Ever wonder why: Ever wonder why Ever wonder why there isn’t a program for when you upgrade to a new computer that will copy all your programs to the new one where you don’t have to go...

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Ever wonder why

Ever wonder why there isn’t a program for when you upgrade to a new computer that will copy all your programs to the new one where you don’t have to go through a couple days of re-installing everything? Off and running again in a few hours. Certainly, we have the technology to develop something like that. I think there use to be a program called “Ghost” or something that was supposed to do that. Don’t know if it’s still sold or not or if it worked.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

The problem is, the new computer has to learn about the software it's own way, by installing it.
SURE would be nice though!! One of mine took a couple of weeks by the time I got everything put in the new computer. Hate doing computer changes.......

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

When I got a new Mac a little over a year ago, my son-in-law hooked it and my old one together with a USB cable and everything on the old computer transferred seamlessly in an hour or so--no problems whatsoever. He could have done it wirelessly, but it would have taken longer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jaymatt wrote:

When I got a new Mac a little over a year ago, my son-in-law hooked it and my old one together with a USB cable and everything on the old computer transferred seamlessly in an hour or so--no problems whatsoever. He could have done it wirelessly, but it would have taken longer.

That would work if you can just transfer the OS and hard drive contents.
For Windows computers, the Mother Board BIOS is probably different (especially between brands and newer processors), and the entire system can't be transferred as such.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

jaymatt wrote:

When I got a new Mac a little over a year ago, my son-in-law hooked it and my old one together with a USB cable and everything on the old computer transferred seamlessly in an hour or so--no problems whatsoever. He could have done it wirelessly, but it would have taken longer.

My Mac also with their migration assistant program. The only way it wouldn't work is if the new OS was not compatible with one of the programs.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

There is a program called "PC Mover" and Acronis also has a version of cloning software that can transfer things. They can't do it under all circumstances but most old to new computers combos they can do.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

robertjerl wrote:

There is a program called "PC Mover" and Acronis also has a version of cloning software that can transfer things. They can't do it under all circumstances but most old to new computers combos they can do.

Do you have to have the two PCs cabled together?

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Longshadow wrote:

Do you have to have the two PCs cabled together?

No but that wouldn't be a problem to do

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Huey Driver wrote:

No but that wouldn't be a problem to do

I already have a cable for that which I use to connect my laptop to the desktop so I don't waste time going through the encrypted router (WIFI) to transfer tons of files.

That would be great if you can just "transfer" everything to a new computer without re-installing!!!!!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Longshadow wrote:

Do you have to have the two PCs cabled together?

I believe you do. Even if you can do it over wifi it would be slower and less reliable. I spent too many years listening to interference/bleedover coming over radios. Your neighbor who likes to talk with his goodbuddy on the far side of "tohellandgone" keys down on his twoway with the power amplifier (only slightly over the legal limit) and every radio, TV and wifi for two blocks picks it up, birds get dizzy and people's garage doors open. What happens to your transfer?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

robertjerl wrote:

I believe you do. Even if you can do it over wifi it would be slower and less reliable. I spent too many years listening to interference/bleedover coming over radios. Your neighbor who likes to talk with his goodbuddy on the far side of "tohellandgone" keys down on his twoway with the power amplifier (only slightly over the legal limit) and every radio, TV and wifi for two blocks picks it up, birds get dizzy and people's garage doors open. What happens to your transfer?

Failures?
The receiving end probably has some error checking, like checksum. (data packet+checksum)
Checksum miss-match = data corruption error.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Longshadow wrote:

Failures?
The receiving end probably has some error checking, like checksum. (data packet+checksum)
Checksum miss-match = data corruption error.

Isn't that software code done by Murphy?

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Because the new Operating System and architecture would not assure compatibility.
Even same generation software seldom run cross-platforms. As an example, a Mac based Photoshop will not run in Windows and vice versa, unless a virtual/emulator software is used.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

robertjerl wrote:

Isn't that software code done by Murphy?

No, that's CRC...

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

Basically, all replies are right. If a Mac system...no problem. If you upgrade from a 32 bit architecture system to 64 bit; some of your programs may not have full functionality. Upgrading the program, if available, will solve that issue.
PCs are different. You can clone your hard drive from one computer to another. However, cloning the same OS to a new computer still differs from cloning system only to a new computer with different hardware..and cloning data and files to a new computer with a new OS again offers different challenges. There is plenty of support out there for whatever you choose to do.