Switched On: A moving experience
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a weekly column about the future of technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:
As PC penetration inches closer to saturation in the U.S., more PCs sold every year are replacement units. Upgrading should be a joy for consumers. Who wouldn't want improved speed and expanded capabilities? Instead, however, receiving a new PC is bittersweet because of the chore of migration. Worse, the more consumers have taken advantage of their PCs by installing applications, the bigger a hassle migration is.
Windows provides support only for migrating files and settings, not applications. A couple of years ago, I'd tried a popular commercial product that promised the same. Not only was I stuck with reinstalling all the programs, but it failed to transfer certain Outlook Express email accounts and Palm Desktop data. It was the most horrendous jerky movement since Elaine danced on Seinfeld.
Last year, though, I was intrigued when LapLink Software introduced PCmover. I tried out the product migrating a server and it worked pretty well. However, it wasn't much of a test. There were only a few programs that needed to be transferred to the new computer and no personal data or e-mail. About the only program that complained was iTunes, which worked on the new PC, but warned that it needed to be set up again to work properly with the new PC's CD burner.
Still, the experience was positive enough that, when I needed to migrate a laptop last month, I bought another copy of PCmover (the license entitles you to a single migration). This time, I had a real "working" PC with email, shareware programs and lots of digital detritus. Things didn't start auspiciously as PCmover couldn't get moving. I correctly identified the culprit as not enough disk space on the source machine; PCmover's error reporting could have been better.
But after its wizard completed its magic, I was astounded by how good a job it did. Every application on the new computer worked. All settings were intact. The issues that cropped up were pretty trivial. First, many programs that accessed the Internet had to be unblocked thanks to Windows' more aggressive firewall. Second, an old Acrobat print driver had to be reinstalled. And third, the same iTunes problem resurfaced, but Apple's fondness for frequently revising that program soon rendered that a moot point anyway. The program even includes a startup manager that enables you to selectively enable potential troublemakers during startup. This capability has value long after the migration is complete.
PCmover costs about $40 for the downloadable version and $10 more in the box that includes a USB 1.1 transfer cable. The flexible program can also operate over networks or use recordable media such as DVDs. The impatient can also pay dearly for their impudence with LapLink's pricey USB 2.0 cable for $50. Laplink claims it can perform migrations from older versions of Windows to newer versions, but not vice versa. If you're a Windows user who keeps your registry simple and your original installation CDs tidy and handy, you may not need PCmover, but power users wanting to make save hours of tedious system reconstruction should find it a blissfully simple, remarkably effective time saver.
As PC penetration inches closer to saturation in the U.S., more PCs sold every year are replacement units. Upgrading should be a joy for consumers. Who wouldn't want improved speed and expanded capabilities? Instead, however, receiving a new PC is bittersweet because of the chore of migration. Worse, the more consumers have taken advantage of their PCs by installing applications, the bigger a hassle migration is.Windows provides support only for migrating files and settings, not applications. A couple of years ago, I'd tried a popular commercial product that promised the same. Not only was I stuck with reinstalling all the programs, but it failed to transfer certain Outlook Express email accounts and Palm Desktop data. It was the most horrendous jerky movement since Elaine danced on Seinfeld.
Last year, though, I was intrigued when LapLink Software introduced PCmover. I tried out the product migrating a server and it worked pretty well. However, it wasn't much of a test. There were only a few programs that needed to be transferred to the new computer and no personal data or e-mail. About the only program that complained was iTunes, which worked on the new PC, but warned that it needed to be set up again to work properly with the new PC's CD burner.
Still, the experience was positive enough that, when I needed to migrate a laptop last month, I bought another copy of PCmover (the license entitles you to a single migration). This time, I had a real "working" PC with email, shareware programs and lots of digital detritus. Things didn't start auspiciously as PCmover couldn't get moving. I correctly identified the culprit as not enough disk space on the source machine; PCmover's error reporting could have been better.
But after its wizard completed its magic, I was astounded by how good a job it did. Every application on the new computer worked. All settings were intact. The issues that cropped up were pretty trivial. First, many programs that accessed the Internet had to be unblocked thanks to Windows' more aggressive firewall. Second, an old Acrobat print driver had to be reinstalled. And third, the same iTunes problem resurfaced, but Apple's fondness for frequently revising that program soon rendered that a moot point anyway. The program even includes a startup manager that enables you to selectively enable potential troublemakers during startup. This capability has value long after the migration is complete.
PCmover costs about $40 for the downloadable version and $10 more in the box that includes a USB 1.1 transfer cable. The flexible program can also operate over networks or use recordable media such as DVDs. The impatient can also pay dearly for their impudence with LapLink's pricey USB 2.0 cable for $50. Laplink claims it can perform migrations from older versions of Windows to newer versions, but not vice versa. If you're a Windows user who keeps your registry simple and your original installation CDs tidy and handy, you may not need PCmover, but power users wanting to make save hours of tedious system reconstruction should find it a blissfully simple, remarkably effective time saver.
Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis at NPD Techworld, a division of market research and analysis provider The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On, however, are his own. Feedback is welcome at fliptheswitch@gmail.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt @ Jan 25th 2006 4:09PM
progam like this is long over due.. however anyone know of any free alternatives? if not i might just pick this up.
Chris Gregg @ Jan 25th 2006 4:13PM
Although I don't think I'd do what I'm about to suggest, but it is pretty easy to clone a hard drive for use on a new machine. I don't know how well it would work in the PC world, but as long as the OS version is the same, it is doable on Macintosh systems fairly easily. The reason I wouldn't necessarily do it is because when I get a new computer I migrate only my most frequently used programs (and keep a backup of the old stuff in case I need it). It's nice to start fresh some times. There are some issues (like deauthorizing a previous computer for iTunes, and certain programs that absolutely need a fresh install on each computer), but mostly it's pretty easy to clone and go.
-Chris
Jarrod Turner @ Jan 25th 2006 4:14PM
"Buy.. a ... mac?"
Is what went through my head immediately.
Richard @ Jan 25th 2006 4:16PM
I've been using Symantec GHOST to migrate from one computer to another for years now. Instead of having to worry if the program worked or not you end up with an exact duplicate of your old harddrive. Then just do an in-place upgrade of Windows and you're all set (for those who don't use it, once the information is on the new computer you just boot off the windows CD, hit "enter" to install windows again, "F8" to accept the agreement, and then "R" to repair the already installed version of windows).
You can download Ghost from symantec for $70. While that's more expensive than the laplink software, if you need to migrate more than once you can keep using ghost for years to come.
The great thing about GHOST over and above the Laplink software is you can use it as a backup tool once the migration is done. Once a month (or whatever schedule you want) just make a new GHOST image of your computer, either to another harddrive or DVD/CD media. If your computer breaks down or starts behaving erratically, you have a complete backup to restore from.
E-Rock @ Jan 25th 2006 4:18PM
Not exactly the method for grandma, but just move the drive (or ghost it over to the new drive) and then run XP setup in repair mode. It will redetect all the hardware so it'll boot and the software is untouched.
davis @ Jan 25th 2006 4:18PM
Mac OSX has had a transfer feature built in for quite some time now. All you need to have is a firewire cable and it will completely copy the hard drive of your older mac to the new one, so once you turn it on every setting, application, and folder are all in the same place.
Keep up the hard work Microsoft, you're almost there...
edgore @ Jan 25th 2006 4:20PM
Curses! I just went through the hideous manual migration process last week. I would have loved to have something to make it easier.
I do, however, think that the license sucks. 1 migration? How is it enforced? Last week I set up my comp-uter, migrated a bunch of stuff by hand, then started having crashes - traced it t a bad motherboard that only acted up wen warmed up, replaced that and migrated again. If I used Laplink, would they have forced me to buy two copies through some sort of copy protection scam - er, scheme?
Jason Deraleau @ Jan 25th 2006 4:25PM
Yet another thing that the Mac does better.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/setup/
kugino @ Jan 25th 2006 4:28PM
$50 for a USB2.0 cable?!?! yes, macs have a much easier transfer method via target disk mode. there's also carbon copy cloner on the mac, which is free!!
Shaun @ Jan 25th 2006 4:33PM
It's quite amazing that Windows doesn't have a data migration tool built in like we've had on the Mac for some time.
On the Mac, when you unpack it and switch it on the first time, it asks you if you want to migrate users, their data and applications from a previous Mac. All you then do is attach a firewire cable to the old Mac and boot that in target disk mode. It transfers everything over. Job done.
Derrick @ Jan 25th 2006 4:34PM
#3 - I agree that while that method might work well most people would be better off doing a clean install just for speed's sake.
Your average person's windows box often has so much crap on it it doesn't run half as fast as a clean install of windows would.
Mandarin @ Jan 25th 2006 5:30PM
Theres also a easy trick in Mac where you change ownership of a profile and all their data goes away just like poof
tommer12 @ Jan 25th 2006 5:46PM
laplink is the bomb. I have been using it since 1995... swear! it has been around forever and was always the best way to transfer data.... via the old LPT port..wheeeee!
Geek Girl @ Jan 25th 2006 5:48PM
To answer edgore's question about licensing, PCmover allows you to do as many migrations as you want (or need) to from a single PC. In the situation you describe, you would have been able to perform a second migration after the motherboard was replaced in the new computer at no additional cost.
Russ @ Jan 25th 2006 6:20PM
I'd probably recommend this kind of transfer to my Mum or someone like that. Someone with a bit of PC proficiency knows what a 'cleansing experience' rebuilding a PC can be.. Can you be selective about the apps you transfer over? Or would it transfer everything spyware and all?
Mike Abdullah @ Jan 25th 2006 7:37PM
The key thing with if you were to use a Mac in this case is that the application's themselves are designed to be portable.
To cover all the "normal" applications, you simply need to:
1. Copy the contents of the Applications folder
2. Copy both the user and the System's Library folder
3. Copy the contents of any other personal folders the user may have
John @ Jan 25th 2006 7:55PM
My god - is Laplink still around? I remember transferring files over serial cables in MS DOS with that software. Holy crap.
Duncan @ Jan 25th 2006 10:06PM
Symantec also has LiveState Recovery Desktop now and it is amazing for point-in-time recovery without the hardware dependencies. So, you can restore to a completely different hardware platform and have the HAL reloaded. There's also a server-based version.
There's a support forum for both Ghost and LSR on www.boardfish.com.
peecz @ Jan 26th 2006 7:12PM
get a free copy of this
http://www.laplink.com/promos/pcmoverzd/
Chris Beaumont @ Feb 2nd 2006 4:37AM
Interesting. I think this quite clearly highlights the difference between the Apple and Windows experience. With Apple, all the functionality you need to migrate is built into the OS all you need is a firewire cable whereas with Windows you need to a) know that PCMover exists, b) part with $50 for the USB1.1 experience and a further $50 for USB2.0 and c) put up with the fact that it does the job imperfectly. With Apple, its all about building properly integrated systems, which they can do and Microsoft cant because Apple are in control of all the stages of production and development whereas a PC is a conglomeration of perhaps hundreds of different companies hardware and software.