Mostly OT: put old HD into new 'puter; OS, personal conflicts?

[Guest]

I just got a new computer. I'd like to see about putting the hard drive from
my old machine into the new one so I don't have to reinstall all the programs
and transfer all the files. I'm concerned about conflicts at start-up
between the operating systems on the two drives. Also, can I get Excel to
open with the Personal.xls on the old drive, so I don't have to move all my
macros over?

Can someone tell me how to do this in simple terms? If it *is* simple, that
is.

Ed

 

[Dave Peterson]

If I were you, I'd spend some time with the old manual (maybe at the
manufacturer's site if you don't have it anymore).

And sometime with the new pc's manual.

and lots of time in google:
http://www.answerbag.com/c_view.php/944#q_5023
http://groups-beta.google.com/groups?q=moving+hard+drives+between+pc&num=100

(just a couple to get you started)

And the easy one. Personal.xls is a single file. Move it to the new XLStart
folder and you'll be ok.

 

[Earl Kiosterud]

Ed,

I doubt if this will work. If the drive is even readable on the new system,
the programs won't run. Most programs need to be installed. In the
process, registry entries are created and all kinds of stuff. Simply having
the programs there isn't enough. It might work for data, but that's easy
enough to transfer anyway, using CDs, or a transfer cable and a program.