Move program New computer

Have you ever upgraded your computer and then wondered how to move your programs on your old computer that you downloaded three years ago and forgot to burn onto a CD?

There are a few simple steps to take if you feel adventurous that _MAY_ work without resorting to 3rd party software, networking or other various and sundry hurdles.

NOTE HOWEVER that this is a very conditional _MAY_ depending on the program, the level of it’s programmer’s adhereance to the Microsoft standard of scattering files all over the disk and the number and priority of the registry (Windows database of how programs are tied to each other and Windows itself) entries used.

If you feel adventurous (I will be giving general instructions here as I wil not, for example, go through how to open every computer case ever manufactured) then read on:

NOTICE:
The subject of working on electronic equipment such as computers has many opposing bits of data connected to it.

For example:
“Am I supposed to unplug my computer before working on it?”

Personally I never do. Why? If you do and you have a low-humidity day, the right combination of shoes and flooring, etc. you can zap your computer. If you do this, it’s probably dead. If you had grounded your computer, this may not have happened. HOWEVER, you could also electrocute yourself if you leave the computer plugged in - granted, this would take some doing, however, it is possible. Choose your path carefully…

Step #1:
Obtain new computer.

Step #2:
Setup your new computer for use, and startup so as to get through the monopolistic end user license ‘agreement’ that you have no idea what it’s contents are, but that you have to ‘agree’ to in order to use your new computer.

Step #3:
Shutdown the new computer and open case.

Step #4:
Open your old computer, unhook your hard drive cables, unscrew the screws (if applicable) and remove the hard drive.

Step #5:
Back at your new computer, unplug your CD drive and plug in your old hard drive.

(NOTE: In SOME cases you _may_ have to fiddle a bit with this part.)

Step #6:
Startup your computer. It should see the old computer’s drive automagically.

Step #7:
Right-click on the “My Computer” icon and click on Explore.

Step #8:
Navigate to drive C: and create a folder called “old_drive”.

Step #9:
Now on the menu bar (top-most bar of this window) click on Tools, Folder Options, View. Make sure that “Show hidden files and folders” is bulleted and uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”. Click Yes, and Ok.

Step #10:
Navigate to the old drive, on your keyboard now - click on any file and press Ctrl-A. (All of your files should have highlighted.) Now on your keyboard press Ctrl-C.

Step #11:
Navigate to the old_drive folder. Now on your keyboard press Ctrl-V. Your files should start copying now - wait for them to finish.

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Now on to the good stuff…
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Step #12:
Pick a program folder and move it to where it should be on the new computer. Find the file that runs the program (the executable) and run it.

Step #13:
If you get errors about files missing, look for those files in the folder “old_drive” and copy it to the folder you tried to start the program from.

Step #14:
Goto step #12 until the program runs or you find out that this won’t work with the program you are trying to run. Note: The less complicated the program, the better chance this will work.

Cheers!