new pc

[KRK]

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new pc.

My main concern is the time & trouble (& cost) it would take to re-install
all my software . I have the original discs for most of my programs, though
some ( I think) only allow a single installation. I also have an awful lot
of downloaded software that I would need to re-install, as well as setting
up my web connection again (it caused a few problems last time).

My question, is it possible to copy an 'image' of my current pc to a new pc
?? including the registry etc ?

My data files are not a problem, I have backups.

I use Vista home premium

Thanks

KK

 

[housetrained]

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new pc.

My main concern is the time & trouble (& cost) it would take to re-install
all my software . I have the original discs for most of my programs,
though some ( I think) only allow a single installation. I also have an
awful lot of downloaded software that I would need to re-install, as well
as setting up my web connection again (it caused a few problems last
time).

My question, is it possible to copy an 'image' of my current pc to a new
pc ?? including the registry etc ?

My data files are not a problem, I have backups.

I use Vista home premium

Thanks

KK

I recommend Acronis true image. I've had great success with XP Vista and
Win7. Clone - works like magic

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new pc.

My main concern is the time & trouble (& cost) it would take to re-install
all my software . I have the original discs for most of my programs,
though some ( I think) only allow a single installation. I also have an
awful lot of downloaded software that I would need to re-install, as well
as setting up my web connection again (it caused a few problems last
time).

My question, is it possible to copy an 'image' of my current pc to a new
pc ?? including the registry etc ?

My data files are not a problem, I have backups.

I use Vista home premium

Thanks

KK

If you wait until the end of October, you can get a new PC with Windows 7
pre-installed. This will save you having to use an upgrade option from
Vista. The advantage is that you will have a more responsive operating
system which does not have some of the issues which dogged Vista. Support
for home versions of Vista end in 2012, and there will ne no extensions, so
you may as well get used to Windows 7 as soon as you can.

Re installing all of your stuff, I faced the same issue as you, but it is
better to start off clean than go through the process of trying to get an
operating system to work with different hardware. Sometimes it is easy, oft
times it is not.

Install software as you need it rather than taking on the mammoth task of
installing absolutely everything that you have or want, and make sure that
your data backups are in a form which can be retrieved easily in Windows 7.
Data backups are best done by burning to a CD or DVD in regular data format.
The use of backup utilities can fall over when you have backups created
using a utility that has compatibility issues with the new operating system.

Run the Windows 7 upgrade advisor on your present machine, ignoring hardware
issues. Just look to see what possible software issues you might encounter.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, KK.

I have a few comments...inline...

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new pc.

Congratulations! It almost certainly will have 64-bit hardware and will
have Vista pre-installed, with a coupon for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when
it goes to General Availability on October 22. The new machine probably
will have 32-bit Vista, even on 64-bit hardware, but may offer 64-bit
Vista/Win7 for the same price. My personal opinion is that 64-bit is the
way of the future; only a few speed bumps remain and 32-bit is fast becoming
"so 20th Century". Yes, all your 32-bit software will run just fine on
Windows x64, and so will your hardware, with very rare exceptions.

My main concern is the time & trouble (& cost) it would take to re-install
all my software .

Yes, this is a hassle - but it will all be over in less than a week, maybe
just a day or two. You could skip some of the hassle by waiting until
October 22 and get your new computer with Win7 already installed. If you
get the new computer now, you will have to make two transitions.

I have the original discs for most of my programs, though some ( I think)
only allow a single installation.

I don't know of any software with such a restriction. Some will allow
installation on only a single computer at a time; you may need to contact
the vendor to assure them that it has been removed from the first computer
to allow installation on the second.

I also have an awful lot of downloaded software that I would need to
re-install, as well as setting up my web connection again (it caused a few
problems last time).

Yes, this could be a problem in some special cases, but it is not a general
situation. Of course, if it applies in your case, it doesn't help you if I
report that it "works for me".

My question, is it possible to copy an 'image' of my current pc to a new
pc ?? including the registry etc ?

No. The Registry is customized to fit your specific computer - and
continually updated while Windows is running. You can certainly copy the
Registry to your new computer - but it probably will not make Windows run on
the new machine. Even in "the same computer", if we update the CPU or
motherboard, we usually need to reinstall Windows so that the Registry can
be re-customized to fit the new hardware.

Windows Easy Transfer will make the job much easier. Run it first on the
old computer and store the results onto a thumb drive or other transportable
media that can be plugged into the new computer. Then run WET on the new
computer and import your files and settings from that media.

My data files are not a problem, I have backups.

GOOD! Everything else can - and probably should - be replaced and/or
re-installed. But your DATA exists nowhere else in the world, so preserve
that at all costs. Just remember that backups are worthless if they cannot
be RESTORED, so be sure that you can restore them to the new computer.

I use Vista home premium

Thanks

KK

Good luck! Please post back and tell us how your new computer is running.
;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

 

[Bill Daggett]

I recommend Acronis true image. I've had great success with XP Vista and
Win7. Clone - works like magic

You are a moron. What you recommend cannot be done.

 

[Ian D]

Hello,

I'm thinking of buying a new pc.

My main concern is the time & trouble (& cost) it would take to re-install
all my software . I have the original discs for most of my programs,
though some ( I think) only allow a single installation. I also have an
awful lot of downloaded software that I would need to re-install, as well
as setting up my web connection again (it caused a few problems last
time).

My question, is it possible to copy an 'image' of my current pc to a new
pc ?? including the registry etc ?

My data files are not a problem, I have backups.

I use Vista home premium

Thanks

KK

Odds are that your existing Vista installation will not
run on the new hardware, and you will have to
reinstall everything. Also, if your existing Vista is
an OEM copy, it will not reactivate on new hardware.

Your best option is to take Mike Hall's advice and wait
until the October release of Windows 7 to buy a new
system. Then you can reinstall your applications, and
start with a fresh install.

 

[housetrained]

done it many times. Anyone else back me up?

 

[Bill Daggett]

done it many times. Anyone else back me up?

You've never taken an image of an old computer and used it to move the
installation of all your old installed programs to a new PC, you
moron.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

What you wish to do is not recommended. The image, copied from the old PC
to the new one, will contain drivers and references to hardware that no
longer exists on the new PC and will be missing drivers and references to
new hardware on the new PC. A fresh install is the only way to handle this
type of situation.

 

[KRK]

Thanks all, this has helped. Looks as if I will have to do it the hard way.

I'll be buying at Xmas, so should be able to get win7 ok.

Does anyone here know if my broadband installation disk will work ok under
win 7 , or do I ned to contact Mr. Orange for a new one ?

Thanks again

KK

 

[Gordon]

Thanks all, this has helped. Looks as if I will have to do it the hard
way.

I'll be buying at Xmas, so should be able to get win7 ok.

Does anyone here know if my broadband installation disk will work ok under
win 7 , or do I ned to contact Mr. Orange for a new one ?

You shouldn't need to use any software from any ISP to create a broadband
connection - all you need are the log-in details....

 

[John Galt]

You shouldn't need to use any software from any ISP to create a broadband
connection - all you need are the log-in details....

Most such connections in the USA don't need such details. Turn on the
machine, it's connected.

 

[Camper]

done it many times. Anyone else back me up?

I don't think so, unless the new computer had exactly the same configuration
as the old one.

Camper

 

[Alias]

You've never taken an image of an old computer and used it to move the
installation of all your old installed programs to a new PC, you
moron.

I just move a hard disk from a failed computer to a new computer and it
was flawless. Everything works perfectly. Course, the hard disk didn't
have Windows on it but Ubuntu. Another good reason to dump Windows and
use Ubuntu. http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

 

[KRK]

Hi,

Are you saying that Win7 will know all about my orange livebox and have all
its settings etc already installed ?, (except for my username & password) ?

If so, this is wonderful news !

KK

 

[Alias]

Hi,

Are you saying that Win7 will know all about my orange livebox and have
all its settings etc already installed ?, (except for my username &
password) ?

If so, this is wonderful news !

KK

It would work with XP as well. No need for Orange's crap to be installed
on your computer no matter what OS you're using.

Alias

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

done it many times. Anyone else back me up?

It generally requires a repair install of the OS if the architecture
has changed in any significant way (and always requires a full set of
driver installs unless the hardware is exactly the same), but yes,
I've done it too.

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's
something big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

It generally requires a repair install of the OS if the architecture
has changed in any significant way (and always requires a full set
of driver installs unless the hardware is exactly the same), but
yes, I've done it too.

Caveat - I've not done it on Vista, so I'm not sure if or how it could
be done on a post-XP Windows OS.

--
Zaphod

Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster: A cocktail based on Janx Spirit.
The effect of one is like having your brain smashed out
by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

 

[Gordon]

Hi,

Are you saying that Win7 will know all about my orange livebox and have
all its settings etc already installed ?, (except for my username &
password) ?

What is an Orange Livebox? Is it some form of Router?

 

[Bill Yanaire]

I just move a hard disk from a failed computer to a new computer and it
was flawless. Everything works perfectly. Course, the hard disk didn't
have Windows on it but Ubuntu. Another good reason to dump Windows and
use Ubuntu. <SNIP TRASH LINK>

Alias

Wow - With that $14k a week that comes in, it's good to know that you are a PC tech in your
town. That money must come in handy to supplement the imaginary $14k the tooth fairy leaves you.

Imagine, moving a disk from one computer to another computer! It works. Imagine that. I
wonder if that can be done with Windows? Of course it can but the difference is that the
Windows disk contains actual work where the Ubuntu disk contains PORN.