Community Newsletter: Q&A forum: Transfering everything from one computer to another.

1, 2 and 3: research BACKUP and start doing it

4: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=xp+file+and+settings+transfer+wizard+&meta=
This is the official way. And it will transfer some settings that you'll find difficult to backup (such as your email account data).

Kees

The easiest way I have found to transfer files from one PC to another is AlohaBob's PC Relocator. You install the software on both your old PC and your new PC, connect the two via the included USB cable, and let 'er go. You can transfer everything, from all your documents to your browser bookmarks, or you can pick what you want to transfer. This is helpful especially if your new system has some of the same programs as your old system. If this is the case, you can transfer your settings and preferences rather than the entire program (which would create a redundancy). I have personally used this program several times, and can attest to the fact that it is extremely easy to use. It will take a while to transfer everything over, but so would backing everything up to an external hard drive.

Good luck with your new system!

This sounds so easy even an idiot like me can't screw it up. Will it also copy my Eudora email and all mailboxes?

Thank you! My PC (Windows XP) has been on several occasions completely blocked by either viruses or some corrupted files. Repairs have been costly over time. Uploading all the programs, one by one, and restoring all my documents is always time consuming. Hope this part will be avoidable from now on!
There remains, however, one problem which I still don't know how to solve. Recently a nasty virus, supposedly from the "Justice Department", tried to ransomed me at the tune of $300 to allow the PC to reboot. Another one of the multiple scams that infect the internet. I tried everything I knew how to reboot the PC, to no avail. Back to the shop which cost me $180 just to start the PC. Luckily did not lose any data this time. They did not want to tell me how to restart the PC. Would any one now what kind of a program they might have used ?

Well I finally did it. I bought a new computer. I know its been a while but I finally got a Gateway GT5660E. I think it will work great for what I do. I'm not a gamer or anything like that. I can't even remember when I ever played a game on a computer. Not my thing!!

Anyway, the new machine should be arriving September 4. Now I need to get software to transfer everything from my original Gateway E2000 to the new Gateway GT 5660E. I need something as easy as possible but as complete as possible. I use Eudora as an email client. Will something like PC Relocator or PC Mover move that also. Would I need to reinstall my Microsoft Frontpage2003 edition or will the transfer software take care of that. I also use an FTP software to transfer my website files onto the web. Will that need to be reinstalled.

Reason I'm asking is some of these things I have been on my old computer since I bought it several years ago and I may not be able to find some of that information. I still can't find my Frontpage CD. And that's a very important program for my business!

Is there any other options to transfer everything to a new machine? I recently heard of a website called I think Carbonite, does anyone know of it?

I really appreciate any assistance you fellow forum browsers can provide. Thanks so much
Ed

I lucked out. I found the Frontpage CD with the Key code written on the cover.

A PC repair freind thinks the hard drive i getting ready to go to drive heaven

I like "PCmover", from Laplink. It is fairly comprehensive and WILL transfer settings, registry, data files, and most importantly, applications, from one computer to another. It still won't do it all, but it seems better than most programs in this category.

I just got a new Gateway laptop to replace an older, much slower one. My old one runs on XP Pro and has Microsoft Office 2003 as well as iTunes (with thousands of songs that I CAN'T lose) and Adobe Photoshop & ImageReady (as well as a bunch of other random programs).

I have two questions:
1) Will I be able to transfer Office 2003 and the Adobe programs onto my new PC using PCMover? Could I experience problems with the free trial of Office 2007 that came installed on the new PC? (ok, that technically was two questions...)
2) Can I purchase the online version of PC Mover and use my own USB cable or do I really need to buy the entire 'physical version' to use it for the first time?

Hopefully this will help the original poster as well... Thank you in advance for any help!

Thanks Ed! Office 2003 was not installed on my old system - do you still think it won't be a problem? And what do you think about transferring Adobe Photoshop and Imageready? I'm not sure where those discs are so I don't have the keycodes.

I've been downloading the contents from my old laptop onto the GeekSquad's online storage site since yesterday and it's still at only 12% completed - so I think I have time to get the PCMover. Thanks again!

Ellyn

I wouldn't think you need to do anything with Office 2007. It's not being transferred anywhere. It's part of a bundle of the new PC even if it is a trial version. As for Office 2003, if you can't find the original Keycode, I agree with R. Proffitt and download Open Office I have both Office 2003 and Open Office and use Open Office since I downloaded it.

Adobe isn't as finicky as Microsoft so you should be okay there but I'd start serching for those CD's. I searched for all of mine. Luckily, I found the ones I needed and now they are locked in my safe!!.

I haven't done my transfer yet. I just ordered a new monitor and when that comes I will do my transfer.

Good Luck.

I also found a great site for backups. Of course, I wrote it down somewhere but where, I can't remember. It's something like www.carbonite.com

I'm sure that'll get to the site. I did a check on them and will be using it once I am through with my transferring

Ed

I usually try to play things as SAFE as possible.

My best suggestion would be for you to buy a External Hard Drive as large as you can afford like 1TB or 2TB or 3TB and then COPY any and all files from your old computer and paste those files on to your New hard drive BEFORE !! you try to transfer any files to your New computer .

That way you will always have a 100% copy of all your old files just incase you screw up things when starting to Transfer files to your New computer .

100% SAFE is always better than sorry .

I have seen 3tb External Hard Drives in Costco for as low as $129 .

And I think you can get the same deal at Best Buy .

Start to learn how to Shop CHEAP !! by using your Google.com browser and search the internet for the cheapest deals for a 3tb external hard drive or anything that you need .

There is always a cheaper deal if you look hard enough .