So, I'm looking to copy my old PC's programs/files to a used notebook

I'm a noob, so is the above possible?

The note book is a Dell Inspiron N5110. The older PC is a custon built model. Both are windows 7.

So, I mostly have vids, music and pics from my old PC on an external harddrive (so I'll keep it all there, that's fine).....but I really want all my PCs programs on the Dell notebook. Really, if possible, I'd love the notebook to become an exact clone to the older PC. Do you guys catch my drift?

Thanks in advance. I'll give you whatever info I can.

EDIT : Oh, and I want to erase everything off the Dell. Like, wipe it clean.

 

Oh, and the Dell has a current copy of Windows 7. But my old PC doesn't. Any way to transfer the windows 7 from one to another. I dont have an install disk.

 

There is a fair chance that some (maybe all) applications will not run due to missing registry entries on the new PC. It just depends on the application.

 

Well, I don't have a new PC. It's the one I'm typing on now. I've had it for years. It's also older than the "new" Dell notebook.

But the Dell notebook isn't all that new either. It belonged to family member who doesn't use it anymore (cause the Dell came from Home Shopping Network, no joke, its probably a crappy notebook). So, I just want to replace all the programs/files on the Dell, with what I currently have on my PC.

 

By "new", he means "different". Move a program from one PC to another and there is a good chance it won't work right, if at all. Registry entries, drivers and DLLs can be installed in places other than the program folder. That's a lot of variables of which you may be unaware.

 

Ahh, so just "erase" the laptop (how, exactly?) and then just star all over by putting programs on it the same way I would normally?

Hey, good enough I guess!

(But really, there is alot of old junk on that Dell that I want to wipe clean. Really, I just want it to look like a brand new notebook, nothing on there; just a fresh start.)

 

Files are just data, and are easily transferred. Favorites, music, videos, and even some desktop items which are data stored on it can be transferred.

However, due to hardware mapping and the nature of an operating system one cannot copy programs/applications from PC to PC. They must be installed one by one on the new machine. In fact, if you cloned your laptop drive to a desktop drive, or vice versa it most likely would not boot, or would have severe issues if it did.

A prime example was when I swapped my Radeon graphics card for a newer model. I completely uninstalled the card/drivers, Catalyst, cleaned the registry, and shut down. Installed the new one, rebooted, and it was nothing but buggy. I ended up reinstalling W7, and it has run flawlessly since.

As far as erasing a drive, I like DBAN (Darik's boot and nuke) but it can take a very long time to run on older machines.

 

Wait, but will that, like, get rid of windows 7 too? Cause I want to keep windows 7 on that notebook. I just want it to go back to new...like it was when it was first purchased.

 

Don't you need the install disk for the product key, though? I don't have that disk.

Does this mean I'd need a program to find the product key? Do you reccomend anything in particular?

 

Ok, so how do I re-install windows 7 without the CD?

Also thanks for that program, but I did notice the numbers were different that the ones I saw on that sticker on the underside of the notebook (forgot to check down there).

 

Ok, so I re installed Windows 7. It looks brand new (good!).

...but I can't connect to my wi-fi connection (I could just before the reboot). Is that a "drivers" issue?

 

Hmm. I can connect to the router.

But I have no clue if I have Intel.

Do I do both, or one or the other? Cause i'm leaning toward just plugging into the router manually.

 

If you visit Dell's site, and click on "Support", enter your service tag from your particular laptop, and it will direct you to the proper drivers.

 

Cool. Just, how do I get to Dell's site if I have no wi-fi? Is this where I plug a USB cable into the router?

 

Ok, so I entered the Service Tag and then downloaded the "DellSystemDetect" file on to this PC. And then put it onto a Flash Drive. That's all cool.

...but the Dell won't currently recognize the aforementioned flash drive. Like, it doesn't show up at all when I plug it in (possibly because there is no driver for it?).

What do I do?

 

Also, I burned the "DellSystemDetect" file to a disk as well....

...but an error occurred when the Dell tried to open the file (again, cause there is no driver for it?)

What do I do?

 

Can you link me to this file so I can see it?

 

Well, here's the page I went to. Is that the link you wanted?

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/servicetag/BSQXMR1?s=DHS

 

No, a link to the file you downloaded. This doesn't show that.

 

Sorry. I'm a bit confused (nothing new!)....

Am I giving you a link to the page where you can download that exe file

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/servicetag/BSQXMR1/drivers << I believe that's it.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us...iron-15r-n5110&ProductName=Inspiron 15R N5110 <<< Edit: or maybe that's it?

Or am I somehow directly giving you a copy of the exe file that I have on PC/Flash Drive?

 

Adrynalyne:

This is a direct download link to the "DellSystemDetect" application:
http://downloads.dell.com/tools/dellsystemdetect/dellsystemdetect.application

I suspect he downloaded it from this page or one like it:
http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?s=dhs&docid=618993

In this section:

But, judging from the info on the above page and the page bellow:
http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=576402

it wouldn't work at this stage.

 

I apologize, but I won't be able to give this thread a real look until this evening. I'm finishing up a class needed for my MCSD, and my employer is having me do it at work.

 

I did burn that DellSystemDirect file to a DVD, but when I put the dvd in the dell and click on it, it reads:

An error has occurred attempting to install DellSystemDirect

I could've burned the wrong file. Try something new?

 

What is your service tag?

 

BSQXMR1

Thanks!

 

Back to the original subject of moving program from one PC to another, next time you might try http://www.easeus.com/free-pc-transfer-software/
get the free Pro version here..
http://discount68.com/221/easeus-todo-pctrans-pro-giveaway.html

It is not 100%.."some software may have to be reactivated"

 

@OP:

You can burn these to a disk and it should get you going, driver-wise. I downloaded all of them, and most you need (if not all) are there.

Although a usb flash drive should work fine, but you must use your USB 2 ports, not USB 3, until those drivers are installed.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lfb71iyd0qnxl5d/Drivers.zip

 

Alright, quick question:

I have that zip file burned (good), I have the disk showing up in the Dell (good), but when I click on a file to extract/unzip/whatev it ells me that I have to select a destination. Now it's automatically coming up with "D:/Drivers" ...but the D-drive is for DVDs, I believe. So when I click on it, it doesn't work, and it gives me this message:

"Compressed zipped folder was unable to create the specified directory. Ensure that the directory does not already exist and that the path entered is valid."

Now, I can manually type in a different location, I believe, I'm just wondering what letter to use....

 

C: ?

 

Well, it's copying now! So, that's good.

 

Ugh.

An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem.

Error:080004005

Intel_Wifi W74_A03_SetupP7G35_ZPE

 

Update: I'm getting the "unexpected error" on a ton of these.

 

You have filesystem damage if using the default tool to unzip and getting that error. Maybe try another program like 7zip.

Edit: Not filesystem, OS damage.

 

Awesome News! I got WiFi working and i'm posting this from the Dell.


So, after I asked about putting the that Drivers folder in the C or D drive, I checked out the Cdrive and noticed there was already a Drivers folder. I opened it up -- not knowing if these were already installed or not -- and I just whent through each sublocation within the folder and clicked on any "Setup" icon I could find. So, that's how I got wiki working.

I'm not done yet, so I guess I'll go to that Dell System Detect and hopefully it'll take care of everything!

Edit: I also got some seemingly useless stuff installed from that Drivers folder like a modem diagnostic tool, which I dont think (?) ill have much use for...but who cares

 

There were multiple drivers for different variations. I grabbed the most likely one of the ones you needed.