Help, need to move Application to new PC

Hi,

(First, I have 2 Laptops have Windows 98 SE on them)

I have an old laptop (laptop A) that is being used for analyzing race car data. I am running an application (the data analysis program) on this laptop and it works fine. The COM port on laptop A broke so I need to move this program / application to a new laptop (B), however I do not have the installation software.

My question to the group is this: How can I move the Application from laptop A to B without the install program, its an issue of getting the correct DLLs, OCX's, registry updates, etc that is the problem. I can easily just copy the exe but that will not work.

Laptop B is a clean machine meaning I can start from scratch with it.

Is there a way I can copy the entire HD from laptop A to laptop B? And will it run correctly on laptop B. Laptop A is an old IBM while laptop B is a Dell. My fear is if I used Norton Ghost and took an image of Laptop A, that it would have all the IBM setup on it and it would fail to run on the Dell.

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

 

Hi

More details?

 

In most cases you can simply copy over the folder from one computer to another and then use it and it will automaticly recreate the needed registry keys and be fine. Of course this won't work with a lot of programs. The more complex the program the less likely it will be to work like that.

If you want more detialed help details such as type of program and OS you are transfering from and too are needed.

 

Both Laptops will have Win98 SE on them.

I tried just copying the entire folders, but this failed. The program is complex, communicates with the COM port to verify the Dongle (com port key) is present, reads SRAM card that has data on it from the PCMCIA slots, communicasts with data recording platform in car via serial port.

I have a feeling that all this commo requires a lot of dll's, ocx's and others.

 

I wish it could work that way! I'd really like to see any evidence of that working with any program whose install creates registry entries. The only way registry keys are written is either manually or by an install routine or program that specifically does so, not by copying folders.

ijs12fly, if you can take the hard drive out of the IBM and (somehow, even temporarily) install as 2nd drive or slave into the Dell (don't know if that's possible, I'm not a laptop guy), this app says it can do what you need.

 

You want an example of a program that will work with. No problem. Almost all programs made today will check the registry and if no entries are found simply create all keys with default values when you attempt to run it. If you want exact program names here is a handful. If you need more I suggest just looking for a list of software because most of them will do it.

Winzip, Winamp, FlashFXP, Winrar, Winace, CuteFTP, Need for speed underground, Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory, etc...

Need I go on? Pretty much the only time you can't simply copy a folder over to a new computer and expect it to work is with annoying programs that think there super important like MS office which will install into multiple folders all over the computer plus add a bunch of stuff under the windows folders. BUt virtually any basic program won't give you much if any grief. Feel free to try it with any of the programs i've mentioned above if you don't believe me. Although it is worth mentioning that even attempting to run MS office after copying the folder would still create the registry keys, of course the program itself wouldn't run because of other missing files.

 

OK, I just tried it with WinZip, an admittedly simple program. It launched, but even with it's simplicity gave an error message about the file associations being missing, which proves that the registry keys weren't changed.

Now that I'd like to see, Office creates an astounding number of registry keys, but I'm not about to move my copy to a different path to test your theory.

I stand by what I said. There may be exceptions to the rule, but only if the programmers specifically design in such capabilities.

 

Wow, cool, race cars !! I saw somthing like that at a uni i went to visit a few weeks back! mega cool.

Anyway!! :$ If you dont have the installation disks, perhaps you could make an installer yourself? I'm not sure how they work, but if i remember right it will pack all the files together and read off the registry entries for the program currently, and re-create them when you run the installer again. But I'm about to go to school now, ill do a bit of research there if i can and ill come back and see if i can help more

 

Of course winzip asked you about associations. It's the first thing it does after install. Liek I said all keys will be set to a default value. There for that question will be asked. If you really want to check if the keys were created why not actually look. Simply pop open regedit and take at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Nico Mak Computing\WinZip" and you'll notice the keys are there.

This really isn't something you can argue because it clearly does it and if you just look you'll see it does. I'm not saying copying programs will always work, it will only work if the program was all in that one folder or if you also copied the other folders it uses.

Remember, it sets default values. I'm making no claims that the keys are copied so you will expect most programs to ask any question they would when first launched normally. This will occur with virtually any program made within the last 5 or so years. I've used this method to transfer hundreds of programs over networks.

Most people believe install programs do something special when in installing but most of the time all an install program does is unpack a compressed file to a certain dir. Of course this isn't true to all programs but for the most part it is, and that includes games and applications alike.

 

Its a shame that they arnt running XP as you could use the "transfer files and settings" wizard to migrate the whole thing. If you just copy the windows partition, and not the hidden IBM partition as well there should be no problem... but I'm rusty with 98 im not sure whether you can do a "repair install" to get it to re-configure itself for the new hardware. I've done a little research and there seems to be no programs made for doing this task, which is somewhat surprising.

All install programs do is extract a load of files to various places, and insert a new key or two into the registry and put in default values. Most programs check the registry entries before they start... if it is a good program, but that doesn't mean they will change them if they are wrong. Anyway, it depends on the program!!

 

Hi, Do a google search for Laplink. There used to be a free version but not sure if it is still available. There are 3 different versions now with different capabilities and different prices. You will need a laplink cable but they are cheap. I haven't used it recently but it used to be the standard in the old days. If Laplink has keep up to date and have a version for 98 I would recommend you try it before pulling your laptops apart and/or trying to transfer folder by folder manually. Baz

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Thanks for all the suggestions, here is a copy of the link to a 6 page article about my brothers car that has the data recorder in it:

http://www.hardcore50.com/Articles/JasonReiss/BillDevine/WildBill1.htm

I do not think that laplink will work, that would serve no purpose any different then copying everyting from "A" to a CD and then recopying it to "B", that does not take care of the registries as far as I know. I am not sure about what happens with DLL's and other install type files (OCX's).

I have Norton Ghost and may try that but am affraid that the IBM setup will not run on a Dell.

I will give the partition magic a shot.

Keep the suggestions coming and I will report back what I learn as I try this.

PS: we may be racing our car in Columbus Ohio this coming weekend. First time out this season with it.

 

I think I finally got it to work. I copied all the folder that had all the files in it. I then ran the app and it failed a few times saying a few dlls were not installed, I manually copied them from laptop A to B and now it seems to work.

Thanks again.

 

Mozilla Thunderbird you can just move the program and data directories computer to computer, since it has no installer. Best damn email client ever.

 

Excelent Glad to hear you got it sorted Good luck with all that racing by the way

 

robo,

I am impressed that you figured out my phoenetics of my user name.

Being a pilot, I was looking for 8 characters that could fit on my license plate that could say whats always on my mind. I never did put in on my license plate, I figure the state gets enough money from me already.

Thanks again to all that helped out.

This is a great user forum and hopefully I can return the favor. Anyone have any auto or flying questions feel free to fire them my way.