TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

First, download and run (free) Belarc advisor on your old machine. That will give you a list of all your applications and locations as well as some activation codes. Then, copy your download folder (and your browser history, bookmarks and cookies) over - that will have the installation files for everything expect those aps you installed from CD/DVD. If you have old installation CDs/DVDs, copy them onto a USB drive and move them over that way. Finally, if you’ve forgotten PWs and can’t get them from the manufacturer, there are paid applications (including one from Belarc) that will locate them for you. If you have lots of aps o a older machine, it is NOT a fun process, but if you buy/build for the future, you only need to do it every 10 years or so.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

delder Loc: Maryland

This is a GREAT idea!
If you follow UHH for any length of time, you will come across horror stories of those who replaced legacy computers with Current [W11] and failed to retain the legacy platform.
Not only problems with transferring the PROGRAM but failure to properly copy the actual PHOTO files, resulting in loss of pictures!
Trying to keep a legacy [prepaid] photo program and run on a new machine seems almost impossible. SAS programs may have a little hope.

avemal Loc: BALTIMORE

Myself as well. YouTube will give you tons of info.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

As much of a Mac head as I've been since 1984, AND as a heavy Windows user from 1990 to 2012, I have to issue a bit of a caveat: ALL hardware, operating systems, peripherals, and software will eventually let you down.

Nothing in the computer world is perfect. No software or hardware is foolproof. I've had good hardware and terrible hardware. I've had good versions of MacOS and Windows, and bad versions of MacOS and Windows. Overall, I do like the Mac a LOT better — especially my M1 MacBook Air. But both systems have their positive attributes.

CKAlbion Loc: Mendocino, CA

When I updated from 10 to 11, Photoshop CS5, Acrobat, Word, and my scanner wouldn't run with the new software.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Sorry about that. Those are very old software programs.
You might find some help here. https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/install-creative-suite-5.html
Or contact Adobe support.

You might want to install, Open Office, a free application, similar to MS Office.
https://www.wizcase.com/download/open-office/

Good luck,
Mark

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Which Acrobat?
The reader? Just download an update.

Which Word? 2003? We have 2003 on our Win7 box, but we got Office 365 for my wife's laptop when my she started working from home during Covid.
I didn't have to try to put 2003 on my new Win 11 laptop as we have multiple usage rights for 365.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

When I had my laptop "upgraded" to Win 11 from 10, every program worked fine.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Everyone knows that all of us don't have the same software on our systems, correct?

Some boxes will update fine, while other boxes with older software may have problems.
It depends on who has what software whether there may be upgrade problems or not.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

https://www.hamrick.com (for VueScan — "universal" scanner driver software)

https://www.silverfast.com/silverfast9/ (for SilverFast — — "universal" scanner driver software)

Photoshop is now Photoshop 2022 version 23.4.2 (!) and is one part of the Adobe Photography Plan, a subscription bundle that for $9.99 a month includes Photoshop, Lightroom (the former Lightroom Mobile), Lightroom CLASSIC (the professional desktop version), Bridge, ACR, and a small amount of Adobe cloud storage.

Microsoft Word is at version 16.63.1 now, and is part of Microsoft 365, the subscription including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, One Note, etc.

No one "buys" software. We used to license software that came with a disc and manuals in a box. But there was no guarantee with it that it was good forever, or wouldn't be outdated by advances in hardware and operating systems, or become "abandonware" with the next release. Now, we download software. Some of it is paid for "by the version" (each major revision usually comes with an upgrade fee). Some of it is subscription only (you pay an ongoing license fee monthly or yearly).

rck281 Loc: Overland Park, KS

Talk about GARBAGE!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Slightly opinionated...

rlv567 Loc: Baguio City, Philippines

With nobody in particular in mind - it's been my experience and firm conviction that most of the "computer and software problems" presented here have been the result of operator omission/commission errors, lack of understanding, or just plain not paying attention to necessary detail. Unfortunately, products then frequently are judged on the basis of those errors. There is, of course, no denying that some "customer support" contributes to enhancing the magnitude of the problem, and that real problems are available in both hardware and software, but not as many as claimed. The importance of keeping up to date with OS and driver updates cannot be stressed too highly! - and taking advantage of all the information readily available on the Internet is in the same category. There is no excuse for the purchase of expensive hardware and software, and not becoming knowledgeable in its correct/best usage, and even worse, blaming it for some problem resulting therefrom. It also is unreasonable to expect absolute perfection in all software, considering the multiple thousands of lines of code involved. Sometimes I'm amazed that it's as good as it is, given the complexity and capability levels attained.

Loren - in Beautiful Baguio City

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Just "slightly"!!
Mark