[SOLVED] Copy programs from one computer to a new one

[overburnz]

Hello everyone, here i am with a question for you i have a friend that has a work computer and needs to copy some programs to a new computer he has, he does not have the CD's for a clean install, so i'm wondering if there is a way to copy only the programs i need instead of doing a full disc clone.
Thanks in advance

(both machines have windows 10)

UPDATE: Managed to clone the drive using Macrium Reflect with a Live W10 USB stick

 

[Porthos]

Thanks in advance

In most cases, NO. There are a lot of variables to consider. Before I chime in any farther I would need A LOT of more info.
The MBR/UEFI status of BOTH computers.
Home or Pro.
What software in question.

For starters.

 

[trevm999]

Depends...you can try copying over the files and registry entries that you know about, install dependencies, register the copied over DLLs ( if the DLLs need to be registered and manifest file is not used) and then run Process Monitor when running the program to catch what's not there and use the original system as a reference to see what you need.

 

[mikeroq]

I would be most concerned about licensing. If he is wanting to "copy" not "move".

Second it's not necessarily easy to move software manually. I've done it for some really old programs or simple programs like certain games. Where all I had to do was copy the registry info and the program files.

But more sophisticated software will have dependencies all over the place, licensing issues, etc. Even if you think you've got it all you will go to run it and it errors, or it works but now you have to license it and you can't find the license key.

I had one that was just an MDB access DB and a few files. All in a folder in the c:\ root. It was at least 15 years old. Customer said another shop told them they could not do it. I did it in 5 minutes and they were ecstatic.

Pretty much my limit is installing software that I can download or have installers for, or they have the installer or media for, or we can redownload what they purchased from their email or customer portal.

 

[timeshifter]

I'd clone it. Much easier to deal with activation and a few driver issues than hunting down a bunch of unregistered DLLs.

 

[Markverhyden]

I would be most concerned about licensing. If he is wanting to "copy" not "move".

^^^ This is the first consideration. Unless it involves OSS the license will almost certainly specify "one" computer. So duplicating it to another machine wile the first stays running will be a violation of the EULA.

W10 is much more forgiving in moving to a different machine than prior M$ OS's. But that does not change what other software vendors do. Many software OEM's build a UUID into the registered license based on the machine it was installed on. So moving it to a new machine will trigger an activation event. See this all the time on Apple machines when I image a drive to an SSD. M$ Office always requires a new activation. Adobe does as well.

I've used zinstall many years ago and it did a great job of moving many apps. But some did not move completely. Some apps, like Wireshark and Intuit, use drivers to implement the app. zinstall didn't move those back then.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I'd clone it. Much easier to deal with activation and a few driver issues than hunting down a bunch of unregistered DLLs.

This. Windows 10 can be cloned so much easier than previous versions. Note that some software can detect that and might deactivate.

 

[overburnz]

thansk for all your input, and yes he is aware of possible issues when doing this :/ gonna go with a clone to see if everything works fine, if not to bad :/

 

[Fred Claus]

If you cloned the drive could you not uninstall what you don't need?

 

[pcpete]

See this all the time on Apple machines when I image a drive to an SSD. M$ Office always requires a new activation.

I think 2008 will allow you to move it without reactivating, but with 2011 or newer you will always need to reactivate

 

[trevm999]

I think 2008 will allow you to move it without reactivating, but with 2011 or newer you will always need to reactivate

I think 2011 changed with an update, you used to be able to copy extra files over for the activation, and then it stopped working.

 

[Haole Boy]

There is also PCMover from Laplink (link). I haven't used this program for MANY years, but when I did, it was about 50% successful, which matched the various reports of success / failure I saw when searching for reviews on the product. Hopefully they have improved it since then.

Harry Z

 

[Porthos]

but when I did, it was about 50% successful

I won't work with those odds. Too many gotchas might show up after the client goes home.

 

[frase]

I agree clone drive - done. Why waste time feckin around with registry and .dll files.

 

[Markverhyden]

I think 2008 will allow you to move it without reactivating, but with 2011 or newer you will always need to reactivate

I think 2011 changed with an update, you used to be able to copy extra files over for the activation, and then it stopped working.

From what I remember 2008 you could image a drive and it would want to register. But the files were present since all you had to do was click. Beginning 2011 that did not work. Kind of like Office 2013. No key recovery, had to have the key or account info.

 

[Galdorf]

There is a way to do this without cloning say customer has xp upgrading to windows 10 naturally you can't upgrade xp to windows 10 but you could use this:

https://www.zinstall.com/

 

[Haole Boy]

There is a way to do this without cloning say customer has xp upgrading to windows 10 naturally you can't upgrade xp to windows 10 but you could use this:

https://www.zinstall.com/

Have you used this program? How well did it work? The marketing materials for PCMover made it look really good, but in real life it did not work well.

Harry Z

 

[Galdorf]

Have you used this program? How well did it work? The marketing materials for PCMover made it look really good, but in real life it did not work well.

Harry Z

It is top selling pc migration software works very well very easy to use also has backup function.

 

[Haole Boy]

It is top selling pc migration software works very well very easy to use also has backup function.

Thanks for the info. Please see a follow-on question in the TEO forum.

Harry Z

 

[overburnz]

Update: Triyng to clone the W10 HD, with no sucess, tried HD Clone (does not detect the external HD), tried Acronis 2015 does not clone but i could manage to do a backup but i could not restore the backup to the destination computer.... anyone has any ideas to what can i do?