Question - Windows Backup & Restore

I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to another
system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
Program files. Will this work?

TIA

"Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote:

>I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to another
>system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
>Program files. Will this work?

Document files will.

Program files will DEFINITELY NOT work.

"Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ufz6AfOmIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to
>another system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include
>the Program files. Will this work?

You can include them but they won't work on the computer you copy them to.
With a few exceptions, you can't copy programs.

Alex wrote:
> I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to another
> system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
> Program files. Will this work?
>
> TIA
>
>
>
Programs get installed, meaning entries are made in the registry, files
a dropped in C:\windows\.... folders etc. Just moving something like
C:\programs files\quicken\* files will not necessarily make it work.
In most commercial programs it won't. Some small utilities, you might
get away with it. But you have to bank on all applications failing.

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:44:25 -0400, "Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote:

> I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to another
> system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
> Program files. Will this work?


You can move documents from one computer to another, but not programs.

All installed programs (except for an occasional very small one) have
files and pointers to them within Windows, in the registry and
elsewhere. So if you aren't running the Windows copy they were
installed under, the pointers and files aren't available and the
programs won't run. Programs have to be reinstalled from the original
media.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Thanks to all who replied

"Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ufz6AfOmIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to
>another system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include
>the Program files. Will this work?
>
> TIA
>
>
>

When you asked, "Will this work?", do you really mean, "Will the Programs work
just as they did on the original system?", the answer is simply "No".

Installed programs place many unique settings in the system registry that are
required and then there's usually special DLL files that may be located in the
windows/system32 folder.

Only in the days of DOS could one move or copy programs successfully in the
manner that you're attempting. There are a few Windows applications/utilities
that are standalone, by design, but they are rare.

"Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ufz6AfOmIHA.4140@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to another
>system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the Program
>files. Will this work?
>
> TIA
>
>
>

"Jerry" <Hello@abcdefgspam.com> wrote:

>You can include them but they won't work on the computer you copy them to.
>With a few exceptions, you can't copy programs.

So why bother to include them?

Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:44:25 -0400, "Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to
>> another
>> system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
>> Program files. Will this work?
>
> You can move documents from one computer to another, but not programs.
>
> All installed programs (except for an occasional very small one) have
> files and pointers to them within Windows, in the registry and
> elsewhere. So if you aren't running the Windows copy they were
> installed under, the pointers and files aren't available and the
> programs won't run. Programs have to be reinstalled from the original
> media.

OR alternatively he can use a program like Laplink's PC Mover, which will
move programs and applications (although a few will just need to be
reinstalled).

On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:20:44 -0600, "Bill in Co."
<not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
> > On Mon, 7 Apr 2008 15:44:25 -0400, "Alex" <jrwolfe@comcast.net> wrote:
> >
> >> I would like to transfer the Documents files from one XP computer to
> >> another
> >> system using Windows Backup/Restore. I would also like to include the
> >> Program files. Will this work?
> >
> > You can move documents from one computer to another, but not programs.
> >
> > All installed programs (except for an occasional very small one) have
> > files and pointers to them within Windows, in the registry and
> > elsewhere. So if you aren't running the Windows copy they were
> > installed under, the pointers and files aren't available and the
> > programs won't run. Programs have to be reinstalled from the original
> > media.
>
> OR alternatively he can use a program like Laplink's PC Mover, which will
> move programs and applications (although a few will just need to be
> reinstalled).


My experience with programs like this (although I've never tried
PCmover in particular, I assume it's similar to the others) has been
considerably less than satisfactory. I wouldn't want to rely on them,
and I don't recommend them to others.



--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup