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Home > Archive > General Discussion > September 2002 > What's the best way to copy a Desktop Hard Drive to a Laptop
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What's the best way to copy a Desktop Hard Drive to a Laptop
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| well0120 2002-09-27, 8:51 am |
| Hello folks, I have a Desktop PC and a Laptop. The Desktop has everything that I need. I was wondering what would be the best way to transfer everything from my Desktop to my laptop and still keep all the seetings from the Desktop.
I thought about networking both computers, but this option would only allow me to transfer just the files, plus it would take a century. The other thing is that by just transfering the files, my Laptop wouldn't have all the settings and looks from my Desktop. I could also clone the Desktop hard drive by making a ghost image of it, but would that be the best way? If so, how would I restore the image back to my Laptop?
Any ideas will be very much appreciated.
Thanks a lot! | |
| twister166 2002-09-27, 8:57 am |
| Well, the desktop and the laptop is not the same spec, so ghost will not work, you can try but, it may be unstable.
I work off my laptop and use my desktop as a server, I only sych the data. You want more than that you will need to install all apps in the laptop and create a roaming profile, else the desktop look and feel will not maintain sych... You can copy the profile from desktop to laptop and get them the same, but you need to sych it to keep it the same. | |
| iggy4270 2002-09-27, 9:10 am |
| Twister I have the same set up here at home. My Dell optiplex is my server (2k server) and my thinkpad is my client (2k Pro). Unfortunately Well0 you can't always get what you want. I tried many times to install solaris 8(x86) on my laptop only to find out later on it just cannot be done. Desktops and laptops are just different creatures. Twister is right you cannot ghost it for it would probably be unstable as hell. I suggest you just keep your desktop as the server and maybe just copy the files that you want to use on your laptop. Thats the price of mobility I guess  | |
| well0120 2002-09-27, 9:15 am |
| I had already suspected that this would be a mess to say the least. The problem is that I will not be able to keep my Desktop, so I won't be able to use it as a Server for long.
I guess I'll just transfer some more important files and than pretty much start from scratch.
Thanks a lot guys!!
quote:
Originally posted by iggy4270
Twister I have the same set up here at home. My Dell optiplex is my server (2k server) and my thinkpad is my client (2k Pro). Unfortunately Well0 you can't always get what you want. I tried many times to install solaris 8(x86) on my laptop only to find out later on it just cannot be done. Desktops and laptops are just different creatures. Twister is right you cannot ghost it for it would probably be unstable as hell. I suggest you just keep your desktop as the server and maybe just copy the files that you want to use on your laptop. Thats the price of mobility I guess
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| ruscorp 2002-09-27, 9:18 am |
| An MCSE has no idea how to do something like this? Just my two cents. | |
| emarroquin 2002-09-27, 9:26 am |
| If the only thing you want to copy is the configuration of the Desktop, you may copy the folder of your profile (it's under C:\Documents and Settings) to your laptop.
This copies some look and feel, all your documents, desktop content (icons, docs, folders, etc) and several settings, but not applications.
It also copies your internet cache, perhaps you want to clean it first. | |
| well0120 2002-09-27, 9:27 am |
| I actually know what to do. I don't know if have read my thread properly, but I am looking for ideas on how to do it without taking too much risk.
Thanks for the thought Mr. know it all!!
quote:
Originally posted by ruscorp
An MCSE has no idea how to do something like this? Just my two cents.
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| NetChild1985 2002-09-27, 10:17 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by ruscorp
An MCSE has no idea how to do something like this? Just my two cents.
What about a person who hold MCP and CCNA and don't know how to replace a failed NIC? I've met a few impostors.
I have nothing against you well0120, just I share what I saw.  | |
| ruscorp 2002-09-27, 10:39 am |
| quote:
Originally posted by well0120
I actually know what to do. I don't know if have read my thread properly, but I am looking for ideas on how to do it without taking too much risk.
Thanks for the thought Mr. know it all!!
well0120: I would think someone of your status would have no problem with this situation. I meant no offense by my response, however stand by it. I did not give a response to your question either so I don't think that constitutes the childish name calling of "Mr. know it all". | |
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| Doug_Black 2002-09-27, 5:19 pm |
| Hey Well0120,
Their are several programs out on the market that will make your project fairly easy for this kind of migration task.
Look at products like "AlohaBob" PC Relocator 4, Detto IntelliMover 3.0, LapLink's PCsync 3.0, V-Communications' PC Upgrade Commander and if you where running Windows XP -- you could simple use the Microsoft Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (Just look under Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard doesn't install applications for you, but it can transfer application preferences, data files, and many Windows configuration options.)
Of the products PC MAgazine tested, Alohabob PC Relocator 4.0 was the most effective at duplicating one machine's environment on another. The migration process missed a few minor items, such as Control Panel keyboard settings, but it was for the most part successful—certainly enough to save substantial time and effort.
After Alohabob scans the source computer, it predicts which applications it can move confidently, which ones are iffy, and which ones are prohibited (typically operating-system components that are inappropriate for the target machine). The migration tool transfers both the applications you select and the settings that go with them. You can also choose which files to transfer, using a somewhat awkward interface that contrasts with the rest of the product's easy operation. Although Alohabob can transfer multiple user profiles, it can't do so in a single pass as LapLink's PCsync 3.0 can.
I hope this helps you out, just wish I could get my Outlook Express 5 files to move between PC's without upgrading to Outlook 2000/XP. | |
| ruscorp 2002-09-27, 6:41 pm |
| quote:
Originally posted by Doug_Black
Hey Well0120,
Their are several programs out on the market that will make your project fairly easy for this kind of migration task.
Look at products like "AlohaBob" PC Relocator 4, Detto IntelliMover 3.0, LapLink's PCsync 3.0, V-Communications' PC Upgrade Commander and if you where running Windows XP -- you could simple use the Microsoft Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (Just look under Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools. The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard doesn't install applications for you, but it can transfer application preferences, data files, and many Windows configuration options.)
Of the products PC MAgazine tested, Alohabob PC Relocator 4.0 was the most effective at duplicating one machine's environment on another. The migration process missed a few minor items, such as Control Panel keyboard settings, but it was for the most part successful—certainly enough to save substantial time and effort.
After Alohabob scans the source computer, it predicts which applications it can move confidently, which ones are iffy, and which ones are prohibited (typically operating-system components that are inappropriate for the target machine). The migration tool transfers both the applications you select and the settings that go with them. You can also choose which files to transfer, using a somewhat awkward interface that contrasts with the rest of the product's easy operation. Although Alohabob can transfer multiple user profiles, it can't do so in a single pass as LapLink's PCsync 3.0 can.
I hope this helps you out, just wish I could get my Outlook Express 5 files to move between PC's without upgrading to Outlook 2000/XP.
PC Relocator works quite well... |
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