Whats the best way to transfer from existing PC to new one?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gazb
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gazb

I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new machine runs
Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What would be the best
way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the old to the new. I have
also purchased a 320GB external USB hard drive (guy in the shop advised
me to as it was reduced in price) but am unsure if copy/paste is the
correct way to do things. The main use of the PC is for a home based
retail business, so its extremely important that I get things done
correctly. Any advice welcome
 
gazb said:
I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new machine runs
Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What would be the best
way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the old to the new. I have
also purchased a 320GB external USB hard drive (guy in the shop advised
me to as it was reduced in price) but am unsure if copy/paste is the
correct way to do things. The main use of the PC is for a home based
retail business, so its extremely important that I get things done
correctly. Any advice welcome
Click to expand...


If you've only couple profiles to transfer, the File And Settings
Transfer (F.A.S.T.) Wizard should suffice.

HOW TO Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard By Using the Windows
XP CD-ROM
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;306186

HOW TO Use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard with a Wizard Disk in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306187

Or, there is the "old fashioned," manual way:

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151

Any applications, of course, would have to be installed from their
respective installation media, provided that their licensing does permit
their transfer to a new computer.


--

Bruce Chambers

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I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new machine runs
Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What would be the best
way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the old to the new. I have
also purchased a 320GB external USB hard drive (guy in the shop advised
me to as it was reduced in price) but am unsure if copy/paste is the
correct way to do things. The main use of the PC is for a home based
retail business, so its extremely important that I get things done
correctly. Any advice welcome
Click to expand...

You can copy/paste data files but you can't copy/paste most programs. More
often than not, programs need to be reinstalled.

If any of those programs maintain and use specific data files, you'll want
to check that program's help files for data transfer directions.
 
First thing would be to make back-up copies of all your
companies financial and tax records. I would copy the
required data to a CD-R or DVD-R before I started moving
files around.

I would probably connect the new external 320 GB drive and
partition it and then copy all the files to the external
drive. I could then use it to transfer to the new
computer's internal hard drive.

I would also take this time to review my plans and data
organization and make the changes before I began, I would
talk with my accountant about data retention and software
recommendations.

Keep the old computer for at least a year as back-up. If
you scrap the computer, remove the hard drive an put it in
your safe deposit box.



| On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 16:56:34 +0000, gazb wrote:
|
| > I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the
new machine runs
| > Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What
would be the best
| > way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the old to
the new. I have
| > also purchased a 320GB external USB hard drive (guy in
the shop advised
| > me to as it was reduced in price) but am unsure if
copy/paste is the
| > correct way to do things. The main use of the PC is for
a home based
| > retail business, so its extremely important that I get
things done
| > correctly. Any advice welcome
|
| You can copy/paste data files but you can't copy/paste
most programs. More
| often than not, programs need to be reinstalled.
|
| If any of those programs maintain and use specific data
files, you'll want
| to check that program's help files for data transfer
directions.
|
| --
| Sharon F
| MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
 
gazb said:
I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new machine runs
Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What would be the best
way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the old to the new. I have
also purchased a 320GB external USB hard drive (guy in the shop advised
me to as it was reduced in price) but am unsure if copy/paste is the
correct way to do things. The main use of the PC is for a home based
retail business, so its extremely important that I get things done
correctly. Any advice welcome
Click to expand...

When using the wizard, do ensure that you have the latest version of it
from the Windows XP download website to prevent you ripping your hair,
teeth and eyes out when the new PC tells you that you are trying to
utilise an older version which isn't compatible with the new one.
AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
 
gazb said:
I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new
machine runs Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What
would be the best way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the
old to the new. I have also purchased a 320GB external USB hard
drive (guy in the shop advised me to as it was reduced in price)
but am unsure if copy/paste is the correct way to do things. The
main use of the PC is for a home based retail business, so its
extremely important that I get things done correctly. Any advice
welcome
Click to expand...
When using the wizard, do ensure that you have the latest version
of it from the Windows XP download website to prevent you ripping
your hair, teeth and eyes out when the new PC tells you that you
are trying to utilise an older version which isn't compatible with
the new one. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Or - always use the one from the Windows XP Installation CD.
That way you know the version you are using on one computer is exactly the
same one you used on the other computer.
 
gazb said:
When using the wizard, do ensure that you have the latest version of
it from the Windows XP download website to prevent you ripping your
hair, teeth and eyes out when the new PC tells you that you are
trying to utilise an older version which isn't compatible with the
new one. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Uless you have the 64 bit version of XP it doesn't matter which version of
FAST you use as long as it is the same on both computers. As Shenan Stanley
has pointed out running it from the same XP CD on both computers ensures
this.
 
Shenan said:
gazb Wrote:-
I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new
machine runs Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What
would be the best way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the
old to the new. I have also purchased a 320GB external USB hard
drive (guy in the shop advised me to as it was reduced in price)
but am unsure if copy/paste is the correct way to do things. The
main use of the PC is for a home based retail business, so its
extremely important that I get things done correctly. Any advice
welcome-

gazb wrote:-
When using the wizard, do ensure that you have the latest version
of it from the Windows XP download website to prevent you ripping
your hair, teeth and eyes out when the new PC tells you that you
are trying to utilise an older version which isn't compatible with
the new one. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!-

Or - always use the one from the Windows XP Installation CD.
That way you know the version you are using on one computer is exactly
the
same one you used on the other computer.
Click to expand...

I fully agree, but both machines already had XP installed from new and
the disk was not supplied...is this normal or just the usual service
you receive from PC World/Currys (UK retailer group) when buying
products from them?

Plus I'm still having problems transferring my MS
Word/Excel/Access/PowerPoint across too, but I'm going to do this if I
spend the rest of my life in front of these things. (The problem is
that I am a total amateur when it comes to these sort of things, but on
the bright side I can only get better!)
 
gazb Wrote:-
I have just purchased a new PC. As far as I'm aware the new
machine runs Windows XP & for definite the old one is XP SP2. What
would be the best way to transfer all the relevant stuff from the
old to the new. I have also purchased a 320GB external USB hard
drive (guy in the shop advised me to as it was reduced in price)
but am unsure if copy/paste is the correct way to do things. The
main use of the PC is for a home based retail business, so its
extremely important that I get things done correctly. Any advice
welcome
Click to expand...

gazb wrote:-
When using the wizard, do ensure that you have the latest version
of it from the Windows XP download website to prevent you ripping
your hair, teeth and eyes out when the new PC tells you that you
are trying to utilise an older version which isn't compatible with
the new one. AAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Or - always use the one from the Windows XP Installation CD.
That way you know the version you are using on one computer is
exactly the same one you used on the other computer.
Click to expand...
I fully agree, but both machines already had XP installed from new
and the disk was not supplied...is this normal or just the usual
service you receive from PC World/Currys (UK retailer group) when
buying products from them?

Plus I'm still having problems transferring my MS
Word/Excel/Access/PowerPoint across too, but I'm going to do this
if I spend the rest of my life in front of these things. (The
problem is that I am a total amateur when it comes to these sort of
things, but on the bright side I can only get better!)
Click to expand...

I cannot speak for the business practices of 'PC World/Currys (UK retailer
group)', but if boith machines were setup by them - then that is their
default configuration. Perhaps if you contacted them and asked for an
actual Windows XP and other software installation media - they would be able
to provide it (don't be shocked if they want money - they probably would
have done it at purchase time as well - but for a little more moeny then
too.)

I would call them and ask - at the very least - how you are supposed to
restore the system if the hard disk drive completely craters - if you can
hear the heads clicking and it is not even identified anymore in the BIOS.
This is one of the major problems I have with vendors that choose to live up
to their OEM obligations theough images on a hard disk.

Transferring applications is not something most recommend. There are third
party products that *claim* to do it for you - but the fact is that there
are so many variations on an install - the best thing to do is a fresh
install from the installation media (that you unfortunately may not have)
and then use FAST to move the settings from the old machine to the new.
 
Kerry Brown said:
Uless you have the 64 bit version of XP it doesn't matter which version of
FAST you use as long as it is the same on both computers. As Shenan
Stanley has pointed out running it from the same XP CD on both computers
ensures this.
Click to expand...
Am I missing something.? Why all the talk about using the XP-CD? When you
run the wizard on the new system, you're given the option of creating the
wizard for the old one on removable media such as a flash drive.
 
John said:
Am I missing something.? Why all the talk about using the XP-CD? When you
run the wizard on the new system, you're given the option
of creating the wizard for the old one on removable media such as a
flash drive.
Click to expand...

You can do it either way...
But why are you creating a wizard disk when you already have one in the
Windows XP CD?

After all - the instructions during the process clearly state...

"... You can either create a wizard disk to use on your old computer, or use
the wizard from the Windows XP CD ..."

So why not save time and always use the wizard from the Windows XP CD?
 
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