transfer programs across xp installs (on 2 different hard drives)

[greymalkin]

hello...my brothers hard drive is failing and we are going to install a fresh copy of XP on his existing computer with a new hard drive of course. The old hard drive will work in his profile, but will crash/blue screen/reboot/click/etc. when we try to go into safe mode (doesn't make sense to me) or administrator profiles. I was wanting to see if there was any software (preferably free!) that would allow me to hook up the old drive as a slave and transfer the programs he had on his old install to the new one.

I know laplink makes one for $50 but I don't know if it will do HD to HD or if it needs to be installed on 2 working xp machines. Just want the experience of others here.

[Bjs]

Only way to do this is to mirror image one drive to the other ... provided the original issue isn't related to physical hardware failing or system messed up or infected by certain problems ... rootkits, ect

I would advise against this as more than 90% of programs have registry data included during there install routines which would not be transferred and files may require being registered with the system ... unless your a real tech type which enjoys rummaging through systems for hours on end.

SyncBack free is handy for transfer / restore user files

[Ethlred]

To the best of my knowledge the only program that can reliably transfer programs is Laplink's PC mover. However it is NOT for use on one computer. It is for people that are buying a NEW computer. It must be installed on TWO WORKING computers the, original and the new.

Now I do have a vague recollection that Wincleaner claims to be able to move programs from one folder to another. Catch is that it too needs to be installed on the original WORKING PC. Working seems to the problem since your computer isn't working.

Even if the PC in question was working and you could get either of those programs to work neither of them can move all programs. Plus your description of the problem sounds like you may have a virus or spyware.

Many forms of NastyWareTM stop the victim from going to safe mode or using the admin profile. In which case copying programs from the original drive would be a BAD IDEA as they may be infected.

I STRONGLY recommend making a purely clean install unless you are sure that some kind of Nasty is not involved. Do NOT put the old hard drive directly in the clean PC either EXCEPT with some sort of hot swap system such as a USB HD drive case or, if you have it, via a FULL Serial ATA that supports hot swapping as there is supposed to be at least one virus that can jump drives on boot up. You must have a functioning Anti-Virus Anti-Spyware up and running before you attempt to disinfect the drive and then and only then copy the DATA from the drive. Leave all executables behind. Keep in mind that WMVs can contain executable code and can have fake extensions to disguise whether they are a WMV or not so you must test ALL files not just the obvious executables.

Ethelred

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