If you're not particularly bothered about the advanced features of the Control Centre you can simply crack on using the wizard interface. This is a doddle to use, requiring you to simply install the supplied software on both computers. You don't even have to tell PCmover which applications to move or know the location of your programs or files. Once the systems are ready to go, PCmover runs a few recommended checks, such as ScanDisk, virus checks and making sure all running programs are closed down. The software then scans your computer to determine what needs to be migrated across, with little intervention from the user.
After following the on-screen instructions for setting up the migration, PCmover analyses the data on both PCs, determines what files and settings need to be copied to your new system, and tells you the total amount of data to be moved. At this point you decide if you want to proceed with the migration. If you choose to continue, you must pay the migration fee (using a secure connection to an e-commerce partner) or enter a valid, pre-purchased serial number.
PCmover then transfers all of your programs, data files, and registry settings to the new computer in a continuous stream. The length of time required to perform the move depends on the configuration of the computers involved and the amount of data to be transferred. When the migration completes, the new computer must be rebooted to ensure that all changes take place.
During a migration PCmover compares the files and settings on your two computers. Most files and settings on the old computer that do not exist on the new computer are moved. PCmover includes 'rules', however, that tell it not to move certain files. Exceptions include temporary files such as those in your Recycle Bin and Web browser's cache as well as various system files that are not required or desired on the new system. PCmover can also migrate from one bootable partition to another on the same computer using the file transfer method of data transfer, provided that the snapshot and moving van file(s) can be stored on a drive that is accessible to both bootable partitions.
Before a clone migration has occurred you can use another advanced feature that allows you to customise the default set rules. These rules are what handles the applications once they have been moved to the new computer. A rule can be based on a data type disk, resolving location files for INI files, resolve location for uninstall logs, ignore system files, resolve location for shortcuts and merge INI files, registry information, as well as overwrite Microsoft Word Pad association files. You can also explore the log files upon completion, allowing you to see what was moved during cloning and to see where new rules can be added.
Once the cloning process is completed PCmover then opens at start up on your new system and informs you what applications have been disabled in order to preserve system integrity. This then allows you to adjust your choices, and by using the Control Centre you can improve the transfer for future cloning. PCmover does not overwrite the new system like a cloning or imaging utility does and it does not change the old PC in any way. PCmover only transfers and merges entries from the old PC into the new PC.
We tested PCmover by migrating our Windows 2000 test machine to a new Windows XP machine. After migration we were impressed how all our applications and settings were intact. Indeed, the only thing we needed to do on the new machine was re-input our account details for e-mail!
| Brett James, 16.05.05 |
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