Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2011 May 1

= May 1 =

migrating to a new PC
I'm getting a new 64-bit Windows 7 computer and want to migrate from a 32-bit Windows XP computer. I can move files myself, but I have a lot of programs installed on the old one. I don't want to have to reinstall these (from CD) - most have been upgraded, etc. I want to copy them and have them work with no problems. I want to select only certain ones to move. I've been reading about Laplink PCmover. Editorial reviews of it are good but most user reviews are bad. Is this the best solution? Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 04:36, 1 May 2011 (UTC)


 * I just want to point out that 64-bit versions of your programs would take full advantage of your new 64 bit computer, while transferring the existing 32-bit programs won't. StuRat (talk) 04:44, 1 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Yes, but very few of my programs have 64-bit versions, I think. I know that one of the major ones I use has a 64-bit version coming out this year.  Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 05:07, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
 * On Windows you could copy the program files from the old 32-bit machine to the new 64-bit machine, but it almost certainly wouldn't work. The operating system and any programs it runs relies on many Dynamic Link Library (DLL) files, many of which are 32 or 64-bit specific.  What's more, many programs store their settings in the registry.  You could copy the DLLs and dump the right sections of the registry but, unless you are very, very familiar with the internal workings of Windows and the programs you are transferring, there would be no guarantee that the transfer would be successful.  It really is better to reload your programs from the install files (either on CD or newly downloaded from the internet), then reapply any updates.  It will take a long time, but it will give you a chance to consider if you really do need some programs.  Astronaut (talk) 11:09, 1 May 2011 (UTC)


 * Haven't tried any of these:
 * Parallels Desktop® for Upgrading to Windows 7
 * PCmover
 * ---— Gadget850 (Ed)  talk 13:54, 1 May 2011 (UTC)


 * I haven't heard of the first one - I'll check it out. (The user reviews of it are mostly bad too.) Bubba73 You talkin' to me? 15:14, 1 May 2011 (UTC)