Copy programs from old to new laptop

I bought a New Laptop with Vista on it.
I have an older Laptop with XP pro on it.

My question is, I want to clone my new laptop with older laptops data - particularly programs/softwares.

I tought i can install new copy of XP on new laptop and then copy all files from my old laptop over the new laptop hard drive - would this take care of moving the installed program over to new laptop.

Pls suggest if i should use another mothod. I also want to if by copying program files directory and by importing registry from older laptop would that install a software on my new laptop.

 

can't do it. A clone is a clone, not a cross over to another notebook.

cheers ...

 

What you want to do won't work because programs sprinkle parts of themselves all over a windows installation..in multiple folders, in the registry, various common folders, etc.

There is a chance you can do it with a little more effort, though

First, is the new laptop XP compatible? While it seems like a newer laptop should be, don't bet on it. OEMs don't always provide old drivers for new laptops.

So, if you cannot get the drivers, particularly system drivers, it's a no go.

If you are lucky and there are xp drivers for your new laptop, you might be able to pull it off.

Here's how.

Clone the old drive to the new drive using any number of software options out there. Don't worry if you have extra unused space on the new drive if it is larger for now.

Set aside the old drive and old computer.

Put the newly cloned drive into the new laptop and insert your windows xp disk in it and start her up....if you can set the boot up order before hand, set it to the cd/dvd--if you have to hit a key for the boot menu, choose the cd/dvd

The laptop will check the CD/DVD first and in most cases it will ask you if you want to boot to the cd/dvd to press a key--YOU MUST PRESS A KEY.

If you don't the old windows installation from the old laptop will try to load on thenew laptop and things will not go well. It's like a drunk waking up in the wrong house after a binge...stumble, stumble, crash, crash, who the heck is this woman next to me...stumble, crash.....

If you don't sometimes windows will simply blue screen and you can reboot and try again, but some of the time, it completely screws up your windows installation and there is no way to repair it and you have to clone all over again...that is why you MUST PRESS A KEY in the earlier step.

After pressing a key, what appears to be Windows installing will begin..wait.

After the installation routine begins, you will be given a change to install windows, or choose R to repair windows

Choose install windows...the installation will churn a bit and discover the previous installation.

It will then ask you if you want to install a new windows installation or repair the old one.

Choose THIS repair option.

Windows will wipe out part of the c:\windows directory and start installing over the old install, leaving your data and programs intact.

After it is complete, you will still need to install the Windows XP drivers as noted before, and then run windows updates.

Afterwards all of your data should be in the right place and most of your programs should run....sometimes a few need to be reinstalled.

 

gerryf19,

You forgot one important step. The first thing the OP should do is make sure they have a way to restore the new drive to its current state should things go awry. Make sure there are recovery media available, a hidden recovery partition or make a image of the current state of the drive.

Gary

 

well, yes...that's a very good idea...I never buy laptops with OSs installed so I wasn't thinking clearly--thanks for the back up

...that and I am working on just a couple hours of sleep after kicking the damned mft problem from two days ago around all night

 

Thanks Gerry and Gary. I would be trying this on friday - will let you know how it goes.

by the way - what do you guys think of this?
1. Do a fresh install of XP on the new vaio
2. Download and update XP related drivers on new vaio
3. Remove HDD from old laptop - attach as an external drive to new vaio and then copy all folders except windows.

Do you think this would work?

 

Absolutely not. Your ONLY hope is what Gerry suggested. Almost every application that you installed on the old machine put files into the windows directory as well as the program files directory. Not to mention the registry entries. Your idea is a recipe for disaster.

Gary