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Transferring Software To A New PC

In this particular article, we will discuss the various methods used to transfer software to a new computer.  We will also discuss various applications and tools that are commonly used to streamline and simplify these processes for the average user.  Before transferring, always make sure that the software that is being transferred is compatible with the new operating system and that you have your registration information at hand.

Method #1: Laplink PC Mover And Laplink PC Mover Enterprise

Laplink PC Mover is a robust application available for download and purchase at http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/pcmoverpro.html and http://www.laplink.com/business_solutions/pcmover.  A full list of pricing and package options are available from both of these pages.  The base price for the commercial version of Laplink PC Mover is $29.95 for a single download license while the base price for PC Mover enterprise is $420 for 10 licenses.  Depending on which package you decide to purchase, and how many licenses are being purchased, the price will vary.   Both versions of Laplink PC Mover not only allow you to transfer software and data from various types of media, and even hard drives themselves, but can also transfer from backup images.  I recommend you go with the PCmover pro version here and pay the extra to have the data transfer cable.  While you can transfer over a wireless network.  In my personal testing’s of this product it works better and easier to setup with a direct connection to the other PC.

Method #2: DVD/CD Backup Reinstall

In the event that you don’t have the required hardware to perform a direct pc-to-pc transfer, this is where having your software registration will come in handy.  The first step is to make sure that the software you are using is compatible with the operating system that the software is being transferred to.  Most of the time, you won’t have to worry about compatibility issues, but it has been known to happen.  It’s important to contact the software manufacturer to make sure that there aren’t any issues regarding software conflicts.  In the event of software incompatibility, the software manufacturer may have a version that is compatible with a different version of Windows, and may have a different software package that reflects this.

It’s important to note that if the program you want to transfer over is free you are better off just re-installing that program fresh on the new PC and then just copy over the data you use with that program.  Software Programs like Itunes or Adobe Reader are free and should be installed fresh.  You can always just do an export/import for your music libraries and playlists.

The DVD/CD Backup Reinstallation is a fairly quick and easy process.  Make sure that you have your registration information handy, such as license keys, codes and any personal information that was used during the original installation.  After installing the software on your new PC, simply re-enter your license information, and you should be set.  Afterwards, depending on the EULA, you may be required to uninstall the application from your old computer.  If you do not have any of your old serial keys or registration information then we recommend you either contact the vendor or use  Laplink PCmover as it can transfer over software programs and in most cases no new registration is required before use of that program.

Method #3: Drive/Registry Key Transfer

This final method is geared towards more advanced users, and requires a moderate to advanced level of expertise, and knowledge of the windows registry and system settings.

Some applications do not make use of the windows registry to lock themselves to a particular PC and may simply be copied over or even exclusively used with an external data storage device.  If this is the case, the software manufacturer will usually notify the user of this feature, and the software can simply be copied over without use of secondary software transfer devices and applications.  In the event that the software has to be copied to the appropriate version of windows, it is important to backup the windows registry before copying registry values from the old installation.

In the end you should take the route you are most comfortable with to transfer software over to a new computer.  Many people will find that PCmover is the better tool out there to transfer programs and personal settings over to a new computer. However the price tag can be a little steep for some.

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