The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    How to migrate program settings from old notebook to new one

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dforion, Jun 19, 2006.

  1. dforion

    dforion Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    102
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'm planning to move from my current NB to a new NB.

    Is there a way to preserve as many as possible of my application program settings and paramters from the old NB to the new one? The new notebook will have the same Windows XP Pro version, but some of the key hardware will be different, including the hard disk, so I will require a fresh Windows & drivers install.

    Some programs store their settings in the Registry, some in their own folders, some in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data, and some elsewhere. I have a lot of programs installed so trying to remember every program's settings is a last resort.

    Thanks!
     
    dforion, Jun 19, 2006
    #1
  2. Andrew Baxter

    Andrew Baxter -

    Reputations:
    4,365
    Messages:
    9,029
    Likes Received:
    55
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Andrew Baxter, Jun 19, 2006
    #2
  3. elgordo

    elgordo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You could use the Programs and Setting Transfer wizard built in to XP. I've used it to successfully move email folders / rules / settings / files over. It will be much easier if you reinstall the core programs you'll be using on the new NB first though. After that, XP takes care of the rest...
     
    elgordo, Jun 19, 2006
    #3
  4. deedeeman

    deedeeman Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    406
    Messages:
    1,182
    Likes Received:
    31
    Trophy Points:
    66

    dont you need a cable or something for that?
     
    deedeeman, Jun 19, 2006
    #4
  5. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,686
    Messages:
    3,982
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    You do need to establish a connection between the 2 PCs, whether that is using a cable or wireless is up to you.
     
    Budding, Jun 20, 2006
    #5
  6. elgordo

    elgordo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    106
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I typically use a removable drive or a network connection (if its on a LAN). Much easier than a physical connection.

    Good luck!
     
    elgordo, Jun 20, 2006
    #6
  7. dforion

    dforion Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    102
    Messages:
    142
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    With wireless, that would be a breeze. I've used wireless to connect to the Internet via routers so this should be possible directly between 2 wireless-capable Notebooks by setting up a home network with no router, with one pc the host, the other the client. If so it would eliminate the need to go buy a cable.

    I am using a large external Harddrive to backup and transfer all other data and files.
     
    dforion, Jun 21, 2006
    #7
  8. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    1,686
    Messages:
    3,982
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Do note that currently with 802.11g wireless transfer speeds can only reach up to 54mbps. With a cross over cable, you can reach speeds of up to 1Gbps (with the really good quality and expensive cables).
     
    Budding, Jun 21, 2006
    #8