getting a new machine

best way to transfer data?

[nancyb]

golly, I am so excited :) :)

ordering a Dell today. Currently I have an 8GB that is almost filled up. I am looking at a data transfer app (regular or Ultra) to transfer the data/applications to new machine. Has anyone used this, any problems or is there a better way?

[requiem]

Do you not take regular backups? If you use the machine for work, you probably do. Just put the latest backup on your new machine, maybe some of the transfer tools/programs are faster, but then again why make it more complicated than it needs to be.

[nancyb]

I'm trying to make this as easy - and quick - as possible ;)

I have back ups for some things but not everything in one place. Also have several old, but very useful, shareware programs that aren't available anymore and this s/w says it can transfer files/apps/settings to mimic the old machine.

You set it up and leave it unttended while it does its thing. I know that's not very geeky, but I'd rather do almost anything than set up a new computer ...

[juniperwasting]

nancyb,

I recently (last month) was in the same situation. I simply networked the machines together. Once networked, I just transfered all the files between without much fuss. Some of the system files that needed updating were odd, as I went from win2k to winXP but all in all the whole project was done in a day.

j

[nancyb]

thanks, juniperwasting but I need to transfer some of the old shareware applications and this software says it can transfer any program as well as data files, registry settings for the programs, profiles, desktop, email client config, etc. etc. I can no longer find a couple of these programs and I use them frequently. I've never networked machines, can you transfer applications that way?

The app I'm looking at has gotten good reviews every place I looked. The $30 program is all automatic, the $70 program lets you pick and choose what to port over.

[juniperwasting]

nancyb,

Two parts.

1. yes you can transfer shareware via network. You have to remember the registery files (the root directory should have everything in them, usually just a *.txt file)
2. If you have an app that will save you the time and effort, I say go with it.

j

[tbear]

Why not just have the old drive fitted along with the new one in the new machine.......

Well, thats what I tend to do, then I don't have to choose what to save and what to throw away...He, he, he ;)

[nancyb]

would work, but the old machine is going to a friend that I'm dragging (kicking and screaming) into this "new age" ;)

are you the tbear I know here in cincy?

[tbear]

Hmmm, get a new drive for the old machine.....well, never mind then, LOL.

>>are you the tbear I know here in cincy?
Doubt it I'm in Spain.....

[mil2k]

Do you mean it transfers everything including Operating system? I have personally played with many systems and can assure you that if your new machine's Motherboard and Processor architecture is radically different than your old machine then you will have problem shifting the files. An easy example will be if you have an old intel P III machine and have now bought an AMD Athlon 2400 ++ based machine then i would be sceptical that a software can transfer the Operating system from the P III to Athlon. :) If that is not the case then the software will do the work properly. HTH.

[waldemar]

I'm also dragging my hard drives to the next generation PCs, but only the pure data partitions.
I would always recommend having the install files for *all* of your software ready; you never know when you need to reinstall everything (like in this case). A friend of mine drove this to perfection - had a backup tape along with a nice batch script, that did all reinstallation automatically :-).

[nancyb]

Do you mean it transfers everything including Operating system?

No, not the OS. The software requires either the same version or higher of Windows on the target PC.

This is what they say (specifics and hype removed);)

(Program name) transferrs programs, files and preferences from one PC to another by transferring the existing software environment to the new computer - minus all the old clutter! (ok, some hype left in :)

I would always recommend having the install files for *all* of your software ready

Of course, having the installation disks is best, but in this case it was downloadable freeware/shareware that is no longer available and I can't find the downloaded zip/exe files or the floppy with the set up file is damaged, or.... I know there are newer and better programs available, but these work for me and I don't have time to learn more new software in addition to learning a new OS, office suite and some upgraded graphics s/w.

This is a time saver program, not a license buster (although evidently one could use it that way). I wish I had a backup tape, but I don't, just a bunch of zip backups for an old Zip 100 which will be soooo slow it would take days, probably weeks, to get everything moved and set up.

Bottom line is that I hate setting up a new machine. No matter how careful I am setting the structure in a similar way so I can find stuff, I invariably screw up and can't find what I need when I need it.

Hence, the question if anyone had used any of these programs :)

[ipohopper]

The app that transfers all the programs and files from one system to another works really well. I noticed over the weeekend that our local Fry's or maybe Best Buy had it for $9.99 with all the rebates.

[nancyb]

$9.99 would be great, but the one I'm looking at (the only one I found that had consistently good reviews) is in the $50+ range. Can you sticky me the name of the $9 one?

[j_h_maccann]

This functionality is already substantially in Windows XP.

The "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" comes on the WinXP CD, and is run on the new WinXP installation and also on the old machine (Win95, Win98, Win98SE, WinME, WinNT4.0, or Win2000). The components running on old and new machine communicate over a cable, over a network, on a network drive, or via removeable storage and sneakernet. The settings migrated are not only for MS apps but also for many popular non-MS apps. Pretty much everything created by the user is transferred, except for passwords.

Microsoft knowledgebase article no. 293118
How to Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
[support.microsoft.com ]

Worked like a charm for me. It took a couple of hours to transfer everything to the new WinXP machine, and I never had to look at the old one again. What a welcome improvement over the prior move from Win95 to Win98!

If someone is charging money for this functionality, I'd be real clear on what is being added to the WinXP free default.

[nancyb]

Thanks, j_h_maccann. I think the operative word here is "substantially". The reviews I read put XP behind several programs and I want quick and easy and everything ;)

[nancyb]

Beware! This is a rant ....

Well, I'm back. Got the new 'chine and all is not well. I hate WinXP! Really! I wish I could put '98 on this machine even with all its faults.

The app I asked about did not work. Spent several hours trying, but not only does the transfer of all files and apps (even the ones it says it can tx) not work, it stopped after 2+ hours of transferring files with an error code that isn't listed in the manual or on the website. Of course, they will respond by email - in 2-4 business days or I can pay them an additional $29 for phone support!

Also, the "undue" feature it boasts of did not work either so I'm stuck with some transferred files that apparently are causing conflicts because my 60GB, 512 machine is moving at a snail's pace.

I really really hate getting a new machine, but this is the worst experience I've ever had upgrading. Arrrgggghhhh :(

If you read this far, thanks for letting me give off steam.