Move Easily into your New PC

The Seattle Times  - Craig Crossman, Syndicated Columnist
Oct 15, 2006
Link to article

Do you remember the last time you got a new computer? Aside from the thrill of having something with larger capacities and more speed, try and remember what it was like having to move all of your existing software to the new one. As bad as that may have been, you can be fairly assured that your upcoming move is more than likely going to be a lot more complex. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Laplink's PCmover can help you set up your new computer quickly and virtually automatically. When you buy a new computer, chances are it comes pre-loaded with all kinds of software, which is nice, but it's just the beginning. Whether you realize it or not, over the passage of time you have done a lot of customizing, putting applications in certain places, tailoring their preferences, saving files to specific locations and that's just for starters. The moving task can be so daunting that it's a known fact that many won't buy a new computer just to avoid the migration hassle.

You probably have thousands of media files and documents that you've saved and created. There are emails you've archived, serial numbers you've recorded, passwords that are stored and encrypted, bookmarks, registry settings, the list goes on and on. And many software publishers don't make it easy for movers. In the spirit of making sure their software isn't illegally copied, some go out of their way to make sure a newly installed copy of their product requires the original installation codes and serial numbers. Usually recorded on the original CDs, too many times you wind up not remembering where you put them. And no original CD means no new copy can be made onto your new computer. But with Laplink's PCmover, the migration from the old to the new can be pretty much a snap.

PCmover offers several ways to migrate your hard drive's contents. To begin, you install PCmover on both PCs and connect them together over a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, USB connection or even a parallel port. Running PCmover on each computer displays an easy to follow instruction wizard to begin the migration. And according to Laplink, it's really safe, PCmover will never overwrite any programs, files or settings on the new PC. Even if you're transferring from an older to a newer operating system, PCmover makes sure the newer one is left in good working order. You can even undo a move at any time. And now it even works on the new Intel-based Macintosh. If you plan to run Windows on your new Mac, you can migrate everything from your old PC to the Windows partition on the Mac.

If you remember the pain of migration, you already know that it's something you don't want to do ever again. And if you haven't, take my word that it's not something pleasant. Either way, make sure you get your hands on a copy of PCmover. The $49.95 download version or $59.95 boxed version that includes a Laplink USB Cable will save you untold dollars in time and avoided aggravation. Be a smart mover and let PCmover do the job for you.

www.laplink.com

Craig Crossman is a national newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the No. 1 daily national computer radio talk show, Computer America, heard on the Business TalkRadio Network and the Lifestyle TalkRadio Network - Monday through Friday, 10 p.m.-midnight ET. For more information, visit his web site at www.computeramerica.com.)
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