Restore to new computer

[Papa34]

I have a Dell with WinXP (SR2). I am buying a new Dell with WinXP (SR2). If I install Retrospect Professional on the new computer, will I be able to restore the from the disks from the old computer? What about the hardware settings? Will that make a difference?

I just want the new computer to be like the old computer.

 

Thanks.

[natew]

Hi

 

You can restore your data but don't try to restore the entire machine. Windows does not migrate to new hardware very well. A full restore would restore your old hardware settings on the new machine. Not good...

 

Nate

[mavraam]

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm in the same situation. Would you be able to restore your applications?

 

In otherwords, if you had say Microsoft Office or Photoshop installed on your first computer and had done a full backup, would you be able to restore it on your second computer or would you have to install the software the old fashioned way and then restore the data to get back where you were?

[slapidus]

Typically, applications must be installed, not copied. Thus, you cannot use Retrospect to migrate your applications to your new computer. I say "typically" because there are other utilities on the market that will migrate applications. PC Magazine mentions two such utilities under Editor's Choices: Alohabob PC Relocator Ultra Control, and Desktop DNA Pro 4.7.

 

[Note: I am not affiliated with either Retrospect or the above referenced products. Just trying to help you out.]

 

Steve

[mavraam]

So if that's the case, there is nothing gained by backing up your programs and instead of doing a complete system backup you might as well only backup your documents?

 

That would save a lot of disk on backups.

 

Of course, this can be problematic as some software unfortunately saves settings and / or documents in its folder under Program Files so its risky to just back up the Documents and Settings folder.

 

BTW, I tried the Alohabob product when I bought my new computer and it failed on multiple attempts. Kept losing connection with the old computer for no discernable reason. I was never able to resolve that issue.

 

There was another product I tried, Move Me I think. But it didn't allow you to selectively restore programs only the entire disk which I didn't want.

[repter]

Quote:

---

So if that's the case, there is nothing gained by backing up your programs and instead of doing a complete system backup you might as well only backup your documents?

 

That would save a lot of disk on backups.

 

---

 

Yes, except that it is really tough to locate all your documents and configurations and i don't know what else. Some software puts stuff in My Documents, other have their private directories, other let you pick one somewhere else.

Instead of trying to figure out what I should back up and not, risking to miss things, I just backup everything. Admittedly, I may be ending up with backup of which 90% is just fixed files that any installer would recover as well, but at least I am sure I am not missing anything.

BTW, some of Retrospect's standard Selectors already do a useful job there. E.g. 'Documents' excludes all application files (executables and dll's) and Windows only files. So you may try to use those and see what it is selecting.

 

R.

[slapidus]

R:

 

If I may, let me jump in and state some assumptions and ask a question.

 

Assumptions:

1. If I do a Restrospect full system backup to either an external HD or DVD and I also create a bootable CD/DVD, then I can perform a Disaster Recovery of my system by first booting from the DR disc and secondly pointing to the the full system backup.

2. The DR can be to either the original hard drive or a new one.

3. The resultant system will be an exact replica of my original system - Windows environment, applications, and user files.

 

Question:

1. If Retrospect is not capable of restoring the complete environment - full system backup and all incrementals - then why not use a program like, pardon my language, Norton Ghost that also claims to do the complete job, plus allow you to restore selected files from the backup image file?

 

Steve

[jelenko]

Not sure what your question is. Your assumptions state one case and your question assumes the opposite.

 

In any case, your assumption is correct. As mentioned above, if you do a full system restore to a different hardware system than the backup was created from, there could be hardware problems. Same as Norton, same as PQ Drive Image - same as any full system restore.