Software to transfer files and applications from Old to New PC

[EdHerVA]

My wife just bought a new HP Laptop online from COSTCO. She has an old HP one and I need to transfer her files, applications and games. Do you know of any software that will do this quick and easy for me?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[Fardringle]

Most programs install themselves all over the hard drive (in the Program Files, Windows, and User folders, and in the Registry) and cannot simply be copied from one computer to another. The Windows Easy Transfer tool (built into all newer versions of Windows) will copy documents and Windows settings for you, but you'll need to reinstall the programs.

 

[ringtail]

One way is to use these command prompt commands:

(Windows/Accessories / Command prompt (righrt clomd, run as administrator)

xcopy // "c:\old file path" "new file path" /r /k /y

[Notice
(1) theres one space after "c:\old file path" and before "new..."

(2) the double quores that are necessary whenever there's a blank space between multiple words in a file path name]

===================

Another way is to use Robocopy (built into Windows, just look up Help to see what switches you might want to include when you run Robocopy).

====================

Another way is to EITHER make a Windows backup of old system then install onto new system,
using any of several brands

the brand the herd-think on AT talks up is British Macrium Reflect (which asks you to update it and re-register your email address practically every time you run it, so they can make a buck selling your "fresh" email address to the world, big nuisance and brings you lots of email spam),

or free GFI Backup, which has been posted here for years (by me) yet ignored, and is superior to the clunky British Macrium Reflect (http://gfi-backup.en.softonic.com/),

or Acronis True Image. Rarely you can find True Image free, but usually Acronis is a real money grubber, you first have to pay for it and then almost immediately they start relentlessly asking you to buy updated versions...works great but also a PITA.

I've long suspected the backup software native to Windows is probably secretly licensed by Microsoft from Acronis...their GUIs are very different but their functionality is nearly identical.

Anyway, the native Windows backup tools are excellent, you DON'T NEED any third party brand. Simply, within Windows, run a WIndows backup of OLD files (and tell Windows backup to include an image file)), then copy that over to a thumb drive, then log into NEW system and run Restore from the thumb drive .

 

[aleksey_niko]

You can also to swap hard drives on laptops. Of course, only if they have the same OS.

 

[Harvey]

All programs will have to be installed on the new machine. You can use any convenient storage medium (flash drive, external drive, optical drive, etc.) to transfer files from one machine to another.

You can also to swap hard drives on laptops. Of course, only if they have the same OS.

NO! This is terrible advice. You cannot simply swap hard drives from one machine to another and expect it to work, even if the same OS is installed on both machines.

1. The drivers installed for one machine will not match the other.

2. Windows will recognize that the info about the system, especially the motherboard, do not match and will, at a minimum, require re-activation. This is true even when exchanging hard drives between two otherwise identical machines... IF you can get the network, wireless and any other drivers required just to go online.

In addition, whatever the new machine writes to the transplanted hard drive could cause the original system not to work if you try to re-install it in the original machine.

If you still want to experiment with such a crossbred installation, first, buy a second drive the same size and speed (or bigger and faster), mount it in an external case, and clone your working original installation. If you completely blow off your Windows installation, you can swap the cloned drive into the machine, and it will work.

As a matter of personal security, you'll have a drive you can continue to use to clone future backups. Backing up your files is fine. Having a cloned running backup drive that requires no re-installation is far better.

 

[wjgollatz]

While you are doing this, purchase a server-quality backup software for desktop users, Storagecraft's Shadow Protect, its pricey, but is it great. I purchased this backup software for its reputation and specifically for this scenario after having a drive and hardware failure and the requirement to build a new system. Customer service has been great. Had a couple issues and had almost instant responses and even a phone call using their ticket create system (around 5PM est)

It has an option for hardware independent restore. Backup the old computer. Then restore that backup to a drive in the new computer using the Hardware Independent Restore option. It will strip out the drivers used in the old install (drives for motherboard, other hardware....) and ask for the drivers for your new system if they can't be found in the backup version of windows

 

[silicon]

My wife just bought a new HP Laptop online from COSTCO. She has an old HP one and I need to transfer her files, applications and games. Do you know of any software that will do this quick and easy for me?

Thanks,

Ed

Files can be simply copies and pasted into the new machine, applications will need to be reinstalled and the same for games. For the browser and email client look for a program that can transfer, saved emails, bookmarks etc.

 

[ArisVer]

You can transfer the personal files through the LAN, you can use the public folder to move them. As others said, the programs have to be reinstalled.

 

[EdHerVA]

To all, thanks you very much. HP Laptop is on the container ship from China now. This will give me time to prepare. Happy Holidays to all.

 

[wjgollatz]

To all, thanks you very much. HP Laptop is on the container ship from China now. This will give me time to prepare. Happy Holidays to all.

Unless you purchases your own retail version of Windows, you will need to prepare for the probability that your windows software will not activate in the new hardware environment.

Win7 can upgrade to win8, but not win 8.1 (unless a clean OS install, applications will not install). But 8.0 upgrades to 8.1 for free. So if your windows fails to activate, and you do not have a retail key, you will need to reinstall the applications after you buy Win 8.1. Unless you can buy some of the reaming Win 8.0' still left with vendors. There are some still on Amazon.

My win 7 home premium builder edition, says that there is still an anytime upgrade path, so I can upgrade to Pro for 90 or ultimate for $139. But I didn't follow the process all the way to the cart to see if MS would toss me an error and deny such a purchase (because they do not sell any Win 7 or Win 8.0 products any longer to retails customers anyway).

If you have time getting a new computer - and in not a rush, just do clean install of windows anyway. Its takes time, but you will probably have a better running system anyway.

If the HP laptop is on its way - it already has a OS installed, and all you need to do is just reinstall applications. there are probably freeware or low cost software that might be able to transfer settings (not sure about win 7 to win 8). I haven't heard of HP having bad installs or weird disc profiles like Dell has.

 

[vailr]

Consider upgrading the laptop's hard drive to an SSD. As long as the operating systems of both laptops are the same, you should be able to use a USB->SATA adapter to clone the entire C: drive partition of the old laptop, using a USB->SATA adapter, such as:
http://www.amazon.com/-szcxtop-trade.../dp/B00P5V2YC6
The SSD can then replace the new laptop's hard drive, and boot and run Windows. Of course: any hardware device differences will require Windows discovering those hardware changes.
Note: before doing the clone procedure, you'd need to first switch the HD controller driver from any specific chipset controller driver to "Standard AHCI/(or IDE) controller" driver.
Then afterwords: switch the Windows product serial number to match the serial number registered to the new laptop.
Also: SSD's come in both 7 mm & 9 mm heights, so research which size the new laptop would require.
I can recommend this free software for cloning the HD :
Aomei Partition Assistant
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/aomei_partition_assistant.html