So someone I know has multiple programs installed on his old laptop to which he no longer has the discs for these programs. He has purchased a new laptop however he needs to transfer these programs to the new machine. Obviously it's not as simple as copying the directory (Unfortunately).
Has anyone got any ideas for me or perhaps any tutorials?
Programs (most) must be "installed" using the program's installer. If the programs are "OEM" programs, they cannot legally be used on another PC. e.g. if the old PC came with MS Office (OEM), it is only legally licensed for the system it was initially delivered with.
The "laplink" program mover and special Ethernet cable can move SOME programs but not all. That is the best option if the installers are not available.
PCmover - Limited Time Offer branded-pcmover-012014 - Laplink(R) Software
In the old days of Windows 3.1 - WFW 3.11, and even with a few 3rd party programs under Windows 95-98SE, there were ways and means of "copying" nonOEM-installed stuff from one computer to another. Now, past Windows 98SE, while some nonOEMs can be "migrated" without any problems whatsoever -- many others will force an install onto another computer. A few times, some torturous and complicated ways and means just might work on some nonOEMs -- I have no way to post such stuff.
I did see that LapLink Mover software which hopefully might do the trick. As you said only some software is compatible to transfer which hopefully the software he requires is compatible. I'll have to give it a try I guess and let you know.
I'm wondering how Laplink is going to be able to read the appropriate registry entries and copy same over into the other computer's registry. The registry these days is a hive, numerous files, if I understand the scuttlebutt.
It depends what they are a lot will work if you copy the program folder it may then say can't find a DLL which you can then copy you may need to search reg for it and export import etc it's last ditch shot
I've never used the Laplink mover software but I've read reviews that state that it works fairly well*although it takes a long time to run, longer then it would take to install the software if you had the disks.
I presume this includes transfer of software rather than just user accounts and data, documents etc...
Edit: Just downloaded it and can see you can transfer the software. Whether it will be compatible for the software that needs to be transferred is a different story however one step closer. I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks for the share.
Last edited by D3LL; 11 Jan 2017 at 09:11. Reason: Update
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