transfer applications and data from old xp hard drive to new xp computer?

[aaronep]

I will be receiving delivery next week of the HP Pavillion Media
Center PC with Windows XP OS installed. I had previously posted the
problem of finding a new HP computer without Vista. But was able to
find via BUY.COM
an HP computer with XP installed.

I presently have windows xp on my old computer.

What would the easiest way be to leave the XP system as it is in the
new computer but transfer all of the applications programs from the
old computer to the new computer?

I know how to attach the old computers hard drive to the new computer
using a drive enclosure with a USB
attachment.

I also know how to erase the complete contents of the new computer's
hard drive and clone the COMPLETE contents of the old computer to new
computer, but doing this would destroy the HP version of Windows XP,
which I would prefer not to do.

All replies, suggestions, information, opinions, etc. welcomed.

best, Aaron

 

[C J.]

Aaron,

Have a look at this article

support.microsoft.com/kb/293118 -- How to use the "Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard" in Windows XP.

 

[Rock]

I will be receiving delivery next week of the HP Pavillion Media
Center PC with Windows XP OS installed. I had previously posted the
problem of finding a new HP computer without Vista. But was able to
find via BUY.COM
an HP computer with XP installed.

I presently have windows xp on my old computer.

What would the easiest way be to leave the XP system as it is in the
new computer but transfer all of the applications programs from the
old computer to the new computer?

I know how to attach the old computers hard drive to the new computer
using a drive enclosure with a USB
attachment.

I also know how to erase the complete contents of the new computer's
hard drive and clone the COMPLETE contents of the old computer to new
computer, but doing this would destroy the HP version of Windows XP,
which I would prefer not to do.

All replies, suggestions, information, opinions, etc. welcomed.

One option to migrate accounts, data, and settings, but not apps, is to use
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, FAST for short. Here is a reference
link:
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

I always recommend installing apps clean from original media, however could
look at PCmover from LapLink. I have never used it so I can't say how
successful it is.

http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/

Note: moving a drive with XP installed to a different computer in a minority
of cases will work without having to do anything, most of the time it
requires at least a repair install and the installation of drivers for the
new hardware, and in some cases if the hardware is sufficiently different, a
clean install is needed.

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

I will be receiving delivery next week of the HP Pavillion Media
Center PC with Windows XP OS installed. I had previously posted the
problem of finding a new HP computer without Vista. But was able to
find via BUY.COM
an HP computer with XP installed.

I presently have windows xp on my old computer.

What would the easiest way be to leave the XP system as it is in the
new computer but transfer all of the applications programs from the
old computer to the new computer?

I know how to attach the old computers hard drive to the new computer
using a drive enclosure with a USB
attachment.

I also know how to erase the complete contents of the new computer's
hard drive and clone the COMPLETE contents of the old computer to new
computer, but doing this would destroy the HP version of Windows XP,
which I would prefer not to do.

All replies, suggestions, information, opinions, etc. welcomed.

best, Aaron

Hi Aaron,

You will have a couple of obstacles to surmount. The first
is that if the XP install on the old machine is an OEM
install, then you are not allowed to do it. If you get past
that then theoretically you could clone the drive to the new
machine and do a 'repair' install with the media for the new
machine.

Honestly though, I would use the 'File & Settings Transfer
Wizard' to move over things like Outlook e-mail and such,
but I would do a clean install of the applications you are
going to use on the new computer.

You'd be surprised how much garbage can accumulate on a hard
disk. Unfortunately there are a fair number of programs that
don't completely uninstall themselves. Then there are the
programs you wanted to test decided you didn't like and
never got around to removing. Since you have a new machine,
just put the things on it that you really need.

If you have broadband, make sure that you install a
bi-directional firewall BEFORE you connect to the Internet.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

"A promise is nothing more than an attempt,
to respond to an unreasonable request."

http://blog.tlerma.com/
(A Windows professional's view of entering the Linux world)