Question
How do I transfer via the Files method?
Answer
In order to obtain the latest version of PCmover, you will want to download and install PCmover on both computers from your registered products download list in your My Support account. Serial numbers from physical copies of PCmover will work on the newer downloaded version.
NOTE: For transfers via Files, the “
Preparing the New PC for Migration
” section is optional (you do not need to do this step). It may reduce the size of the
MovingVan file, if you do. You will need to skip these steps if you do not have access to the New
computer at this time - Example: doing a new install of Windows on the computer and upgrading via
PCmover.
Follow all instructions in the latest version of the
PCmover Quick Start Guide
with the following modifications:
Preparing the New PC for Migration:
4) Choose the
Using a File Storage Device
option and click
Next
.
4a) Leave the selection on the “
Migrate using a snapshot
” entry.
4b) Enter a folder and file path in the
Snapshot:
field. This will need to be a location that you can find in order to copy the file to the
Old computer.
NOTE: We recommend that you keep the .pcs file extension at the end of it.
5) Follow the directions in the
Quick Start Guide
6) PCmover will take some time to create the
SnapShot
file in the location you specified above. This process may take a few minutes.
7) Once it has completed, click on the
Cancel
button and allow PCmover to close out at this point.
8)
Go to Old Computer
screen: Copy the
SnapShot
file (from the location you saved it) to the
Old
computer or move the removable drive to the Old computer now. This copy will need to be
done by you using some other method.
Preparing the Old PC for Migration:
6) Select the
Using a File Storage Device
option and click Next.
6a)
If you skipped the Preparing the New PC for Migration section, select the “
Skip this step. Migrate without a snapshot
” option, click
Next
, and skip to
step 9 on page 6 of the Quick Start Guide
.
6b)
If you created a SnapShot file, then type in the path or use the Browse button to
find the SnapShot file and click
Next
.
7 - 18) Follow the directions in the
Quick Start Guide
.
19a) On the
Identify MovingVan File Name
screen, enter the path and filename to store the
MovingVan
and click
Next
. You can use the Browse button to locate the proper location, if needed.
NOTE: The MovingVan file(s) will be very large. Be sure there is enough free space
in the destination location to hold it all.
19b) PCmover will create one or more MovingVan files. On the
Specify File Size
screen, you can adjust the size of each of these files so that they can be created to fit
on CDs, DVDs, or other smaller removable media (USB pen drives, etc). You will want to make sure
the file size here is small enough to fit onto the target media. We do not recommend increasing the
size beyond about 4GB (4,000 MB).
If checked, the “
Notify me after creating each portion
” box will cause PCmover to let you know before starting the next file in the series. This
gives you the chance to swap disks or copy earlier files over to free up space before making the
next file.
20) Follow the directions in the
Quick Start Guide
.
21) Skipped for this migration type.
22) Follow the directions in the
Quick Start Guide
.
Unpacking onto the New computer
NOTE: This is a new section that is not in the Quick Start Guide.
1) Copy the MovingVan file(s) to the New computer.
2) Run PCmover on the New computer, selecting
New computer
and
Using a File Storage Device
.
3) On the
Take Computer Snapshot
screen, select the
Skip this step. I already have or do not want a snapshot
.
4) On the
Go to Old Computer
screen, click
Next
.
5) On the
Locate Moving Van
screen, enter the path to the MovingVan file(s) or browse to the location of the MovingVan
file(s).
6) If you did not use a SnapShot, then select the appropriate options for the
Map User
and
Map Drives
screens (See steps 10 and 11 of the
Preparing the Old PC for Migration
… section of the PCmover Quick Start Guide – Page 6).
7) On the
Ready to Start - Unload Moving Van
screen, click
Next
.
8) PCmover will now unload the MovingVan file(s) onto the New computer. This may take as long
or longer as it did to create the MovingVan. It will prompt you for the next file if needed so you
can swap discs or copy over the next file.
9) Skip the
Finishing on the New PC
section of the Quick Start Guide and continue with the
Choose Your Startup Options on the New PC
section.
Product: PCmover
KB: 377
Last updated: Feb 27, 2007
