Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new box
also running Windows XP?

Bob

Bob Wright wrote:
> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a
> new box also running Windows XP?

By installing them fresh - yes.

There may be some third party applications that claim to do what you want -
but chances are - you will be better off installing them fresh.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Thanks, I was afraid that was the answer. Back to digging out the old
install disks.

Thanks
Bob

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Bob Wright wrote:
>> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a
>> new box also running Windows XP?
>
> By installing them fresh - yes.
>
> There may be some third party applications that claim to do what you want -
> but chances are - you will be better off installing them fresh.
>

if on your new computer
you were able to install
windows, then

you might consider
installing the old
hard drive into
your new computer
as the c drive and
save yourself
a lot of trouble.

then with your windows
cd you can re snyc the
o.s.'s.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

"Bob Wright" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new box also
> running Windows XP?
>
> Bob

On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:43:48 -0500, Bob Wright
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new box
> also running Windows XP?


In general, no. It is almost never possible to transfer programs.
Programs consist of a lot more than just the files you can easily see.
They also have many associated files and entries within \windows, in
the registry and elsewhere. Without all of this they won't work, and
there's no ready way to find a transfer all of it. There is an
occasional exception to this, but it's rare enough that you can ignore
it.

The way to move a program from one computer to another is to reinstall
it on the new computer, from the original media.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

He could consider Laplink's PC Mover. That will migrate most of the apps
and settings, although a few programs may need to be reinstalled on the new
computer. I used it to go from my Win98SE computer to this Win XP
computer, and it sure saved me a lot of time. So, while it's not 100%
idyllic, it works pretty well. But obviously the cleanest way is to do a
completely new install.

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:43:48 -0500, Bob Wright
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new box
>> also running Windows XP?
>
>
> In general, no. It is almost never possible to transfer programs.
> Programs consist of a lot more than just the files you can easily see.
> They also have many associated files and entries within \windows, in
> the registry and elsewhere. Without all of this they won't work, and
> there's no ready way to find a transfer all of it. There is an
> occasional exception to this, but it's rare enough that you can ignore
> it.
>
> The way to move a program from one computer to another is to reinstall
> it on the new computer, from the original media.
>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Fri, 30 May 2008 20:57:14 -0600, "Bill in Co."
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> He could consider Laplink's PC Mover. That will migrate most of the apps
> and settings, although a few programs may need to be reinstalled on the new
> computer. I used it to go from my Win98SE computer to this Win XP
> computer, and it sure saved me a lot of time. So, while it's not 100%
> idyllic, it works pretty well. But obviously the cleanest way is to do a
> completely new install.



My personal experience with such programs has been considerably less
than satisfactory, and I wouldn't trust any of them. But yes, it's a
choice.


> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> > On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:43:48 -0500, Bob Wright
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> >> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new box
> >> also running Windows XP?
> >
> >
> > In general, no. It is almost never possible to transfer programs.
> > Programs consist of a lot more than just the files you can easily see.
> > They also have many associated files and entries within \windows, in
> > the registry and elsewhere. Without all of this they won't work, and
> > there's no ready way to find a transfer all of it. There is an
> > occasional exception to this, but it's rare enough that you can ignore
> > it.
> >
> > The way to move a program from one computer to another is to reinstall
> > it on the new computer, from the original media.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Well, one can always play it safe and do it the "right way" and a fresh
install, but I had SO much stuff on the other one, I figured it was worth a
try (using the latest version of Laplink PC Mover). What did I have to
lose? If it didn't work out, I'd do a fresh install. But so far, with
about 5 months in retrospect, it all seems pretty good. :-)

That said, I do know there have been some cases where it (like most of these
programs - albeit there aren't all that many) have had some problems, for
some users (in reading the comments). Probably moreso with the older
versions of the program, and with special set ups. And I expect much
moreso with Vista, which is kind of new.

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Fri, 30 May 2008 20:57:14 -0600, "Bill in Co."
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> He could consider Laplink's PC Mover. That will migrate most of the
>> apps
>> and settings, although a few programs may need to be reinstalled on the
>> new
>> computer. I used it to go from my Win98SE computer to this Win XP
>> computer, and it sure saved me a lot of time. So, while it's not 100%
>> idyllic, it works pretty well. But obviously the cleanest way is to do
>> a
>> completely new install.
>
>
>
> My personal experience with such programs has been considerably less
> than satisfactory, and I wouldn't trust any of them. But yes, it's a
> choice.
>
>
>> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
>>> On Fri, 30 May 2008 17:43:48 -0500, Bob Wright
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Is it possible to transfer programs from my old XP computer to a new
>>>> box
>>>> also running Windows XP?
>>>
>>>
>>> In general, no. It is almost never possible to transfer programs.
>>> Programs consist of a lot more than just the files you can easily see.
>>> They also have many associated files and entries within \windows, in
>>> the registry and elsewhere. Without all of this they won't work, and
>>> there's no ready way to find a transfer all of it. There is an
>>> occasional exception to this, but it's rare enough that you can ignore
>>> it.
>>>
>>> The way to move a program from one computer to another is to reinstall
>>> it on the new computer, from the original media.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
>>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup