So you got a new computer, or are planning on getting it, and have to face the nightmare of transferring all your data from the old one to the new. The first thing I’d like to say about the subject is what I’ve found to be the most common misunderstanding: Normally speaking, you cannot just move your existing programs from the old computer to the new by copying over the program files. Why?

When a program is installed in your Windows based computer, there is more to it than just copying files into it. There is a series of operations that take place at the time of the installation to ensure the program runs correctly. So just copying over the files will do no good since that is just a part of what would need to happen for the program to work in your new computer. The right thing to do, providing the program is compatible with the operating system in your new computer, is to install the program in the new computer, and then copy over any files the program might use that is not included in the original install. Example: You have an email program. You install it in the new computer, and then export or copy over the files that contain the emails, contacts, etc. from the old to the new computer.

Of course there is a way copying the program files could work, but it requires special programs that can create an exact copy (clone) of your old hard disk into your new one. But that normally is unpractical when migrating to a new computer since all the computer settings that apply to the old computer rarely apply to the new computer.

Windows offers an easy transfer tool that can be used to assist in this process. If the old and new computers are both up and running , the easiest way is to connect them through a local network and run the transfer wizard.

The process of migrating the data from an old computer to a new one is only apparently complicated. If done in a systematic, step-by-step way it’s hassle-free and can be done by virtually anyone. But if this is your first time you might want to get expert help to make sure is done right on the first try.