donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

I am considering replacing my laptop with a new one and don't want to have to reloading all my programs and files. Does anyone have any experience with LapLink?
Thank for your feedback.
Donald

CaptainBobBrown

Many years ago I used Laplink to build a LAN for a Coast Guard unit application that required quick transfers of data between several "portable" machines. It worked well, was reliable, and for the time relatively quick. I haven't used it since then as computers and network software have improved. While it sounds like you're considering it for Windows PC's I'm wondering if Windows/Microsoft doesn't have a machine migration mechanism similar to the Apple/iCloud machine migration system.

That is, upload all your data to the cloud. Introduce the new machine to the cloud storage system with appropriate id and download to the new machine. Of course, I'm sure you'll gets lots of suggestions from others with more recent experience with Microsoft PC migration. In my work we'd simply hook machines up on the same LAN and use a ghosting application to move data and software from old machine to new machine. Good luck.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Thanks for your input. I will try to see if Microsoft has a method that preserves all of my registration info. I have heard that LapLink may not.
Don

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I had a horrible time doing this when I upgraded my laptop last year. Laplink did not work well and Microsoft no longer has an easy and comprehensive “Move my stuff” utility. I did most of it myself, one item at a time, and finally had to bring in my tech guys to complete the process. Microsoft really dropped the ball IMO.

Andy

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

There is no way that I am aware of that will let you do what you're wanting to do. Programs have an installation procedure that does much more than just copy files. It puts numerous files in places you would never expect and makes database entries to the registry that is part of the operating system. You can copy your data since that is not part of the installation.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

I used laplink some years ago. It terrible. The process took a long time and I had to reinstall most of the programs again. If you have the same operating system you can clone your old drive. This should work for most everything. I would preserve the original drives until all is settled. There are several YouTube videos on this process.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

Take a look at Lap Link PC Mover.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Actually, moving to a new machine is a good way to clean up all the dozens of unused aps that tend to build up over time. Macs have a migration program, but for Windows, I would suggest the following. Once the OS is installed on the new machine, place both it and your old machine on the same network, then copy over all your documents/photos to the equivalent folders on the new machine. Finally, copy over the download folder from your old machine. You can then reinstall all the programs that you actually use (the installation aps should be in the download folder) unless you installed them from DVD. Finally, unless you have other plans for it, you may want to keep your old computer on the network (though not necessarily on except during backup) for a backup system. One caveat: write down all the passwords if applicable and export/backup both the bookmarks and cookies from your browser - you can then import them into your new browser. Perhaps this isn’t the simple answer you wanted, but if you do it methodically, it’s not that painful. Although there are aps to move the data, I have doubts that you can move all the aps seamlessly as each machine (with different HW) has different registry settings. If I'm mistaken in that respect, please someone post your (better) solution.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Laplink PCMover Pro updated their software and it worked great for me when I used it to copy my programs to my new Windows PC this year. It copies the drivers, etc, and you don't have to reintstall most of them. For Adobe LR and PS all I had to do was log on to the programs on my new PC and they worked right away. I did have to delete LR from my phone because Adobe only allows installation on two devices and I wanted one of them to be my old laptop for traveling with.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

You're talking about two very different things: moving your data, and moving programs.

Moving data is easy, and you don't need any special application to do it. Just copy all your data to external media...flash drives, hard drives, DVDs, cloud storage, whatever...then copy back to the new computer.

Laplink and other such programs are not reliable for migrating programs. There are too many variables involved. Where does the program have "pieces" scattered around the operating system..Windows registry and numerous other "hooks" that you are unaware of? What about license-controlled apps that won't run on a different computer?
You may not be able to move an app and have it run without getting the publisher involved.

The wisest course is to install programs anew on the new computer. Hopefully you have legal install media, or can download what you want, with the benefit of having latest versions. Some old programs may not even be able to run on a newer operating system.

Then there are drivers for printers, scanners and other hardware that need to be upgraded. If you can. It can get to be a real headache.

Get a fresh start. You'll be much happier.

Rational1

What nadelewitz said! Laplink fails miserbly to do what it claims to do - it rarely restores programs in working condition. Data is simple to move, manually or with many programs. See https://www.windowscentral.com/how-transfer-your-data-old-pc-new-pc for options.

LeeR

I have used Laplink several times over the years. It successfully transferred most - but not all - programs. A few have to be reinstalled. Still that is better than having to reinstall everything. If your new computer is going to have a newer version of windows, for example going from Win 7 to 10, it may be less successful.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If you don't have your installation files, don't have your serial numbers, don't have your purchase receipts, don't have your website credentials (user name & password), now is a good time to try to fix these issues before starting the data & program migration. Magic software to overcome all these issues and seamlessly migrate from one piece of equipment and OS version to another and different piece of equipment doesn't exist. Finding / confirming all this information is the best use of your time, especially for a planned (vs unplanned) migration. Carefully read all the reviews before purchasing a tool that attempts to do the migration for you. Even if the tool is 90% successful, what if those remaining 10% are the software that is 100% the most important to your needs?

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Plus one on this answer. Get the needed information together BEFORE you try to migrate. I thought I had all my information assembled, and still ran into several problems. Data is easy, programs are hard. LapLink had several problems with volume identification, partitioning, and other stuff that was related to the OS, in addition to the program files. In addition to assembling the data, I'd recommend running CC Cleaner, AVG Tuneup, or whatever cleanup program you use before you migrate the programs. Registry entries and drivers are particular problems, and solving them before the migration is the best way to prevent errors on the new computer.

Andy

beannie

I used Laplink to migrate from an HP laptop to an ASUS laptop. I now have register references for HP utilities that are not on my ASUS. Reinstalling software is a better way to go. Moving your data files is easily done as others have mentioned. Good luck.