Migrating To Different Oprerating System
I've been avoiding buying a new computer system but in a weak moment, I bought a new Dell and now faced with moving everything over to a new drive.
The problem is that I am going from Windows XP to Windows Vista but I didn't want to re-install all my programs. Is there any other way to migrate all my programs and data over to the new drive, delete Windows XP and then re-intall Windows Vista? Or is that wishful thinking?
I've got so many programs that it's going to be a mind-boggling event to re-install these programs on the new system. If that's what I have to do, do I then just back up my data and then restore only the data files? I also need to create C and D drives.
In a daze,
Rainer
In short, you can't do it easily. There are ways to move your data http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc748915%28WS.10%29.aspx#BKM… but not a way to automatically install all your programs. One alternative would be to backup your XP computer, and then restore it to the new PC. Of course, then you would be running XP on the new PC. You could just leave it that way and use it, or you could then do a Vista install on top of the XP (assuming you have the correct discs) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc748915%28WS.10%29.aspx#BKM… but that would be a pretty messy way to go about it.
As Mark said, a new PC is a good time to start fresh. I would just install the programs and move your data over. You'll have less trouble in the long run.
Thanks guys for your responses. I've been putting this off but my 2 Gb RAM wasn't cutting it anymore.
You pretty well told what I feared but didn't want to hear, although the positive is that I'll leave behind any messy stuff that may be clogging up and slowing down my current system.
I'll certainly do a full image backup before proceeding (I currently do daily incremental backups & then a full monthly backup and store it offsite in a safety deposit box).
Would it be best to re-install the programs one at a time & then just copy over the data files from my image backup? Except I know that some of the programs store their data files automatically on the C: drive (I keep programs on C: and data on D:)
Rainer
Rainer:
Yes, it is best to install the programs one at a time. In fact, you could start using the new computer and only install a program when you find out that you need it instead of just duplicating your current list of programs on the old PC. You'll be surprised at how many programs you really don't need. Also, most programs will let you specify a default location for their data files so you can configure each one to use the data drive as the location for user files as you go along.
I've done this so many times in the past year while testing Windows 7 beta, RC, and then RTM as well as Office 2010 betas, so I've developed an immunity to the process. It won't be as bad as it seems; trust me. One way to make it easier next time is to keep good notes as you go along. Over the years I've developed a standardized sequence for building up an OS from scratch - first Windows, then Windows Updates, then Office, etc. If you write down what you're doing as you go along then you'll have a concise list of what to do next time.
Thanks, Mark. Good advice especially the documentation part. Too hard to remember everything these days.
Rainer