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The
problem: Getting everything from your old PC to the new one
How
to transfer data - Part I
Data
transfer methods - Part II
Moving
the programs over
Migration
Software: There are millions of
software applications out there that do a myriad of different and
wonderful things. Why isn’t there one that will just examine the
source PC and transfer all that is need to the target PC? Well, there
isn’t one, there are several. Yes, that’s true! They are called Migration
packages. Unlike a ghosting
or imaging programs they won’t just make the target PC’s hard disk a
copy of the source PC disk. They typically work by being installed on
the source and target PCs, then analysing the source PC’s operating
system, settings and applications; then setting up the target PC
appropriately. The full range of programs available to handle the
transfer of data, settings and programs are covered below.
Transfer
MyPC
Easy to use but requires a USB or
parallel DCC connection (cables provided) and it’s a use once and
throw away product.
Intellimover
This transfers data and settings and
offers you the choice of selecting what gets transferred over and what
doesn’t. It comes with
support for DCC connections and LANs.
StepUp
Migrates both data and applications,
it’s Shareware, so very affordable but doesn’t seem to support
Windows 2003. Supports a variety of connectivity – from DCC to LAN.
PC
Relocator
Transfers applications, Windows and
internet settings and data, but it’s a bit pricey and desgined more
for engineers who are responsible for a lot of migration rather than the
one-off user.
VCOM don’t seem to do their PC
Commander anymore which leaves no other known software for this task
except for options like Microsoft’s USMT
– which isn’t designed for the average user and the Windows XP
File and Settings Transfer Wizard (viola! It sounds like the ideal
solution. But avoid it – it’s very selective in what it does,
doesn’t like non-Microsoft programs, can be very tricky to setup, and
has problems with moving applications across different versions of
Windows).
Considering programs exist that are
just the ticket why did we take the trouble to explain the different
ways of connecting the PCs together and transferring data? The answer is
that none of the above programs are infallible. It is often the case
that some applications are not copied over, that some settings need to
be redone, that if a particular program already exists on the target PC
it won’t get overwritten – like Outlook Express, and that the
Windows installation on the target PC may actually get damaged in the
process. Older Windows 95 programs may not be compatible with XP and
they have their own library of possible problems when copied over to an
XP installation.
(Remember the caution earlier about
backing up? Now stop just thinking about backing up.)
Even when the process seems to have
been implemented smoothly older, bloated files or folders that were
slowing the source PC down may be doing the same to the target PC. A
large number of cookies, temp files, and even long forgotten Terminate
and Stay Resident (TSR) programs could be transferred over to the target
PC resulting in slowing it to a crawl.
Should these programs fail, give only
limited success, or leave you disillusioned with migration software
you’ll need to go back to the start of this article and find a data
transfer method more suited to your situation.
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