Migrating to new computer, first timer help

[mpj567]

Hi all,

I'm building my significant other a new computer and I would like to not lose all of the data, particularly programs that I am completely unsure of how they were gotten, or if they can be reinstalled.

I've done some research and it looks like creating a disc image is what I'm looking for but before I go ahead and give this a try I just want to make sure I'm on the right track.

 

[smorizio]

if the hardware is close to each you may be able to do a disk image. if the newer mb is a lot faster and uses newer chipset drivers then the image when boot from a new hard drive may just blue screen on you till you remove the older drivers and update the mb in safe mode with the newest chipset drivers. your best bet is a new install of windows and then reinstalling the aps. if she has the cd then it wont take long. the easy way is to put both pc on a network and move her files over they have usb cross over cables now for this. if her files are small you can also use a usb memory stick to move them.

 

[mpj567]

if the hardware is close to each you may be able to do a disk image. if the newer mb is a lot faster and uses newer chipset drivers then the image when boot from a new hard drive may just blue screen on you till you remove the older drivers and update the mb in safe mode with the newest chipset drivers. your best bet is a new install of windows and then reinstalling the aps. if she has the cd then it wont take long. the easy way is to put both pc on a network and move her files over they have usb cross over cables now for this. if her files are small you can also use a usb memory stick to move them.

Sorry I wasn't clear. I know I most likely will not be able to move the boot portion of the hdd (as I already tried just attaching to new mobo lol) so I'm only interested in imaging everything BUT windows and the boot portion. Is this possible?.