Is 100% backup possible?
Is it possible to move a complete disk file (data and softaware packages) to a new computer? After full backup, I want to load back a mirror image onto a new laptop, from Toshiba to say HP. Does the new update allow me to do this? Jim
I currently use Windows XP Professional...while most new PC's come with Windows 7. Is there any overarching reason I should WANT Microsoft 7 over Windows XP? Thanks
I don't know if Win 7 has any advantages over XP for you - it is a personal decision. But another thing to consider is that if you try to put XP on the new HP you might run into driver problems. In other words, the new hardware on the HP might not have XP drivers as more an more hardware makers are not supplying XP drivers for new hardware.
XP is 2 versions behind now so I'd seriously think about loading up the W7 OS with my apps and seeing how it goes. If there are issues with the apps or any other hardware you don't want to deal with then you can make an image of it for future reference and put XP on it and see how that works. Like DwnNDrty said you may possibly encounter driver issues.
Before loading on apps, I'd check the vendor's website first to see if there are any notes on W7 compatibility.
Keep in mind also that you'll very likely have an OEM version of XP on the Toshiba and it may not activate when you move it to a different computer (especially to a different brand).
Personally, I really like Windows 7 and would choose it over XP.
All good points to which I'll add another. I have 5-yr old hardware that has had XP, Vista, and Windows 7 installed during its lifetime. Comparatively, Windows 7 is faster, more secure, and much more pleasant to use. Startup time is 18 sec compared to 45 sec on XP, shutdown time is 10 sec compared to 30 sec on XP, applications start within 1 or 2 seconds vs. 10 - 20 seconds on XP.... you get the point.
Thanks to you all for your comments, and boiling it all down, I am seeing a 'right path', let me know if my thinking is correct. It seems that if I first move my current XP OS to Windows 7, and then after True Image 2010 is in place and set up to copy the full file image I can then restore it all to a new hardware platform that has Windows 7 as the sold with OS.
Please tell me I do not have to stay with Toshiba as my hardware choice.
If I'm understanding what I think you're saying then I don't think you fully grasped the situation.
Thanks to you all for your comments, and boiling it all down, I am seeing a 'right path', let me know if my thinking is correct. It seems that if I first move my current XP OS to Windows 7, and then after True Image 2010 is in place and set up to copy the full file image I can then restore it all to a new hardware platform that has Windows 7 as the sold with OS.Please tell me I do not have to stay with Toshiba as my hardware choice.
I don't understand what you mean by "first move my current XP OS to Windows 7".
You must understand that the Windows configuration for computer A is not the same as for computer B unless every piece of hardware is identical. Even then the activation would fail. So you can't just fiddle with the OS on one machine, write an image and then load it on another machine and have it work immediately. You would have to update a bunch of drivers and do repairs etc. There is software such as TI's Universal Restore which can help but I don't think this is really what you want to do.
You are getting a new machine with W7 on it. Unless you can't live with W7 for some reason, the recommendation is to load your apps and data files onto the new machine and start using W7 which is quite highly regarded as a good OS.
If you refuse to use W7 then you will have to load XP onto the new machine. The comment that was made earlier is that if your copy of XP came with your Toshiba, it may not load on different hardware since manufacturer's, not just Toshiba, will often lock the OS distribution CD to their hardware. Often the distributed CD is not a real MS Windows installation CD but a CD that restores the machine to the way it was when it came from the factory. In other words, you may have to run out and buy a copy of XP to load it onto the new machine.