Move to a new PC

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Issue 198 May 2009

“What’s the best format for photos?”

Imaging advice p88

Migrate your programs, settings and files to a Save time p12 fresh machine

40

solutions & projects

Secure your

Wi-Fi Stop snoopers p33

“How do I create an install disc?”

Essential Windows tips inside

Group test

Stream your media anywhere Make more of your home network HARDWARE ADVICE

Plus all this…

Networking ✔ 17 pages of new gear System Tray essentials made easy ✔✔ 10 20 pages of expert tutorials

Access your favourite files from any PC

✔ 7 money-saving ideas

Share any file online It’s a lot easier than you think – follow our 16-page guide p51

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Magictorch.com

Move t an

Old versus new Old PC

To transfer: personal files (documents, media, email and so on) and settings.

New PC

To receive: security software, programs that you wish to keep, files and settings.

To leave: programs that you no longer use, but are prepared to include on the old PC.

To remove: preinstalled bloatware and trial versions of programs that you won’t use.

To remove: all personal files and settings, in addition to any programs that you transfer to your new PC.

To set up: recovery discs (if none were provided), then download and install all outstanding updates.

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PCAnswers

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

to new PC …the easy way!

Just bought a new PC? Nick Peers reveals how to quickly transfer key programs and settings over to it

Y

our new PC is sitting there impatiently, waiting for you to move the old system on to pastures new. But there’s one important task you still need to perform: transfer everything you need from the old PC to the new.

However, it’s not simply enough to burn a few files to CD or DVD and call it quits.

You should instead transfer all of your personal files across and then perform the digital equivalent of shredding them on your old PC, so that they’re not accessible to the next user of that computer.

You’ll also need to deal with your key Windows and internet settings, including your email.

And how about those trusty programs that you want to

keep? You’ll need to verify they’re compatible with your new PC before installing them, replicate your program settings and finally, if the program was paid for, you’ll need to uninstall it from your old PC. Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Fear not – over the next few pages we’ll show you exactly what you need to do.

The tools of the trade We’ll start by making a backup of your old PC. Now, it may seem superfluous to record every single file that’s on your old PC, but we’ll show you how to create a full backup that takes up less space on your external hard drive. That way you’ve always got access to your old files and settings, even if the worst happens.

We’ll then transfer everything across using Laplink’s fabulous PCmover.

This program can transfer files, folders, entire user accounts and even selected programs, making it perfect for transferring programs when you’ve lost the original disc.

If your new PC isn’t configured to your liking, we’ll reveal how to create a customised Windows installation disc so you can start again from scratch.

Finally, we’ll walk you through deleting sensitive files from your old PC, so you can move it on safe in the knowledge your data won’t be moving with it.

It’s all here, so turn the page to discover how to transfer from an old PC to new with the minimum of fuss.

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May 2009

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Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

PC transfer checklist

The dos and don’ts of moving files and programs to a new PC

✔

Review your back-up strategy

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Place your PCs near each other

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Check protected content

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Rush to transfer everything immediately

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Try to transfer the entire hard drive

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Move on your PC without checking it

Now is the time to make sure that you have a back-up device and a complete backup of your old hard drive. A large external hard drive is the best choice here – see our subscription offer on page 20 for details of Western Digital's capacious 500GB

If you plan to transfer data directly from your old PC to your new, make sure that they’re in the same room. A direct cable connection (either via a network router or using a USB transfer cable) is the quickest way to transfer everything from one

File-transfer software won’t permit you to copy across any licences that you own for downloaded music or movies, so you need to check with the provider to find out what you should do. In the case of music you should be able to burn your

PCmover comes with a handy list of warnings that you’d do well to pay attention to. Foremost among these is to take time to set up your new PC with the programs that you want, while clearing out the various trial programs and bloatware you don’t

Whatever you do, don’t attempt to clone your entire hard drive from your old computer to your new one, because it just won’t work for two reasons. First, the copy of Windows that's installed on your old PC may be tied specifically to that machine

Before selling, passing on or properly disposing of your old computer, make sure that you’ve not left behind any paid-for software that you’ve transferred to your new system.

Furthermore, you need to uninstall any hardware that you’re keeping and then

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device. The back-up file is not just to protect you against possible disaster now, but also to give you a fail-safe in the future. With one, you can dispose of your old PC without worrying about missing out any important files or settings.

machine to the other. If this isn’t possible then use an external drive as an intermediary device. Only use a wireless network connection if both PCs and your router support either 802.11g or 802.11n connections.

protected tracks to audio CD at least once, enabling you to then rip them to your new computer without any copy protection in place. Video might be more tricky to transfer, so it's best check with the parent web site for details on how to do this.

need. This is particularly important if you intend to transfer over the full version of a program that already exists as trialware on your new PC. In addition, check for any compatibility stumbling blocks before choosing what items to move over.

(and it almost certainly will be if the Operating System came pre-installed).

Second, there's a very good chance that the drivers on your old PC won’t work on your new one, because of the significant difference in hardware between the two systems.

ensure that any personal or sensitive data has been securely deleted from your old PC. See page 49 for details on how you can do this thoroughly and better still, for free. Once done, it’s safe to send it either to a new home or a recycling centre.

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Review your back-up strategies Everyone needs to have a backup, but which is the best method for you?

One-touch

A few external drives come with free back-up software that works every time you press a button on the drive itself.

Schedule

If your back-up software supports it, set a sensible time for the backup to run automatically, so you can set it and forget it.

Rescue disc

What happens if you’re unable to access your backup in Windows? If the opportunity arises, create a rescue disc so that you can restore outside of Windows.

Network drives

If you’ve got a lot of PCs to back up, save money by investing in a Network Attached Storage (NAS) drive, which is visible and accessible to everyone on your network.

Online backup

Don’t have a back-up device?

Want a second one housed securely off-site? Online backup is a quick and convenient option for broadband users.

Files and folders

If all you want to do is back up your settings, email and other individual files and folders, pick a file-based back-up tool.

Image your hard drive

Imaging your hard drive takes an exact copy of it. This is a good option for backing up Windows and programs, but not so convenient for backing up your data.

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May 2009

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Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Clone your hard drive

You can take a complete image of your hard drive for free

C

opying one disk or partition to another - known as cloning – can be of great benefit if you’re just upgrading your hard drive.

A good cloning tool doesn’t simply make an exact copy of the disk with all of your

files and folders on it, though.

Instead, if the new drive is larger than your old one, it’ll enable you to resize your partitions so they make full use of the extra space.

If you’re thinking of upgrading your hard drive, visit www.support-pcs.co.uk/

You’ll need an external drive enclosure if you’re upgrading a laptop hard drive

quicklinx/driveupgrade.html for a step-by-step guide using the copy of EASEUS Partition Master that you’ll find on this month’s cover disc.

Best back-up practice However, since disk cloning takes a complete byte-for-byte image of your hard drive, it’s not practical for transferring files, settings and programs across PCs. In effect this is because you’d end up wiping your new PC’s OS and replacing it with your old one.

A more practical use of disk imaging would be to take a complete backup of your old PC’s hard drive to a backup device. This grants you access to every single file and folder from your old PC, should you forget to transfer a file or setting. The walkthrough opposite reveals how to do this using a free tool called Macrium Reflect Free (www.macrium. com), which you’ll also find on your cover disc.

Cloning strategies Transfer selected data to your new PC by cloning If you have a second hard drive in your machine, or have partitioned your drive on your old PC then there's a good chance are that your data, backups and other key files are already kept separate from your Windows installation and program files. If this is the case then you might want to consider cloning those partitions to your new hard drive.

In order to do this, you’ll need to investigate ways of connecting your old PC’s hard drive to your new PC.

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One option is to clone the partitions to an external hard drive and then transfer them across to the new drive. Alternatively, you could either connect the drive directly by placing it in a drive enclosure, or by fitting it internally if there’s space. For the latter method, ensure that the jumpers are set to Slave if it’s an IDE drive.

Either way, you’ll need separate drives or partitions on your new PC (see page 30 of this month’s Helpdesk for a

Use PCmover to copy entire drives, rather than use a disk or partition cloning tool

guide to using EASUS Partition Master). Note that while you can copy partitions using EASUS,

a better option is to use PCmover, which supports the copying of entire hard drives.

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Take a fail-safe backup

Copy the entire contents of your old drive to a back-up drive

1

First steps

3

Final settings

5

Verify backup

Install Macrium Reflect Free and launch it. When prompted for a licence key click OK. Then, at the main screen, click “Create a back-up image...”

If you’re saving to a network or other hard drive, select the target back-up folder and click OK > Next. Click Advanced to change default options, or click Finish.

Don’t skip this step. Choose Other Tasks > Check image and backup files for errors, and follow the wizard to select your backup and make sure it’s not corrupt.

2

Pick source and destination

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Run back-up procedure

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Access archive

Click Next, select your PC’s old hard drive by clicking the box next to the entire drive and click Next again.

Choose your back-up device and then click Next.

Leave the default options ticked, change the name if you wish and click OK. Wait for the backup to complete.

Pick Other Tasks > Check image and back-up files for errors.

To access your backup on your new PC, click Restore Tasks > Browse to find an image or back-up file. Select your archive to pick a drive to access in Windows itself.

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May 2009

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Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Best ways to transfer data

Move your data using either Windows’ transfer utility or third-party tools

T

he most important aspect of switching from one PC to another is making sure your personal data – such as files, multimedia and email – is transferred across. That’s easy enough, but if you’ve spent ages crafting the perfect setup on your old PC, you won’t want to waste too much time replicating that on your new computer if you can avoid it.

This is where transfer software comes in. Vista’s own built-in Windows Easy Transfer tool can handle all your data,

along with key user account settings and even some program settings, although the programs in question need to be already present on your new PC. However, it only fully supports Windows XP SP2 and Vista, so if your PC is running an older OS then you’ll need to read on for another solution.

For a guide to using Windows Easy Transfer, check out http://support.microsoft. com/kb/928634.

If you’re migrating from an older version of Windows, or you want to be able to transfer just about anything (including

entire programs) to your new PC, then you need Laplink’s superb PCmover software (£35, www.laplink.com/uk).

Check compatibility If you’re upgrading from Windows XP to Windows Vista and plan to transfer entire programs across, run the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor (www.microsoft. com/windows/windowsvista/get/upgrade-advisor. aspx) on your old PC first to see which programs you have that won’t be compatible with Vista.

GET TO KNOW NERO MOVE IT Transfer your media collection to other devices and online services

3

View media

By default all of the selected device’s media is displayed here – filter this into music, images or videos by clicking the appropriate button under the device heading.

1

Supported devices

Aside from your PC, YouTube, mySpace and myNero, you can plug in a range of phones and other portable devices for synchronising data between. If the device is visible in Windows, it’s accessible.

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2

Transfer data

Click one of these buttons to transfer selected files in the direction of the arrow, or synchronise the two folders completely. If necessary, files are converted into a compatible format on your portable device.

4

Target device

Select your target device from the icons on the right-hand side, which will match those listed on the left.

Again, filter its view to the available folders by clicking the appropriate button.

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC Don’t attempt to transfer system utilities or security programs across using PCmover – these should be downloaded and installed separately on your new PC. In fact, if you have the program discs to hand, we’d recommend that you install as many programs as you can on your new PC separately prior to running PCmover, because it’s better to just move across program settings rather than entire programs where you can.

Using the program Start by installing PCmover on your new PC to let it take a snapshot of your system. When prompted, install the program on your old PC and enter the serial number. Choose your method of transfer: all but the File Storage Device option will ultimately transfer directly between old PC and new one.

Next, load the snapshot taken from your new PC. Once done, you can opt to transfer user accounts and drives. You’ll be given the option of mapping these to equivalent accounts or drives on your new PC, and you can deselect specific folders

or file types from the list.

You’ll then be shown a list of all installed programs on your old PC. Tick those you wish to transfer. If the program already exists on your new PC then your settings will be migrated; otherwise the entire program itself is transferred.

The transfer process will now either take place immediately if both PCs are directly connected, or you’ll be prompted to save everything into a single file on your chosen storage device (once complete, connect this to the new PC and continue the transfer process from there). Your new PC will reboot and the transfer process is complete. If you run into any problems, check the box below for some advice.

If all you wish to transfer are multimedia files – photos, videos and music – then Nero Move It (www.nero.com/enu/ moveit-introduction.html) makes it easy to synchronise your media collection with PDAs, phones, cameras and other devices as well as sharing selected files online with others. See the annotation for more details.

Transfer cables Transfer data by physically connecting PCs

A direct connection between old and new PC results in the quickest transfer

The quickest way to transfer everything you want between PCs is to use a direct connection. If both PCs are on a network you can use that, although performance will be hampered if either PC is connected wirelessly.

If you’re not on a network and both PCs have USB2.0 ports, consider spending

£20-25 on a USB transfer cable. Try Maplin (product code A42HF, www.maplin. co.uk) or Lindy (part number 42954, www. lindy.co.uk). The cable will work with both Windows Easy Transfer and PCmover – just plug it in before running either program and select the transfer cable option when prompted.

What if it goes wrong?

How to solve your transfer woes The first hurdle you’re likely to overcome during the transfer process is working out what to do with programs that are listed as incompatible with your new PC. PCmover will transfer whatever programs or settings you select regardless of compatibility issues, so it’s important that you don’t attempt to transfer “blind”. Instead, look for an update that introduces compatibility, or upgrade to a newer version or alternative product.

After the transfer process is complete and your new PC reboots for the first time, you’ll see a dialog for StartUp This appear.

This tool automatically disables all programs you’ve transferred across that were set to start automatically on your old PC, in case they cause problems on your new PC. You can enable them immediately, but we’d recommend testing the program works in its new home before doing so.

Finally, if you run into problems with your new PC

PCmover will alert you to potential problems on your new PC when first launched

after the transfer process has completed, you can undo the whole lot and return everything to its pre-transfer state. Just

launch PCmover again on your new PC and then follow the wizard, opting to roll back your changes when prompted.

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Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Create a custom installation

At some point you’ll need a Windows refresh, so create a custom disc

I

f you’ve decided you don’t like the version of Windows installed on your new PC, you may want to replace it. You’ll need a Windows installation CD/ DVD to do this, but if you really want to go to town and craft the perfect PC setup, why not create your own customised installation disc with all the drivers, updates and plug-ins you want, saving

you time when reinstalling them later?

XP or Vista?

If you’re running XP, visit www. support-pcs.co.uk/quicklinx/ xpcustomcd.html for the guide you need; Vista users download and install vLite instead from www.vlite.net (click “download”). vLite requires a single DLL from the AIK for Windows Vista

SP1, which you’ll need to install first (the link is on the vLite download page). Note that it’s a gigantic 1.3GB ISO file, so definitely one for unlimited broadband connections only.

Burn the ISO file to DVD and install the kit from it, then install vLite. Finally, copy wimgapi.dll from Program Files\ Windows AIK\Tools\x86 to the Program Files\vLite folder, and vLite should work.

STEP-BY-STEP Integrate SP1 into your Vista installer disc

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First steps

3

Update to SP1

Insert your Vista installation disc and launch vLite. Click Browse to select your DVD drive, then choose a location to copy the files to. Wait for the files to copy across.

If necessary, download the full SP1 file from http:// tinyurl.com/sp1vista. Select Slipstream in vLite and click Select. Open your SP1 file. The process should complete itself.

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2

Pick tasks

4

Burn new disc

Pick your Vista version > OK. Click Tasks and tick the boxes of Service Pack Slipstream and Bootable ISO only. Slipstreaming shouldn't be done in conjunction with any other task.

Select ISO. Choose Direct Burn and insert a blank DVD. Click Burn and your Vista SP1 disc will be created. You can then use this disc to create a customised installation with vLite.

Transfer data easily

Move files and folder to a new PC

Delete your old data

STEP-BY-STEP Scrub your hard drive

Permanently erase private data so that you can pass on your old PC

W

hether you’re recycling, selling or passing on your old PC, you need to make sure that the data on it is completely safe. If you plan to format the hard drive before installing Windows or Linux, take the time to format it in such a way as to securely destroy all of the data on the drive, including any private and sensitive files that you may have stored on there.

You’ll find the perfect tool you need in the form of Darik’s Boot and Nuke (DBAN), which

is a free utility that’s installed to a bootable medium (floppy, USB flash drive or CD/DVD).

You’ll find the download you need at www.dban.org/ download – the walkthrough opposite reveals all you need to know.

Wipe via a reinstall You may wish to forego the hassle of formatting the drive and reinstalling Windows. If so, make sure you remove any programs you’ve transferred to your new PC and then read the box for details of securely wiping any sensitive data left on your old PC’s drive. ■

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Create boot disk

2

Boot from disk

3

Wipe drive

If installing to floppy or USB flash drive, download and run the EXE file; if installing to CD/DVD, download the ISO file and burn to disc using ISO Recorder.

Free data deletion tools Don’t want to format your drive? No problem If you don’t want the hassle of wiping the entire drive, you can delete selected data from your drives within Windows itself. There are a number of free tools out there, two of which we’ve put on File Shredder wipes individual files and the cover disc as folders, plus free space they’re both free.

Eraser (www.heidi.ie/ File Shredder node/6) is a little more (www.fileshredder.org) is complicated to use, but the easier one to use - once offers similar functionality. installed, run the program It also supports scheduled and select the files and disk wiping, making it folders you wish to securely delete, then click Shred Files potentially more useful in keeping your new PC secure.

Now. You can also securely Remember, though, that shred free disk space, wiping your disk in this which basically wipes all way makes it impossible to trace of any files you’ve recover the data. previously deleted.

Restart your old PC with the bootable media inserted.

When the main screen appears read the warning and press [Return] to launch the tool in interactive mode.

Select the drives and partitions to wipe from the main screen, and switch to a more thorough method by pressing [M] if necessary. Press [F10] to wipe your drive.

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