Transfer programs/files from old to new computer

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 12 Apr 2006 6:20 pm

I have a new computer, HP with 2 gb memory nd 300 gb hard disc storage. Now i can get a lot of music on that.

But How is the best way to transfer and copy ALL the Programs and Files from the old computer to the new one? The old one has a 1.1 USB port and the new one has a faster 2,0 USB port.

I hope some of you experts can help me out...thanks...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 12 Apr 2006 7:21 pm

The Windows XP File Transfer and Settings Wizard will do that. You can find more info about it by going to your computer's own Windows Help and typing in "file and settings transfer." You can also Google on the keywords: "windows+xp+file+settings+transfer+wizard," or by searching the Microsoft XP Newsgroups, on Usenet.

Basically, save you all of your files, folders and settings on the old XP computer to a file, using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, then import that file that you will have saved on your old computer into the new setup using a home network, or directly via a crossover network cable, and it's Files and Settings Wizard. All program files and registry settings will be written to the new hard drive.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
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[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 12 April 2006 at 08:26 PM.][This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 12 April 2006 at 08:28 PM.]

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 12 Apr 2006 7:39 pm

Hmmm. I'm reading about the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and it doen't mention transfering programs, as such, but does transfer files and folders that you add to a list. It seems mostly geared toward saving personalized settings, email, Favorites, preferences, options and such.
<hr>
I just learned this from a Microsoft article:

"All your programs must be reinstalled on the new computer, because actual programs are not migrated by the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. Moreover, some programs have to be installed before their settings are transferred."

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 12 April 2006 at 08:39 PM.][This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 12 April 2006 at 09:02 PM.]

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 13 Apr 2006 2:55 am

The easiest way, and what many do, is to just temporarily "install" the old drive in the new PC and then just do a disk to disk copy. If you don't have a spare IDE ribbon cable port and power plug in the new PC, just "borrow" it from one of the CD/DVD drives, as most new PC's use "SATA" instead of "IDE" or "EIDE" for the hard drives. Also, set the old hard drive for "Cable Select" if it's not already set for that. Almost all new PC's use the cable select method rather than the old Master/Slave configuration. The drive label may say "CS" or "CSEL".

If you use the Windows wizard you will also need a special "crossover" cable, as a straight interface cable will not work. The "crossover" (or "null") cable reverses the signal and control signals at one end so that, for example the send data from one PC shows up at receive data at the other PC.

As noted, you can only transfer user data, your browser favorites, e-mail account, Outlook pst file, etc. All programs must be reinstalled, as well as your peripherals (and when you reinstall the peripherals, such as the printer, make sure you have Windows XP specifc drivers and DO NOT connect the printer to the PC first - run the installation program and ONLY when the install program tells, connect it to the PC).

Depending on what OS the old PC had, some of the old programs may not be Windows XP compatible. Windows XP has a "compatibility mode" option (e.g. for Win98) but I've never got that to work - if the program won't run in the native Windows XP mode it won't run in a compatibility mode. Several others have mentioned the same thing with the compatibility mode.

(Editied for Damn Typos).
[This message was edited by Jack Stoner on 13 April 2006 at 03:59 AM.]

Chris Grotewohl · Post by **Chris Grotewohl** » 13 Apr 2006 5:07 am

Al, you can also buy a external case firewire or USB or both for 30 bucks. I do that with all my old drives.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 13 Apr 2006 6:16 am

As a subscriber to LangaList Plus I have had access to advanced imaging techniques, one of which involves transfering an entire operating system to another computer. It uses some hardware removal techniques in Device Manager (all hard drive controllers, motherboard hardware, etc), followed by a full system backup. When the new computer is ready to go you install Windows and the drivers for the new motherboard and peripherals. Then you transfer over the complete system backup from the old hard drive to the new one and use the Backup Wizard to restore the backed up portions of the old system. Since you didn't backup your hardware and devices on the old computer those areas of the registry won't be overwritten. Full details are available on http://langa.com .

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

[This message was edited by Wiz Feinberg on 13 April 2006 at 07:16 AM.]

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 13 Apr 2006 6:44 am

I don't know a lot about computers but the last time I set up a new computer, I hooked up a 750 mb Zip drive. Transfered the files to that and then reinastalled them in the new computer.
Erv

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 13 Apr 2006 12:29 pm

Thanks guys for all the information. It looks like I have my work cut out for me.

I have Xp on the old one and Xp media on the new one.

I do have a Western Digital 120gb external drive but my old computer is USB 1.1 and they recommend that is way to slow. the new one is 2.0 USB so 40 times faster.Any more thoughts on this is appreciated.

I'll try out some of these ideas and let you know how I make out. Thanks again...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 13 Apr 2006 7:44 pm

Al;
Since your USB port is slow, save your settings on the old computer, using the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard, then shut it down and unplug it. Take the hard drive out and add it temporarily to the new computer, as a slave. Using the Transfer Wizard on the new machine find the image you saved on the old drive and restore the settings from it to the new setup. You will operate at the spped of the slowest hard drive, directly connected to each other.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 13 Apr 2006 8:20 pm

Wiz-Now that sounds like a good idea and solution. But I will have to get someone to do it. I don't want to fool around in there...Thanks....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 21 Apr 2006 7:08 pm

Wiz-I had a friend come over that is a computer man, and he took out my old drive and hooked it to the new computer and transferred most of the files over.
So it didn't get my address book with hundreds of names. I lost Steel Radio, Bobbe's , and all my desktop shortcuts, and some programs , so it sure wasn't a Mirror Image , which is was I expected, and no less.
I was giving my Pentium loaded 4 to my Son and he is giving his Pentium to his daughter.
Now I feel more comfortable with the old one and think I might just give him the new one.
This new one is even stopping me from accessing some old Websites. Too many SECURITY things going in now and I nevr had any trouble with the old ones. Any ideas how to still get those ones I am missing out of the old drive.?..al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 21 Apr 2006 10:23 pm

Al;
If your "computer man" had used the files and settings transfer wizard you'd have your address book and all you favorites and desktop shortcuts restored to the new computer. It sounds like he just copied files using drag and drop. It's not the same as saving your profile, with email accounts, addressbook, favorites/bookmarks, and other personalized files and settings and restoring them on the new system. That is what you wanted, but not what you got.

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Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 26 Apr 2006 8:36 am

Thanks, Wiz. I can still get my old computer and try that File transfer program...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 26 Apr 2006 8:55 am

Wiz: Can I just hook up the two together wit the USB ports nd use the File transfer wizard on the new omputer to transfer the files over.? Thanks for you help and input......al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Apr 2006 9:18 am

Al, you can't use a standard USB cable. You must have a special "crossover" or "null" cable to connect between two PC's. The "crossover" cable reverses the data and control signal pins on one end so that the "send data" from one PC appears at the "receive data" on the other PC.

Graham · Post by **Graham** » 29 Apr 2006 6:33 pm

by far the easiest way to transfer an old hard drive to a new one is with the program Norton Ghost. Set up new hard drive as a slave, install or hook it up in the old computer and run Ghost. It will transfer everything from your old hard drive to the new one. Re-set new hard drive pin to master, install in the new computer and voila, there is your C drive, totally the same as the drive in the old computer. Use this program all the time.

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Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 30 Apr 2006 1:06 pm

You don't want to "ghost" a NEW PC with the OS and configuration on the OLD PC.

First there is the legality of the license issue of the software, especially Windows XP that is only licensed for one PC. If it's an OEM version of XP it is only legally licensed for the PC that it waa deliverd with and cannot be transferred to a new PC like a Retail copy.

Ghost is great for restoring a PC's hard drive.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 8 May 2006 8:11 am

Hi Guys, Just a line to say thanks for all the advice and help. I had a friend who is a computer Pro come over to the house and he cleared up all my file problems. It took him almost 3 hours , digging into the computer and Got all my files back and up and running. Thanks again , I appreciate it...al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/