Vista(old pc) to win7(new pc) without re-installing applications?

[npmarica]

Hi. I just bought a Win 7 PC (64 bit; 1TB HDD; & 8GB RAM); My old PC is a Vista 32-bit laptop(250 GB HDD).
I understand that it will be likely be a simple task to transfer all my files from the old machine to the new.
That said, is there any way to avoid having to re-install all of my applications? I'm fairly sure that i'm going to have to re-install all of my applications, but perhaps there is a way. Many thanks in advance...

Nick

 

[Gator]

You cannot transfer programs to another PC. The only thing you could have done is an in place upgrade which isn't an option for you.

What you can do is use Windows Easy Transfer to easily transfer your files/documents.
Video: Transferring files and settings from another PC - Windows Help

You can use something like backrex if you want to backup and move over IE settings.
Internet Explorer Backup - BackRex Software

Transfer Chrome Settings
How to Backup and Restore Entire Google Chrome Setting | Juan2Geek

Transfer Firefox Settings
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Recovering important data from an old profile

Here is another link for Windows Easy Transfer
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html

 

[npmarica]

Thanks! Not the answer I wanted, but it was the answer I expected...oh well - prompts me to get rid of a lot of junk I don't really use anyway....

 

[strollin]

Look into this software: PCmover - Limited Time Offer unbrandedweekend-pcmover-012014 - Laplink® Software Which claims to be able to move programs from an old PC to a new one. I've never used it myself but have read that it works for a lot of programs but not all.

 

[gregrocker]

Look over these steps for a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 which are the same for retail and assure you'll get and keep a perfect install as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

 

[ish4d0w]

Hi. I just bought a Win 7 PC (64 bit; 1TB HDD; & 8GB RAM); My old PC is a Vista 32-bit laptop(250 GB HDD).
I understand that it will be likely be a simple task to transfer all my files from the old machine to the new.
That said, is there any way to avoid having to re-install all of my applications? I'm fairly sure that i'm going to have to re-install all of my applications, but perhaps there is a way. Many thanks in advance...

Nick

Hi

I recommend the methods the others have already suggested. These are great and easy to follow.

But snce you're specifically looking for a way to avoid having to reinstall your programs... well yes, there's a way. But it's a bit more complicated than the others' solutions, I'd say advanced level but not that hard.
If you follow my warnings you should be fine. But if you ignore them you'll have license programs which is your own responsibility. You have been warned. I don't take any responsibility for this or for using my guides at all. You accept that if you use this guide.

Help and guides are available for both programs.



You'll need two programs: a system-imaging program and an adaptive restore program.

There are many programs for both purpose. I'll give you two options. A free and a paid one.

WARNING: Even though these programs are fully legal to use and won't cause you activation problems (adaptive restoring deactivates windows on the new pc), you have to remember: you still need two Windows licenses! One for the old PC and one for the new.

It won't change anything on the old PC (it will stay activated) but your license number will NOT be transferred to your new PC.
So, These program will not move your Windows license!

WARNING #2:The only license that adaptive restoring removes is the Windows license. You'll have to watch out for other programs! It'll copy their licenses that will cause you duplicate license problems. That will result in license problems if you don't take action. You shouldn't go online until you fix these problems. What I recommend is to either remove the license (if the program supports that) or if theres no way, then remove and reinstall that program. Repeat it for each and every program. Not every program supports swapping licenses so you might have to reinstall a few programs but hey, at least it's not ALL of them! Then you can go online and you'll be all fine if you have resolved all license problems.

WARNING #3: I assume you still want to use the old PC. The guide I wrote covers that and your old PC will stay usable and fully licensed & legal.

If you don't plan to use it anymore (and you will format the hard drive right away) that's a different case.
You can still follow this guide but then you'll have to delete windows from your old PC (by formatting that partiton) but then you don't need to have double license for your programs. Of course you also don't have to remove licenses, most of them will stay in place. For the ones which gets removed because of the different hardware, you can enter them again since you aren't using it anymore on your old PC.

Once again. These are highly advanced programs, designed for users who know what they do. If you do it wrong, no one will take responsibility for it.
Make sure you read twice what we (or I) write and you totally understand it before you begin.

Option A: (only free programs)


System imaging program:

If you have Windows Vista Home Basic or Home Premium you have to download a system imaging program. A free one is Macrium Reflect. They've been recommending this one on this forum. I used it a few times, it works well.

If you have Windows Vista Business or Ultimate or Enterprise, these editions have a built-in program.You can use Windows Complete PC Backup.


Using either imaging program, make a backup of your system drive to an external storage media. It can be an external hard drive, a flashdrive or to a few CDs or DVDs.

Then restore this image to the new PC. You'll need to burn a bootable a recovery disc to CD for either CompletePC Backup or Macrium Reflect.

Then

Adaptive restore program:
Paragon Adaptive Restore CD. This is a free one too. This is a boot CD you can download it in iso format.
Use an image writer like ImgBurn to burn it to a CD.


After restoring the image to the new PC, boot from the Paragon CD and select Adjust OS.

Option B: (paid program)

System imaging program: Acronis True Image
This is a paid program but is way way more advanced than the free ones. It has a lot of features. Check their webpage if you're interested.
For example it has Disk cloning, Try&Decide, Nonstop backup, incremental backup, network backup etc. It can even do the adaptive restore for you!!

Of course there are many other system imaging programs both free and paid having similar features, but Acronis is my favorite. I have been using it for 5 years and it's excellent. This is not an advertisement, it's just my preference. I tried others too (like Ghost) but I chose Acronis because of it's flexibility. It's the most flexible I have ever seen, the destination disk can be completely different!


Adaptive restore program:
Acronis True Image is capable of adaptive restoring too! Just check it at the restoring screen, which you would use anyway. All it takes is checking a checkbox, that easy!

Of course you can still use paragon adaptive restore CD in this case too if you want. It's very very reliable and simple.

This is also the method we use when replacing motherboard, CPU etc. It's an advanced way but works great. It saves me lots of hours. I rarely do a reinstall! I just move my entire Windows system!

 

[gregrocker]

The problem with using Adaptive Restore to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/292068-make-windows-7-bootable-after-motherboard-swap.html in this case is that there is 32 bit Vista needing Upgrade to 7 on new hardware with 8gb RAM - most of which would not be recognized if 32 bit is transferred and Upgraded.

 

[Mark Phelps]

The easiest way to migrate apps is to use PC Mover from Laplink. It might not transfer all the apps but it will be able to transfer most of them.

 

[strollin]

The easiest way to migrate apps is to use PC Mover from Laplink. It might not transfer all the apps but it will be able to transfer most of them.

I suggested that 3 days ago. Unfortunately, the op hasn't been back since before then.