By Gene Barlow
User Group Relations
Copyrighted June 2011
If you are like many end users, you have been running an older computer with WinXP. Your older computer is starting to wear out, so you are considering a new computer with Windows 7. The problem you face is how to get your programs and data files off your old computer and onto your new computer. This article will show you the best way to do this and warn you of some bad options.
Backup/Restore Approach
I know that some of you are considering using Acronis True Image. You think you can backup your old computer, and then restoring this backup to your new computer. While this sounds very logical, it just doesn’t work for the following reasons:
Acronis Universal Restore Approach
Acronis has had a product called the Universal Restore add-on. This product is available to end-users as part of the Acronis True Image Plus Pack which you can order from Acronis for $30. I do not recommend or sell this product. It will not do what you want it to do, so be cautious.
The Acronis Universal Restore product works almost exactly like the Backup/Restore Approach I covered above. It will restore WinXP on top of your new computer’s software. When restored, WinXP will not work on the new computer because of Microsoft’s activation restrictions. The only thing that Universal Restore does differently is that it contains a library of commonly used Device Drivers which it will automatically find and replace as you restore WinXP to the new computer. That is not much of a saving for an end-user with one computer to move to.
Laplink’s PCmover Image Assistant Approach
There is one system migration utility on the market that will do what end-users want to do. This product is called PCmover Image Assistant and it is owned and distributed by Laplink. A few years ago, I represented this product, but I no longer have an arrangement with Laplink. So, if you are interested in this product you will have to purchase it from Laplink for $40. It works very well with Acronis True Image, so you may want to consider trying this product.
To move your application programs and data files to a new Windows 7 computer using this approach, you must do the following:
That gives you a quick and easy way to move your programs and data files to your new computer, without replacing Windows 7 with the old WinXP operating system.
There are a few limitations on how well this will work, however. Certain programs cannot be moved to your new computer. These include Firewalls, Anti-virus software, Anti-spyware software, hardware specific device drivers, files with Digital Rights Management like copy-protected Music files, and copy protected software like Microsoft Office and others. Also, old versions of programs that do not support Windows 7 may be moved, but will not run correctly on the new computer. Also, you are moving all of the junk on your old computer to the new computer in this process. The biggest gotcha is that the $40 fee for this product is for only one move. After you move to the new Windows 7 computer, the software cannot be used again without paying an additional $40 fee.
Recommended Migration Approach
The best way that I have found to move my application programs and data files to a new Windows 7 computer is the following:
This approach takes a bit more effort to re-install all of the application programs on your new Windows 7 computer, but you will end up with a cleaner running system when you do this. Moving your data files from the backup image is a simple task to do. Most users will find this approach the easiest one to follow.
Acronis True Image Home 2011
The product that makes the migration to a new Windows 7 computer so easy is the Acronis True Image Home 2011 backup utility. This top rated backup utility will not only help you to move your important data files to your new computer, but it can be used to backup your new Windows 7 computer for the future. To order True Image 2011 from us, go to http://www.ugr7.com and click on the appropriate Buy Now button. We offer this excellent backup program at half the normal price you will find it elsewhere, just $25 per license. Each computer you wish to backup should have its own license of the product to be legal. I not only provide you with a super price on this excellent software product, but I will try to make using this product easy and effortless for you.
If you have questions about this article or the True Image product, send an email note to gene@ugr7.com and I will try to help you with your questions.
User Group Relations
Copyrighted June 2011
If you are like many end users, you have been running an older computer with WinXP. Your older computer is starting to wear out, so you are considering a new computer with Windows 7. The problem you face is how to get your programs and data files off your old computer and onto your new computer. This article will show you the best way to do this and warn you of some bad options.
Backup/Restore Approach
I know that some of you are considering using Acronis True Image. You think you can backup your old computer, and then restoring this backup to your new computer. While this sounds very logical, it just doesn’t work for the following reasons:
- The Restore of your WinXP backup would overlay all of the software on your new computer. You would end up with a new computer running WinXP. Not what you want, I am sure.
- The new computer has new devices on it that will not be compatible with the device drivers in WinXP. This is not too hard to fix, but it may cause some devices to not work properly.
- Microsoft has activated WinXP to only work on your old computer. So, even if you move WinXP to the new computer it will not run. You will have to negotiate reactivation with Microsoft. Good luck doing this.
Acronis Universal Restore Approach
Acronis has had a product called the Universal Restore add-on. This product is available to end-users as part of the Acronis True Image Plus Pack which you can order from Acronis for $30. I do not recommend or sell this product. It will not do what you want it to do, so be cautious.
The Acronis Universal Restore product works almost exactly like the Backup/Restore Approach I covered above. It will restore WinXP on top of your new computer’s software. When restored, WinXP will not work on the new computer because of Microsoft’s activation restrictions. The only thing that Universal Restore does differently is that it contains a library of commonly used Device Drivers which it will automatically find and replace as you restore WinXP to the new computer. That is not much of a saving for an end-user with one computer to move to.
Laplink’s PCmover Image Assistant Approach
There is one system migration utility on the market that will do what end-users want to do. This product is called PCmover Image Assistant and it is owned and distributed by Laplink. A few years ago, I represented this product, but I no longer have an arrangement with Laplink. So, if you are interested in this product you will have to purchase it from Laplink for $40. It works very well with Acronis True Image, so you may want to consider trying this product.
To move your application programs and data files to a new Windows 7 computer using this approach, you must do the following:
- Make a backup image of your entire main hard drive on your old WinXP computer using Acronis True Image. Save this backup image on an external hard drive.
- Attach your external hard drive containing the backup image of your WinXP computer to the new Windows 7 computer.
- Run True Image 2011 and the Mount Image function (found under Tools & Utilities). This will mount (make visible) your WinXP backup image on the new Windows 7 computer and assign a drive letter to this mounted image.
- Run PCmover Image Assistant and it will retrieve your application programs and data files from the mounted WinXP backup image and move them to your new Windows 7 computer. Hopefully, most of the programs will run OK on your new computer.
That gives you a quick and easy way to move your programs and data files to your new computer, without replacing Windows 7 with the old WinXP operating system.
There are a few limitations on how well this will work, however. Certain programs cannot be moved to your new computer. These include Firewalls, Anti-virus software, Anti-spyware software, hardware specific device drivers, files with Digital Rights Management like copy-protected Music files, and copy protected software like Microsoft Office and others. Also, old versions of programs that do not support Windows 7 may be moved, but will not run correctly on the new computer. Also, you are moving all of the junk on your old computer to the new computer in this process. The biggest gotcha is that the $40 fee for this product is for only one move. After you move to the new Windows 7 computer, the software cannot be used again without paying an additional $40 fee.
Recommended Migration Approach
The best way that I have found to move my application programs and data files to a new Windows 7 computer is the following:
- Install all of the application programs you want to run on your new Windows 7 computer from the CDs or downloads of these programs. So, gather your programs and serial numbers together before you make the move to Windows 7.
- Make a full backup of your old WinXP computer using Acronis True Image and save that backup on an external hard drive.
- Install True Image 2011 on your new Windows 7 computer. Older versions of True Image will not run on Windows 7. Only True Image 2010 and True Image 2011 will run on Windows 7.
- Attach your external hard drive containing the most recent backup image of your WinXP computer to your new Windows 7 computer.
- Run Windows Explorer on your Windows 7 computer and use this to find your data files on your WinXP backup image on the external hard drive. Move these to your new computer’s hard drive.
This approach takes a bit more effort to re-install all of the application programs on your new Windows 7 computer, but you will end up with a cleaner running system when you do this. Moving your data files from the backup image is a simple task to do. Most users will find this approach the easiest one to follow.
Acronis True Image Home 2011
The product that makes the migration to a new Windows 7 computer so easy is the Acronis True Image Home 2011 backup utility. This top rated backup utility will not only help you to move your important data files to your new computer, but it can be used to backup your new Windows 7 computer for the future. To order True Image 2011 from us, go to http://www.ugr7.com and click on the appropriate Buy Now button. We offer this excellent backup program at half the normal price you will find it elsewhere, just $25 per license. Each computer you wish to backup should have its own license of the product to be legal. I not only provide you with a super price on this excellent software product, but I will try to make using this product easy and effortless for you.
If you have questions about this article or the True Image product, send an email note to gene@ugr7.com and I will try to help you with your questions.