johnbrns
asked on
how do i transfer files from my old pc to my new pc?
i presently use an old athlon xp2200 pc running windows xp. am upgrading to an i5 machine running windows 7. i want to move a number of programs from my old pc to my new one. in short, how do i most easily and safesly do this?
Ernie Beek
Most of the time you can't just move programs. They have to be reinstalled on the new pc. Or were you referring to data?
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Once the program installed in PC then it make also changes in registry and dll files. If you would try to run it by copying it from old PC to new PC then I would not work. At that moment it will find registry keys associated with it which was in old PC windows. You need to install all programs again with their setup file.
Legally, the solution depends on the program. Some allow you to only have one copy on one pc, so you must uninstall the program from the old pc and then install it on the new pc.
If the vendor allows you to have more than one copy running on different pc's, then if the program doesn't make registry entries, you might be able to just copy the directory to the other machine and run the executable from the new directory. However, the procedure more complicated if registry entries are involved and if you are moving to a 64-bit OS.
The bottom line is it depends on a lot of factors, and you probably can't preserve your program settings. I tried it when upgrading an OS from WinXP to Win7 64 and I had to do a clean install.
If the vendor allows you to have more than one copy running on different pc's, then if the program doesn't make registry entries, you might be able to just copy the directory to the other machine and run the executable from the new directory. However, the procedure more complicated if registry entries are involved and if you are moving to a 64-bit OS.
The bottom line is it depends on a lot of factors, and you probably can't preserve your program settings. I tried it when upgrading an OS from WinXP to Win7 64 and I had to do a clean install.
I would re-install programs as has been mentioned above.
Some people have has success with PC Mover from Laplink. That product is supposed to move programs as you are wanting to do.
However, when I change computers, I always re-install programs for maximum stability over the long term.
... Thinkpads_User
Some people have has success with PC Mover from Laplink. That product is supposed to move programs as you are wanting to do.
However, when I change computers, I always re-install programs for maximum stability over the long term.
... Thinkpads_User
^^^yes^^^
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you can try this http://www.funduc.com/app_mover.htm
i had no chance to test it yet
i had no chance to test it yet
ASKER
Helpful--thank you much!