Copy Hard drive

[John Doe]

I had a PC with Windows Millennium operating system with allot of programs &
files, I recently bought a brand new PC with Windows XP. What is the best
way to transfer all files, applications, and programs to my new PC. Is it
even possible to have whatever on the old computer hard drive copied to a
new PC with a new OS?
Please help!
Thanks...

 

[Guest]

Open a cmd window and type:
xcopy /?
You will see it can copy the root of a drive , all subfolders all
hidden,system files. Install the drive as a slave, and run windows CMD to do
the Xcopy to a folder on the new drive.

 

[DL]

And that wont work (programs transfer)
You need to install the programs on the new PC

 

[Guest]

you could use Acronis True Image to make a complete image (working copy) of
your drive.
make a new drive on your new computer, then put the image in your newly
installed drive..

 

[nesredep egrob]

you could use Acronis True Image to make a complete image (working copy) of
your drive.
make a new drive on your new computer, then put the image in your newly
installed drive..

This is the only useful answer to your question. You can get Acronis free at
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/support/. It is just version 8.0 but I have
used it until recently. Get familiar with the program and make sure you verify
before deleting old files.

Borge in sunny Perth, Australia

 

[Bob Harris]

There are many options to transfer personal files and some simple
(standalone) programs. There is no easy way to transfer more complex
(installed) programs.

For personal files, you could transfer via:

1. floppy
2. ZIP
3. USB external hard drive
4. USB flash drive
5. CD or DVD (use joliet format, or write-once type option, not drag&drop)
6. network connection between PCs
7. ftp to/from an online file saving/sharing service
8. mount old drive in new PC as a "slave"
9. mount old drive in USB 2.0 enclosure and attach to new PC
10. image old drive to external medium (e.g., USB), attach to new PC, then
mount image file as a drive letter. True Image 8 or higher can do this.
Install on XP, then make bootable CD and use to create image of ME machine
while running from bootable CD.

As for complex programs, most need to be installed from CD. A few can be
installed from a single EXE file (e.g., Acrobat Reader, Zone Alarm
firewall).

But, be warned, some programs that worked under ME may not work under XP.
Read the box or check the program's website for supported operating systems,
and/or patches requirted to work under XP. Be especially careful about
antivirus, system utilitites (like Norton), and CD/DVD writing software.
Interesting enough, Office 97 will work under XP, if you also install
service pack 2 for office (distinct from SP-2 for XP). An alternative to
Microsoft Office ($$$) is Open Office (free).

For some setting, OUTLOOK email, and such, XP has a files and settings
transfer wizard. Run on XP to create a floppy to run on the ME machine.
Save results from ME machine on media mentioned above, then run on XP to
complete the transfer.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.php
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_fstw.asp

 

[DL]

If you read the op you may note that he has a winme pc and thinks he can
transfer *Programs* as is, to the winxp PC
True Image wont/cannot do that

 

[db]

you might simply
want to take that old
hard drive and install
it as a slave drive on
the new pc.

then you may be able
to create a dual boot system.

or

maybe you can network
the pc's together..

however, i prefer the
initial suggestion above.


I had a PC with Windows Millennium operating system with allot of programs &
files, I recently bought a brand new PC with Windows XP. What is the best
way to transfer all files, applications, and programs to my new PC. Is it
even possible to have whatever on the old computer hard drive copied to a
new PC with a new OS?
Please help!
Thanks...