Migration to new computer

[Jere]

Home computer migration questions; Win XP Home to XP Home (on a NIC 100 home
network).



I'm looking for the best and least expensive way to migrate to a new
computer.



To work with, I have Norton Ghost, NTI Backup 3, Nero Backup with DVD
burner, a second hard drive I can remove or transfer to the new computer as
a second volume, and a USB 2 external hard drive and DVD burner.



I am building a new computer, and will want to transfer all my current
Windows XP Home operating system, files and programs (Office 2000 Premier
suite and Outlook) to the new machine.



However, I am considering some modifications, such as just putting the
operating system on the C drive, and creating another partition D to
transfer all my programs files.



1.. Is this a good idea?


2.. I'm thinking that this way I can more easily do periodic clean
reinstalls of my WXPH operating system without having to reinstall all my
programs. True or false?


3.. Is there any easy way to move my programs files from my current C
drive to another partition or drive without having to reinstall them and all
their updates?


4.. Can I just back up all my files and programs now on my C drive and
then copy them to the new computer's C or D drive after installing the
operating system, or will this create registry problems?


5.. Will the Files and Settings transfer Wizard be useful, or will it mess
things up when transferring programs from the old c drive to the new d
partition?


I have Norton Ghost, NTI Backup 3, Nero Backup with DVD burner, a second
hard drive I can remove or transfer to the new computer as a second volume,
and a USB 2 external hard drive and DVD burner to work with. I've heard
that Alohabob is a good migration program, and will invest the money for it
if necessary. Is it?



My main concern is to avoid reinstalling Office 2000 along with all the
necessary 500 or so upgrades, service packs and patches that have been
released since 2000 came out.



I'm planning to migrate my keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, graphics
card, and modem to the new computer, so all those device drivers and
upgrades are on the old computer. Is there any way to migrate them, or do
they have to be updated again with the new XP install?



If anyone knows of any good sources of information, or urls for good
websites, I'd appreciate it.



Thanks,



Jere

 

[Ron Martell]

Home computer migration questions; Win XP Home to XP Home (on a NIC 100 home
network).



I'm looking for the best and least expensive way to migrate to a new
computer.



To work with, I have Norton Ghost, NTI Backup 3, Nero Backup with DVD
burner, a second hard drive I can remove or transfer to the new computer as
a second volume, and a USB 2 external hard drive and DVD burner.



I am building a new computer, and will want to transfer all my current
Windows XP Home operating system, files and programs (Office 2000 Premier
suite and Outlook) to the new machine.

There may be a licensing issue involved here, if your Windows XP Home
on the existing computer is an OEM version (e.g. came bundled with a
new computer). If it is a Retail Version (came in a green Microsoft
box) then there is no problem, provided you remove it from the first
computer.

Just use Ghost to copy the old drive to the new drive. Then install
the new drive into the new computer, boot with the Windows XP CDROM,
and follow the instructions at
http://michaelstevenstech.com/moving_xp.html

However, I am considering some modifications, such as just putting the
operating system on the C drive, and creating another partition D to
transfer all my programs files.



1.. Is this a good idea?

It can be a good idea, provided the programs are installed that way.
Changing to this structure without reinstalling is pretty near
impossible.

2.. I'm thinking that this way I can more easily do periodic clean
reinstalls of my WXPH operating system without having to reinstall all my
programs. True or false?

False. A very big part of the program install process is to create a
myriad of registry entries for that program in the Windows Registry.
When you do a "clean install" you automatically create a new registry,
with no program installation data in it at all.

Also most programs put at least a few, and some put a lot, into the
\Windows folders and various other subfolders off of it.

If you do a "clean install" then you *must* reinstall all of the
application programs.

Note: The last "clean install" I did on my production computer (this
one) was with Windows For Workgroups 3.11 in 1994. Everything since
then has been an upgrade install, with periodic housecleanings and
several "repair installs" to accomodate new hardware.

3.. Is there any easy way to move my programs files from my current C
drive to another partition or drive without having to reinstall them and all
their updates?

No.


4.. Can I just back up all my files and programs now on my C drive and
then copy them to the new computer's C or D drive after installing the
operating system, or will this create registry problems?

It will create registry problems.

5.. Will the Files and Settings transfer Wizard be useful, or will it mess
things up when transferring programs from the old c drive to the new d
partition?

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard is very useful in terms of
transferring User data files and program configuration settings
(except passwords) to a new computer system. It does not transfer
installed applications. See former MVP Gary Woodruff's article on
using FASTW at http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

I have Norton Ghost, NTI Backup 3, Nero Backup with DVD burner, a second
hard drive I can remove or transfer to the new computer as a second volume,
and a USB 2 external hard drive and DVD burner to work with. I've heard
that Alohabob is a good migration program, and will invest the money for it
if necessary. Is it?

No knowledge of or experience with Aloha Bob. Sorry.

My main concern is to avoid reinstalling Office 2000 along with all the
necessary 500 or so upgrades, service packs and patches that have been
released since 2000 came out.

I know of no way of successfully migrating an installed Office 2000 to
a different computer other than by reinstalling it

I'm planning to migrate my keyboard, mouse, speakers, monitor, graphics
card, and modem to the new computer, so all those device drivers and
upgrades are on the old computer. Is there any way to migrate them, or do
they have to be updated again with the new XP install?

The appropriate drivers will have to be installed on the new computer.

If anyone knows of any good sources of information, or urls for good
websites, I'd appreciate it.

Good luck
Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."