Migrate your installed software, files and other data to your Windows 7 installation
Upgrading to Windows 7 can take a very long time. If you've a Windows XP system, or you're migrating from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Windows 7, or you're moving up an edition (Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Ultimate, say), then the Windows 7 DVD won't be able to upgrade your PC. Instead you'll have to carry out a clean installation, then manually reinstall your applications, all their add-ons, then reconfigure every setting. Ouch.
O&O Migration Kit for Windows 7 can help you avoid this painful prospect, however. The program may be installed on any version of Windows from 2000 Professional upwards, and then helps you upgrade to any edition of Windows 7, while also transferring your program installations, settings, and your data.
The migration kit comes in two parts.
The first, O&O DiskImage 4 Professional Edition, will back up your current hard drive, just in case the upgrade goes wrong. (Not likely, but upgrading Windows is a big operation and it's best to be prepared.)
And the second, Laplink's PCmover Professional, scans your PC for installed applications, settings and data, storing all their details in a "moving journal". After carrying out a custom installation of Windows 7, reinstall PCmover Professional, point it at the moving journal and it'll reinstall and reconfigure your PC.
The results won't be 100% perfect. Security programs like firewalls or antivirus tools must be reinstalled, for instance. You may have to locate a few drivers for your hardware, too (the old ones might not work). The O&O Migration Kit will save you considerable time and hassle, though. And once the update is complete then you'll be left with an excellent backup tool in O&O DiskImage 4 Professional, which can carry on protecting your new Windows 7 installation.
Review by Mike Williams.
