Tranferring programs from one PC to other PC

[Craig]

My Dell computer (WinXP Pro) is failing. So I am getting a new computer
installed with a new WinXP Pro. Is there any way to transfer installed
programs (except OS) from the failing XP-computer to the new XP-installed
computer. TIA. Craig

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

My Dell computer (WinXP Pro) is failing. So I am getting a new computer
installed with a new WinXP Pro. Is there any way to transfer installed
programs (except OS) from the failing XP-computer to the new XP-installed
computer.

No, almost never. Except for a very rare tiny self-contained program,
all programs have many pieces, entries, and pointers to them within
\Windows, in the registry and elsewhere. Trying to find and correctly
transcribe those manually is so difficult and error-prone, that you
could effectively consider it an impossible task.

Programs need to be reinstalled from their original media.

 

[Jyeshta]

My Dell computer (WinXP Pro) is failing. So I am getting a new computer
installed with a new WinXP Pro. Is there any way to transfer installed
programs (except OS) from the failing XP-computer to the new XP-installed
computer. TIA. Craig

In addition to what others have said, be sure to back up all your
Program Files folders. After you reinstall your programs onto
your new computer, copy in your backed up Program Files folders
and then you will have all their saved data and settings intact
on the new computer, like they were on the old computer.

And of course be sure to back up all your other important data
that you don't want to lose and then you can copy it all back
onto the new computer.

 

[Craig]

Hi,

After you reinstall your programs onto
your new computer, copy in your backed up Program Files folders
and then you will have all their saved data and settings

I got a new computer. I am planning to re-install all programs. But I am
learning that the pervious Program Files folders can be copied onto new
computer. Does Program Files folders contain new data (e.g.,
configuration, etc). This is new to me. I am learning new things from
you. Could you please elaborate how the old Program Files folders allow me
maintain the old data? Craig

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My Dell computer (WinXP Pro) is failing. So I am getting a new computer
installed with a new WinXP Pro. Is there any way to transfer installed
programs (except OS) from the failing XP-computer to the new XP-installed
computer. TIA. Craig

You'll need to install the applications on the new computer using the
original installation media. Unless it's a very small, stand-alone
executable a program can't just be copied. If it's a standard
WinXP-compatible application, there'll be dozens of hidden systems files
and an untold number of registry entries that would also have to be
recreated on the new computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,


I got a new computer. I am planning to re-install all programs. But I am
learning that the pervious Program Files folders can be copied onto new
computer. Does Program Files folders contain new data (e.g.,
configuration, etc).

It would depend entirely upon each specific application. Those
applications that were truly and properly designed for WinXP will *not*
work this way. Older applications, like those designed for Win9x or
perhaps WinNT might do so. Properly designed applications will have had
separate data storage locations within the user profile or a commonly
shared area of the hard drive, and their configuration settings will
have been stored within the Windows registry.

This is new to me. I am learning new things from
you. Could you please elaborate how the old Program Files folders allow me
maintain the old data? Craig

I think all of us would like to learn how this is done.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Jyeshta]

Hi,


I got a new computer. I am planning to re-install all programs. But I am
learning that the pervious Program Files folders can be copied onto new
computer. Does Program Files folders contain new data (e.g.,
configuration, etc). This is new to me. I am learning new things from
you. Could you please elaborate how the old Program Files folders allow me
maintain the old data? Craig

Let's say you have a program on your old computer and you
configured the settings the way you like them. For example, my
newsreader, Forte Free Agent. Next time I install Forte Free
Agent on a new computer (assuming it's a Windows computer), if I
backed up my Free Agent Program Files folder, I can copy it back
into the new computer's Program Files directory and I will have
all my settings intact (server info, options and preferences for
every group I read) as well as every post I have ever saved.

(My Free Agent Program Files folder is over 1 GB large because of
all the posts I save and archive.)

I hope that explains it for you. Think of all the programs you
have which you have particular settings for. If you back up the
Program Files folders from your old computer, and copy them back
in AFTER installing your programs on your new computer, they will
be just like they were on your old computer.

 

[Jyeshta]

Let's say you have a program on your old computer and you
configured the settings the way you like them. For example, my
newsreader, Forte Free Agent. Next time I install Forte Free
Agent on a new computer (assuming it's a Windows computer), if I
backed up my Free Agent Program Files folder, I can copy it back
into the new computer's Program Files directory and I will have
all my settings intact (server info, options and preferences for
every group I read) as well as every post I have ever saved.

(My Free Agent Program Files folder is over 1 GB large because of
all the posts I save and archive.)

I hope that explains it for you. Think of all the programs you
have which you have particular settings for. If you back up the
Program Files folders from your old computer, and copy them back
in AFTER installing your programs on your new computer, they will
be just like they were on your old computer.

Oh - also, for example, export your browser favorites (bookmarks)
into a directory (maybe "My Documents") and back that up. Then,
you can IMPORT it into your browser on the new computer - you'll
probably need to copy it into "My Documents" on the new computer
first, but I'm not sure.

Same with your email. Compact your folders, if you use Outlook
Express, search for the .dbx files, back them up, and then you
can copy them back into the same location on your new computer as
where you found them on your old computer, and you'll have all
your saved emails and email folders you may have created.

I'm not sure why Bruce said this wasn't possible to do. Bruce,
were you referring maybe to Microsoft software? Even with that,
if someone creates certain settings in, say, Word, they ought to
be saved in the Program Files folder for Word and recovered by
copying the old folder back in after installing Word on the new
computer.

I'm only explaining what has worked for me, and trying to be of
help.

Gail

 

[Gordon]

Let's say you have a program on your old computer and you
configured the settings the way you like them. For example, my
newsreader, Forte Free Agent. Next time I install Forte Free
Agent on a new computer (assuming it's a Windows computer), if I
backed up my Free Agent Program Files folder, I can copy it back
into the new computer's Program Files directory and I will have
all my settings intact (server info, options and preferences for
every group I read) as well as every post I have ever saved.

(My Free Agent Program Files folder is over 1 GB large because of
all the posts I save and archive.)

I hope that explains it for you. Think of all the programs you
have which you have particular settings for. If you back up the
Program Files folders from your old computer, and copy them back
in AFTER installing your programs on your new computer, they will
be just like they were on your old computer.

Umm no, in most cases that WON'T work, because many applications (especially
MS ones) hold settings in the Registry, and just copying the Program Files
back will NOT replace the registry entries.

 

[Gordon]

Same with your email. Compact your folders, if you use Outlook
Express, search for the .dbx files, back them up, and then you
can copy them back into the same location on your new computer as
where you found them on your old computer, and you'll have all
your saved emails and email folders you may have created.

No you won't - you need to IMPORT the mail folders into OE.

I'm not sure why Bruce said this wasn't possible to do. Bruce,
were you referring maybe to Microsoft software? Even with that,
if someone creates certain settings in, say, Word, they ought to
be saved in the Program Files folder for Word and recovered by
copying the old folder back in after installing Word on the new
computer.

Well they are not. They are kept in the registry.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Umm no, in most cases that WON'T work, because many applications (especially
MS ones) hold settings in the Registry, and just copying the Program Files
back will NOT replace the registry entries.

And the same is true of any software (not just Microsoft's) that bears
the "Designed for Windows XP" logo. There are minimum requirements to
be meant to earn the right to use that logo, and proper data and
settings placement is part of that criteria. This isn't to say that
there aren't some software manufacturers who ignore the standards and
stupidly place data or settings info within the Program folders, but a
most won't do so.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Jyeshta]

Umm no, in most cases that WON'T work, because many applications (especially
MS ones) hold settings in the Registry, and just copying the Program Files
back will NOT replace the registry entries.

OK. Well, it works for all the non-MS programs I use. I'm
guessing the OP has programs other than the ones made by
Microsoft on his/her computer.

What is your problem, by the way? Your hostility is unnecessary.

 

[Jyeshta]

And the same is true of any software (not just Microsoft's) that bears
the "Designed for Windows XP" logo. There are minimum requirements to
be meant to earn the right to use that logo, and proper data and
settings placement is part of that criteria. This isn't to say that
there aren't some software manufacturers who ignore the standards and
stupidly place data or settings info within the Program folders, but a
most won't do so.

Well, I'm very glad for their "stupidity" because it allows me to
effortlessly transfer the programs I use the most intact onto any
other compatible Windows computer.

Again, what's the problem here? Don't I use enough Microsoft
programs to please you? You own stock in Microsoft? ? ? ?

 

[Gordon]

What is your problem, by the way? Your hostility is unnecessary.

It's not hostility - it's incredulity that someone can propagate such
nonsense as "normal practice"

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well, I'm very glad for their "stupidity" because it allows me to
effortlessly transfer the programs I use the most intact onto any
other compatible Windows computer.

Again, what's the problem here?

As an IT professional, I've a deep dislike for improperly designed
applications that require one to compromise the security of the computer
in order to run. Any program that saves user-changeable settings and
data in what should be a protected and inviolable system folder, such as
C:\Program Files, severely compromises that computer's security, because
they require the user to have elevated privileges before said program
will work.

Don't I use enough Microsoft
programs to please you? You own stock in Microsoft? ? ? ?

Completely irrelevant. I just dislike sloppy attitudes towards security.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Jyeshta]

As an IT professional, I've a deep dislike for improperly designed
applications that require one to compromise the security of the computer
in order to run. Any program that saves user-changeable settings and
data in what should be a protected and inviolable system folder, such as
C:\Program Files, severely compromises that computer's security, because
they require the user to have elevated privileges before said program
will work.

As a non-IT professional, you completely lost me, here. I
appreciate anything that makes using my computer _easier_. I
don't think that my newsreader settings, or my astronomy program
settings, or my audio and video program settings, pose any
security risk whatsoever.

If my computer were to be stolen, the thief would find anything
s/he needed in _Microsoft_ software, like Internet Explorer and
Outlook Express. Do you really think s/he'd care what newsgroups
I read, or what saved data is in my astronomy, audio, and video
programs?!

If you have a problem with security issues in software, take it
up with Microsoft, not me.

Completely irrelevant. I just dislike sloppy attitudes towards security.

As I said, take it up with Microsoft. ;-)

 

[Jyeshta]

It's not hostility - it's incredulity that someone can propagate such
nonsense as "normal practice"

It's what I have done more than once, successfully, and gladly.
So, for you to say it doesn't work is what is nonsense.

 

[Craig]

I visited Dell's website.
I just finished building a configuration for Vostro 400 Desktop but I did
not order yet.
The Dell offers Laplink PCmover or Laplink PCmover Essentials for
$30-$35.00.
What it says is that "Move your programs, files and settings from an old to
a new PC with PCmover "
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=brsb420&s=bsd).
It sounds like I can migrate the whole computer system from the disabled
computer to a new computer. Am I confused? Craig

 

[Jyeshta]

I visited Dell's website.
I just finished building a configuration for Vostro 400 Desktop but I did
not order yet.
The Dell offers Laplink PCmover or Laplink PCmover Essentials for
$30-$35.00.
What it says is that "Move your programs, files and settings from an old to
a new PC with PCmover "
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=04&kc=6W300&l=en&oc=brsb420&s=bsd).
It sounds like I can migrate the whole computer system from the disabled
computer to a new computer. Am I confused? Craig

That sounds like much the same thing that can be accomplished
with software like Acronis True Image (which is an excellent
program, by the way). I never suggested doing that because,
since the others didn't, I thought the reason was that WinXP can
only be used on a single computer; each computer is supposed to
have its own copy of WinXP.

But if you are no longer going to be using your old computer, it
might be fine to transfer your existing disk contents to the new
computer. Call Dell and make absolutely certain you can do this.
It isn't as easy as it sounds because I don't think this can be
done on the boot disk of the new computer while the new computer
is running - it cannot run without a boot disk!

You will have to call Dell and make certain this can be done, and
that their tech support will take you through the process every
step of the way, if this is what you'd like to do. Also, make
sure they send you everything you will need. Good luck.

Gail

 

[Jyeshta]

Oh, excuse me. That does not sound like they are also going to
move the Operating System (WinXP), only the "programs, files, and
settings". Well, you will have to call them and find out whether
this includes moving registry settings, and everything else you'd
need to make your new computer exactly like your old computer.

Also, you'll still want their assurance of tech support for this
process.

Gail