookmarks as John Connor noted above. Third, access the emails you want from Verizon.
One wrinkle arises where the old comp has apps no longer available. That's just unfortunate. You still have the old machine for such things but if that occurs, let it be a lesson to always have the install files reserved for future use .
Finally I'd suggest looking into whether that new machine will run Windows 10.

Also appreciate the information you provided concerning this matter & suggestions posted. Once I get into the transfer I'm sure there will be other elements that I may need to clone? With what You and John presented will be very helpful & useful when it comes time to proceed with the transfer. Thanks for the support and suggestions presented. SM