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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: charlotteCH on Saturday 26 December 09 09:54 GMT (UK)
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I'm getting a new Dell laptop and wonder about copying the data from my old Dell PC to the new.
The new laptop will be Win7- the pc is XP home.
Can I move the data myself by copying all the wanted files etc
on to an Apollo Imation 320GB portable hard drive and then downloading it to the laptop's HD?
Would this be hard to do or risky? I'm totally selftaught and not a top end whiz on computers.
AND... am I correct in thinking I should NOT copy any XP files and updates that are on the desktop's HD?
Guidance, advice etc very welcome- and if me doing it like this is a daft idea, please tell me before I muck up the new laptop.
:o
Thanks,
charlotte
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It's so easy. I did it and haven't had any problems at all.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=734917d8-0663-4c26-89d0-2d00b632ebdb&displaylang=en
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3157/migrate-xp-to-windows-7-with-easy-transfer-over-the-network/
The process took a few hours, so don't start it if you need to go out during the day!
Jamjar
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Yes you can copy to your portable HDD, then copy onto your new PC this is the way I`d do it.
There some reasons why I`d choose this route.
If you copy & paste to the external you still have the original files safe until you`ve moved them to the new PC.
If you move the files & something goes wrong you could end up struggling to recover them.
You can use the transfer wizard, but I prefer the tried & tested long winded way.
Don`t delete any files for a while until you`re sure all is well on the new PC & no files have been corrupted..
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Thanks Jasmjar and stevieuk :)
Any comment on Win XP files? Am I correct in thinking I should just leave all those uncopied?
charlotte
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I doubt you`d need any WinXP files?
But we`re talking Windows so who knows? LOL
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As the new laptop has a fully functional operating system (Windows 7) you should only need to move your data files (documents, images, speadsheets, FH data, etc).
Any application programs will need to be re-installed.
I fully agree with Steve (and for the same reasons) about copying to an external hard-drive and then to the new machine.
Think of a good directory structure for doing this, and then you also have the basis for a good back-up system. Once your new machine is up and going, just keep a back-up of all data on the external drive.
Bob
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Bob, Thanks for your help.
On my pc I have a number of programs....exe... that I have paid for and downloaded from the net [ eg Album GV2.4.exe] and others such as Family Tree Maker that has all my entered data intrinsic to it as I understand it now.
Do I copy these to the external HD lin the same way as the data files?
I ask this as I don't understand how your remark "Any application programs will need to be reinstalled" differs from copying them via the external HD.
charlotte
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You cannot copy or migrate programs to a new computer, mainly because of Window's registry. Every time you install a program it writes entries in Window's registry and so if you were to copy the program files over to your new computer the wouldn't work because the registry wouldn't know anything about them.
So you will have to re-install all your programs on your new computer. You may have compatibility problems with your FTM program, but you may be able to overcome those problems with a patch from their website.
Make sure you copy the folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name
To your external HDD as it will contain most of your data.
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Hi Charlotte,
There is a very good reason to use the Windows recommended program I linked to. It will copy everything you need, to have your new computer set up exactly as your old one was. E.g it copies all your userfiles, drivers etc and even things like yours browser bookmarks and the like. You don't have to do anything, so if you're not a confident techie you can't go wrong. Just plug in your external hard drive and away you go.
The progam won't copy anything from XP that isn't needed. Remember you can't actually upgrade from XP to Windows 7. When you are changing from XP to 7 on the same computer it is a clean install. So, having everything set up the way I had it on XP was very useful.
As others have stated, you will have to re-install all progams, such as Office, email progams, etc.
Jamjar
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downside, Thank you for that info... I am learning ::)
"You may have compatibility problems with your FTM program, but you may be able to overcome those problems with a patch from their website."
Is that from FTM's website or from Win7's website?
Dumb question probably :-[
charlotte
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That was the FTM website.
http://www.familytreemaker.com/About/Default.aspx
It may also depend on how old your particualr version of FTM is. If it is really ancient then you may need to consider getting a more modern version of FTM. Alternatively you can export a GEDCOM file out of you current version and then import it into any brand of software, so there is no need to worry unduly about compatibility problems. Your data can is safe and it will move forward into the future one way or another.
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You may have compatibility problems with your FTM program, but you may be able to overcome those problems with a patch from their website.
Hopefully not....Presuming FTM is Family Tree Maker?
http://tinyurl.com/yh5bw44
Seems 2008,2009 & 2010 are all compatible with Win7...
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I'm on FTM 2006 :(
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I'm on FTM 2006 :(
Oh dear....Don`t panic...
You may be able to use Win7`s XP compatability mode.
It only works for Win7 Premium & upwards & only if your CPU will run in Virtualisation mode (think thats the correct spelling).
Its better to take things one step at a time.... Safe guard all your data first before you start messing about with Tech stuff..... remember copy everything, try & ensure you have 2 (TWO) copies of everything, before you fiddle & always better to have the copies in different places/PC.
If you are worried about FTM, try installing this first, but make a back-up or image of the new PC first or whatever its called.... Make a Restore point before doing anything, then try installing FTM.
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I transferred my family history data using USB 4GB memory sticks, tempting fate to say painless, but it was!
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Bob, Thanks for your help.
On my pc I have a number of programs....exe... that I have paid for and downloaded from the net [ eg Album GV2.4.exe] and others such as Family Tree Maker that has all my entered data intrinsic to it as I understand it now.
Do I copy these to the external HD lin the same way as the data files?
I ask this as I don't understand how your remark "Any application programs will need to be reinstalled" differs from copying them via the external HD.
charlotte
Unfortunately, you can't just move programs from one computer to another - they won't work. Microsoft Easy Transfer won't help here either.
If your programs (and the work) are worth more than 50 pounds, you might consider Zinstall XP7 (http://www.zinstall.com), it does transfer programs, files and everything else between computers.
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You can use Laplink Mover to move programs....No idea how good it is...£11.95
http://store.computeractive.co.uk/?act=details&id=1211
More info
http://www.laplink.co.uk/pcmover
It does sound good, maybe I`ll part with £12...
A Laplink cable may also be required?
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Thanks Merry and Stevieuk for those links and help.
Stevieuk, if I read the Laplink page correctly, that program is for upgrading to WIN7 and what I will be dealing with is shifting data from an XP pc to a new Win7 laptop.
So maybe the Laplink mover does not apply to me? Correct or not please?
Merry, The Zinstall7 implies that it moves the whole XP and all the programs and that they will function correctly on the new laptop. Is this because I'd then have both XP and Win 7 on the laptop and the old programs would continue to function within an XP OS on the laptop side by side with Win7?
If so, is there any downside to this?
I'm not a techie so if the questions are funny please excuse- and any help very much appreciated.
Thank you again :)
charlotte
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Hi Charlotte
I believe both products should do the same things or at least sound like they do.
Regards.
Steve
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This may be a bit misleading so read what they say very carefully.
It says if you are UPGRADING Windows XP to Windows 7.
It doesn't say anything about getting a brand new computer with Windows 7 installed. My reading of their blurb implies that you are updating Windowx XP or Vista on the same computer.
Think about this:
How do you get your data off of the old computer hard drive onto the new computer hard drive? It doesn't talk about that does it?
This PCMover software seems to be a rip-off because if you were upgrading to Windows 7 on the same computer then Windows would do it anyway.
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Downside, I've come to the same conclusion as you state that these relate to Win7 upgrade. hich does not apply to me.
Thanks for your comments
charlotte
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Yep, PCMover does not seem too suitable here.
However, on Zinstall's website it says: "Got a new computer and need to transfer everything from the old one? No matter the scenario, Zinstall XP7 will do the job!"
So it does seems suitable.
Merry, The Zinstall7 implies that it moves the whole XP and all the programs and that they will function correctly on the new laptop. Is this because I'd then have both XP and Win 7 on the laptop and the old programs would continue to function within an XP OS on the laptop side by side with Win7?
If so, is there any downside to this?
Yes, Zinstall would allow you to switch between a sort of "Windows 7 view" and a "Windows XP view", with all the programs working.
I personally think it's an upside - since it would look like your old XP on one hand, and not trash your new Windows 7 into oblivion by trying to insert old, incompatible apps.
Only downside I can think of is that if you need an app to work with some special hardware (like a TV-capture card I use), you'd need to install the program straight on Win7. Otherwise, everything should be fine.
Anyway, they seem to have a refund policy (unlike PCMover...)
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Thanks merry,
I'm a bit cautious about running both Win7 and XP on the same machine. various posts I've read have said that unless one is very tech savy it's best to avoid this.
I'm not tech savy, so any comments anyone about this?
Thanks,
charlotte
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charlotte,
The warnings are true only if you are setting it up yourself, I assume - just like building a car from spare parts is best avoided if you're not a mechanic.
I've found a video of what you actually get with the program - so you can actually see for yourself, best way to decide!
Here it is: Zinstall XP7 - XP to Windows 7 (http://www.vimeo.com/7701757)
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Thanks merry... will have a look.
charlotte
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So basically it is NOT a migration then?
It is a schizophrenic hybrid.
I notice the demo did not actually run any proper programs after the so-called migration. A movie or a song will work on both systems and a browser will work on both systems. Are they trying to suggest that Windows 7 doesn't have a browser, therefore you have to migrate it from Windows XP?
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Suggest to me that as previous said this seems like a scam.
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So basically it is NOT a migration then?
I notice the demo did not actually run any proper programs after the so-called migration. A movie or a song will work on both systems and a browser will work on both systems. Are they trying to suggest that Windows 7 doesn't have a browser, therefore you have to migrate it from Windows XP?
I personally think that if all your programs and data are usable on the new Windows, call it what you like - but it solves my problem.
As for the movie - you'll have to ask the director :), but do you really want a demo to start up Photoshop? It'll take forever.
From the reviews I found, the software seems to actually work. Here's the epinions: http://www.epinions.com/reviews/Zinstall_XP7_epi
And, again, they do have a refund policy. You can probably always find something that doesn't quite work and request a refund on that basis if you aren't happy :) Though they say it's no questions asked, but can never be sure these days.
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Suggest to me that as previous said this seems like a scam.
Huh? Microsoft do explain that if you upgrade to 7 from XP you lose all your programs.
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As for the movie - you'll have to ask the director , but do you really want a demo to start up Photoshop? It'll take forever.
The point I was making is that Windows Media Player exists on XP and Windows 7 so you don't need to transfer the program in order to play the movie. It would have been better to have shown an example of another non-Microsoft application.
I think there has to be a drawback to this method of running a Windows XP user environment on a Windows 7 computer and that is the demand it makes on resources. Running Windows XP and Windows 7 on the same computer must mean that it is resource hungry and it will remain that way for as long as you run the two systems simultaneously.
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This PCMover software seems to be a rip-off because if you were upgrading to Windows 7 on the same computer then Windows would do it anyway.
Then again maybe Not?
http://forums.computeractive.co.uk/showthread.php?t=190293&highlight=laPLINK
Ok the link is to another Forum, but its a National UK Magazine so I guess they`d not put their Name up to this if thay had doubts about its ability?
3rd post down!!!!
Chriswhiles isn`t a bad Lad & is quite knowledgeable & I`d hazard a guess He knows a bit more than me?
I wouldn`t put myself in the firing line if I`d recomended something like Laplink...
There are a few negatives though...
Regards.
Steve
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We're doing 40% off Laplink PCmover at the Computeractive software store (http://store.computeractive.co.uk)
That's probably an incentive to recommend it. I note others have commented on its limitations.
What I don't understand is this nonsense about long it takes to install a few programs. I re-installed WIndows XP from scratch last April and then I started to add my programs.
I installed MS Office-2007 Enterprise edition which is probably the biggest application anyone is likely to install on a PC and that took less than 15 minutes. All other programs installed in a few minutes each.
The only thing that takes ages to install is Windows updates.
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Bob, Thanks for your help.
On my pc I have a number of programs....exe... that I have paid for and downloaded from the net [ eg Album GV2.4.exe] and others such as Family Tree Maker that has all my entered data intrinsic to it as I understand it now.
Do I copy these to the external HD lin the same way as the data files?
I ask this as I don't understand how your remark "Any application programs will need to be reinstalled" differs from copying them via the external HD.
charlotte
I think this point appears to have been missed in the general discussion about laplink etc.
The ORIGINAL files downloaded from the internet are installation files and as such can be treated like any normal piece of data and simply copied over to the backup drive.
Providing there is no conflict with W7 these installation files can then be copied over to the new computer and run to install the programs - Exactly as was done when they were first run on the XP machine
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Falkryn, Thank you very much for that advice. I needed to know that.
May I ask 2 further questions please?
If I use Win Easy Transfer and a USB Easy Transfer Cable or external HD to move the data, do I need to select the original.exe files [not knowing if they are Win7 compatible or not ] or will Easy Transfer program detect what is Win7 compatible and transfer that only?
Re External HD: If I used this method I'd be using Apollo Imation portable HD that already has backup on it. Would I need to reformat this before copying the data to be transfered?
If so would it be better to keep a copy on the HD in case I muck up things, and for the transfer use the USB Easy Transfer Cable?
I'm a novice at this and need the most failsafe method.
Thank you for your help,
charlotte
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When you ran the installation files of these original programs they set up your computer to run that program - these installed programs cannot then be simply copied over as there are a number of files integrated into the operating system to allow the actual program to run.
Regardless of which method you choose to use you will need to transfer/copy over these original setup files in order to run them and install your programs.
Personally if there is enough space on your backup drive I would run the backup program and then create a new folder named e.g. backup 07012010 (or whatever date you use)and then hand copy all of the data files I considered important into this folder. The easiest way to do this is to have two windows open on the desktop and simply drag over using the RIGHT mouse button and select copy from the drop down menu.
This potentially gives you two copies of the same data and although on the same drive better than having only one
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Thank you Falkryn.
I'll get onto running the backup program- plenty of room as it's 320 GB- and then do the new folder . The laptop arrives next week so will get organised.
I appreciate you clear instructions and your help.
charlotte
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Unfortunately there is no simple secret to a succesful back up but some things to be borne in mind
1) Take your time
2) Always make sure you copy rather than move
3) If in doubt copy it - better to have too much information than too little
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Good advice from Falkyrn.
On really important stuff such as photos & other things like music, I`ll always copy & paste.
Yes its long winded, yes its boring, but you can then click on a sample of the files afterwards & test them, very boring & not the most exciting thing to do on a Weekend off, but if its important to you its worth the effort.
Back-up software is good on the whole, but it can go wrong even when you`ve "Verified the back-up", you`ll only know theres a problem when you come to resurect the back-up & it doesn`t work.
One thing a lot of people forget to back up is emails, yes they are only emails, most folks use an email client & ALL emails are downloaded to your PC & then deleted from the e-mail server...its always worth while backing up emails or open a Googlemail account & forwarding all emails to that as a back up, without deleting the original.. You can use G-Mail as a virtual HDD as well, it can be handy for small transfers of data to trusted friends....A couple of 100s of Mb/a few Gbs of photos can be transfered by this method...
As you have a New PC arriving there isn`t such a major problem as upgrading you Original PC, you can keep the original PC running until you are happy that you haven`t forgotten something...believe me thats easily done.....
Remember don`t rush, have patience & Tea or a Beer sometimes works well.
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Thanks stevie... I'll not rush anything, which is why I'm trying to get organised with the backups before the new laptop arrives bring excitement with it ;D
Re OE & emails. Some years back I bought a backup program called "ExpressAssist" which has proved very satisfactory. Hope it s files can be transfered to Win7, and also that it will continue to work there- we shall see.
Thanks again,
charlotte
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If I use Win Easy Transfer and a USB Easy Transfer Cable or external HD to move the data, do I need to select the original.exe files [not knowing if they are Win7 compatible or not ] or will Easy Transfer program detect what is Win7 compatible and transfer that only?
I have just transferred data from a PC running XP to a Laptop running 7 with WIndows Easy Transfer. It checks your XP files and transfers ALL files which can be transferred.
Alan NZ
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Worth knowing thanks Alan.
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I should also mention it transfers files for programs that may not be istalled on the new computer as well. I run TMG and iTunes and it transferred all the files associated with those programs (amongst others) even though I had not yet installed the programs.
Alan NZ
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Yes Alan. WET works. I don't understand why folk would use any other method, as this is a simply click and all is saved, then another click and all is transferred.
I think it is wise to follow the KISS principle when dealing with Microsoft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle
Jamjar
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Keep it simple for stupid people like me seems about right ;D ;D
I've done the backup of the XP HD to my external drive- 14 hrs for 20.8 GB. That is the first backup recommended by Falkryn.
Next I'm going to hand copy the data files that are very NB, as he suggested.
The Easy Transfer Cable that Alan & Jamjar used successfully seems the best way to go for me- least complicated I hope.
Every post all of you have made on this thread has been of help in clarifying the transfer strategy for me-thanks.
charlotte
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Hi Charlotte,
I used Windows Easy Transfer, but did not use a cable. I copied to an external hard drive and then copied back.
Jamjar
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Hi Jamjar :)
Any particular reason you didn't use the cable?
charlotte
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I wanted a back up copy to the external hard drive. You don't get that with the cable. Using the cable copies it directly to the other computer.
Also, you have the cost of the cable as an extra.
Jamjar
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Hi Charlotte
Have you got the new computer, yet?
Jamjar
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Hi :)
NO ... and never order D*ll... they take the prize for incompetency and their phone operatives are completely unintelligble- all quite an experince I wouldn't wish on you ::)
will tell you if/when it arrives ::) ;D
charlotte
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Sorry to hear it, Charlotte.
I don't know anyone who owns one. ;)
Jamajr
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I feel as if I've been trying to understand Outer Mongolian spoken at great speed ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Ah, I've just this minute spoken to an Indian lady, in India, about a credit card enquiry, in Australia. ;D
Janice
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::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
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I bought an HP 6730b and I am more than happy with it.
alan NZ
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Exactly- bit late now as me money has been nabbed :'( :'( :'(
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I have 2 Toshiba and an Acer. No problems with any, touch wood.
Oh, that's not quite true. The Acer was just over 2 years old when the CPU went. Thankfully, I had purchased an Extended Warranty. The CPU was replaced - took 3 months - and no probs since.
Toshiba's were only purchased last year, so don't expect any trouble until next year.
Am going with a Toshiba or ASUS Netbook when the new models are relased, next month.
A computer chap says laptops are only built to last 2 years and that by that time techies consider them old. :-\
Jamjar
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Thanks Jamjar for that cheer up about lasting two years only :o
That's all I needed ::) ;)
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Chortle, chortle. ;D ;D
Jamjar
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I bought an HP 6730b and I am more than happy with it.
alan NZ
Alan, How long ago did you buy it please?
charlotte
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My Acer, now 5 years old continues to plod on! Had a new hard disk two years ago, after I had dropped the machine, nothing else except its age is starting to show. W7 soon.