XP to XP Migration on Different PCs

[Divergent Species]

This may not be the right forum, but here goes. I have a relatively powerful gaming PC, which I am currently replacing (call this Target PC) and my wife has an older Celeran based PC she uses for business (call this Source PC), both running Windows XP. I would like to migrate my wife's software and data to the Target PC with the least amount of effort. Both XP's are OEM so they are tagged to the particular MB on which they were originally installed.

I realize I can do a fresh XP install on the Target, install the various business software applications and then copy the data / settings over individually for each software application. Being the lazy individual that I am, I was wondering if there are any good migration tools out there, preferably free or very cheap, that would do this for me.

Thanks in advance

[Steve R Jones]

Yank out current drive from Target pc...Install hers - do a Repair install of XP.

[Midknyte]

How to replace the motherboard on a computer that is running Win2003, WinXP, or Win2000

It's the same procedures when you swap hard drive (essentially changing the motherboard).

[Welshjim]

Divergent Species--Some thoughts and ideas
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f3/has-anyo...ew-one-166729/
http://www.acronis.com/company/inpre...-software.html
http://www.labnol.org/software/downl...omputers/3303/

[Divergent Species]

Steve/Midknyte,

In doing the repair install, do I use the XP licensed to the Target PC? I so, then I don't have a licensing problem. In other words,can I do the repir install with an XP with a different key from the installed XP? If I use the XP license from the Source PC, then I run into the licensing problem due to the change in Motherboards.

Welshjim,

I cant view the video from CDFREAKS at work so I will check it when I get home. I will go in search of the Laplink PC-Mover app to see if that meets the requirements.

Thanks all, the advice I get here is some of the best technical advice I see on the net.

EDITED: For spelling.

[Midknyte]

The repair install should not ask you for the key. It would use the existing key.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operat...txprepair1.htm