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moving all the data from one laptop to another...help
myself | 7-13-14 | TZ

Posted on 07/13/2014 6:49:41 AM PDT by TurboZamboni

I was given the gift of a new laptop- HP Pavilion Smartouch 17. not my first choice, but it was a nice gift and the giver knew my old Toshiba Satellite L505-a6946 is dying and that I'm too cheap to buy a new one.

The Satellite uses Vista and the new HP is Windows 8.1 .

I need to know what's the best(easiest) way to move all my data from one to the other including AVG,Hitman Pro, Malwarebytes,emails(Outlook)and other vital programs.

While I'm at it, I assume it came with all sorts of unwanted 'bloatware' so I will need to remove that ,too. (It was a demo model, if that matters)


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computer; computermigration; harddrive; laptop; migration; vanity
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To: TurboZamboni

My several year old Dell desktop came with a transfer cable and a built-in transfer program to move stuff. Running Vista. I noticed the same cable (Belkin?) was sold at one of the local computer stores. I didn’t use it then on mine but did use it later between two laptops. Worked OK.

I think now I would go the external hard drive route just to have the hard drive for safe storage later rather than spend money on a transfer cable.


21 posted on 07/13/2014 7:56:01 AM PDT by moovova
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To: TurboZamboni

The is a program called Move Me that I used a few years ago. Not only moved all the data, it moved the programming as well.


22 posted on 07/13/2014 8:03:16 AM PDT by Captain Jack Aubrey (There's not a moment to lose.)
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To: TurboZamboni

You can get a data xfer cable and connect one PC to another. Windows has a data transfer utility that will move data directly. That’s the fastest method, but the cable is kind of expensive.

Alternatively, use cloud storage like Google Drive to copy your stuff to.

Or use a thumb drive to store your data temporarily.

I used Carbonite once for my wife’s PC. It already had her old PC backed up, so I installed it on her new one and set the account up there. It immediately began downloading her information into the same folder structure she had before.


23 posted on 07/13/2014 8:11:07 AM PDT by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: TurboZamboni
need to know what's the best(easiest) way to move all my data from one to the other including AVG,Hitman Pro, Malwarebytes,emails(Outlook)and other vital programs.
Do not copy your programs from one PC to another ... re-install them new from the Internet.
Then you can move data files using a USB flash drive.
24 posted on 07/13/2014 8:28:07 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: TurboZamboni
I would suggest using an external hard drive as a flash drive might not have the capacity to transfer all your data The external hard drive is also very useful in backing up large files like your digital photos, videos, music files etc.

It is often not possible to copy working programs just by transferring program folders as these often do not contain the install files. You will likely have to reinstall these programs like AVG, Malwarebytes etc. The versions of these programs you have on your computer may also not be compatible with Windows 8.1.

Good luck with Windows 8. I have been helping a friend with her Windows 8 laptop and have had a lot of frustration.

25 posted on 07/13/2014 8:30:52 AM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: TurboZamboni

1- Log into the new computer, setup your profile and things like mail and whatever programs are special to you that you have installed.
2- Use Windows Easy Transfer now to move your data and configurations
Type in Easy Transfer on the old pc, have both computers on your home wired or wireless network.and follow the instructions, you can google and get a lot of answers for using the program and it is fairly good at these transfers, in a 0-10 rating I would give it at least an 8
3- on the new computer with Windows 8.1 I recommend using a third party tool to emulate a start menu to make it easier for you to get accustomed to the new operating system, I myself use Retro-UI, I bought the 5 dollar version and it helped me a lot
Good luck and let us know how it goes


26 posted on 07/13/2014 8:33:10 AM PDT by Tom_Ohio
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To: TurboZamboni

M4ComputerAdvice


27 posted on 07/13/2014 8:40:35 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob
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To: TurboZamboni
Software is not data.

Some of your Vista software may not be compatible with Win 8.1.

You MAY be able to run problematic software using "compatibility mode".

28 posted on 07/13/2014 8:48:33 AM PDT by kiryandil (turning Americans into felons, one obnoxious drunk at a time (Zero Tolerance!!!))
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To: oh8eleven

What is the deal with Windows and SanDisk? Often the OS can’t open the drive. I boot up with a Linux live disk and the hardware works fine. Sometimes I have to remove the device in the Windows device manager and then plug it back in and it works for a while. I see on the internet that a lot of people have this problem.


29 posted on 07/13/2014 8:50:10 AM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: TurboZamboni
The Satellite uses Vista and the new HP is Windows 8.1.

At least your are moving out of the fire into the frying pan.

30 posted on 07/13/2014 8:57:03 AM PDT by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: Dalberg-Acton
What is the deal with Windows and SanDisk?
I have one PC and one laptop running Win Vista - and another PC with Win 7. I've used a SanDisk flash drive on all three for years without a problem.
Have you tried reformatting the flash drive after after using it in a Linux environment?

BTW, a better solution for moving files rather than a flash drive is FileZilla.
I didn't suggest it because it requires some technical knowledge/capability and probably couldn't be labeled the "easiest."
31 posted on 07/13/2014 9:03:48 AM PDT by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: oh8eleven

I’ve tried formatting the USB drive, no change in behavior. From a Google search, it appears to be a Win 7 issue. Works sometimes. A hobby OS like Linux, no issues.


32 posted on 07/13/2014 9:29:06 AM PDT by Dalberg-Acton
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To: TurboZamboni

You could also get a Thermaltake hard drive dock

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5352947&CatId=2785

for example.

You take the hard disk out of the old computer, and, plug it into the box and use it like a flash drive. Plug it into the USB of your new computer and transfer files directly.

If the hard disk is still good, you can use it as back up and plug it in and out like a flash drive repeatedly (make sure you run the safe remove command before you do so).

This will work on most newer systems that have SATA drives in them. You have to go a slighly different route if it is just an ATA drive. Check your system out first.


33 posted on 07/13/2014 9:43:19 AM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: TurboZamboni

You cannot “transfer” programs. You have install them on the new computer.
You cannot transfer settings, as with Outlook. You have to look at the settings and set them up on the new computer. You can transfer the .pst files and then open them.
You can transfer your documents/pictures/music from the Documents area.
Are you using a router/network?


34 posted on 07/13/2014 9:49:58 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: AppyPappy

yes, cable wireless router


35 posted on 07/13/2014 9:57:02 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
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To: SkyDancer
I have a notebook with no cd drive and I need to make a restore disk. Can I use a usb cable to connect it to another computer that has a cd drive and make it that way?

That will not work

If you go online to a site like Newegg.com you can find external DVD/CD drives on sale for around $25 with free shipping.

Just plug that in to the notebook USB port and then burn the restore disk.

36 posted on 07/13/2014 9:59:47 AM PDT by OldMissileer
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To: TurboZamboni

You should be able to hook them both up to the wireless and share the documents folder to do the transfer of documents.


37 posted on 07/13/2014 10:02:19 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: TurboZamboni

You probably will not need AVG with Windows 8.1. It has anti-virus built-in


38 posted on 07/13/2014 10:03:23 AM PDT by AppyPappy
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To: TurboZamboni
I don't claim to understand the full capabilities of xxcopy, but I've used it to change drives or transfer between computers several times with success.
39 posted on 07/13/2014 10:29:04 AM PDT by kitchen (Even the walls have ears.)
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To: SkyDancer

Create a USB recovery drive
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-usb-recovery-drive

How to create a Windows rescue USB stick
http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/how-to-create-a-windows-rescue-usb-stick-984726#null

Many how to’s listed on the right side of the page. The one below shows how Acer does a recovery:

Windows 7 - Restore Windows Using a USB Recovery Drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcxIZqO4JrY


40 posted on 07/13/2014 10:38:52 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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