Easy Transfer No More in W10

Markverhyden said:
...but zinstall can move many apps.
Click to expand...
Too many times clients have "program X or y" installed that they got 10+ years ago, no media, no backup,
can't find it on the webs anymore and don't want to upgrade it either, etc, etc.
They don't really care about the consequenses of using out-of-date software because it works and does what it was intended to do.

If @fabs Fabs Autobackup included this feature it would be the consummate tool.
 
Markverhyden said:
Fabs is awesome but zinstall can move many apps.
Click to expand...

Aha! A rookie mistake - you've established yourself as the expert on a product I haven't used. Now for the barrage of questions.

Zinstall sounds interesting but I can't tell from their Web site if it simply has a list of applications it knows how to move or whether it handles arbitrary applications algorithmically (i.e. by cleverness and magic). Do you have enough experience of the product to be able to enlighten us on this? It's not a problem that comes up often (and I have enough sneakiness and low cunning to be able to move most things the hard way) but there's no harm in having a choice of tools for the same job.

Also, I might have missed it but do you happen to know if Zinstall allows in-place upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows, or vice versa? It's a once-in-a-blue-moon problem but it would be nice to have a better solution than nuke and pave.

Oh, and there doesn't seem to be a free version. What were those greedy developers thinking?
 
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Fabs has been discussed here many times recently. It is without doubt one of the best data transfer programs around. you will soon recoup the 45 euro's. Probably within the 1st job or 2.
 
Kraken said:
Fabs has been discussed here many times recently. It is without doubt one of the best data transfer programs around. you will soon recoup the 45 euro's. Probably within the 1st job or 2.
Click to expand...

I totally understand that in the context of small business, if the license allows it to be used on multiple PCs. And actually it makes sense if one is able to acquire migration business from small or medium-sized customers looking to update their PCs.

HOWEVER, in the context of an 8-5 corporate job, however, where I cannot charge anyone, I really miss the free utility we used as an additional backup tool...
 
nlinecomputers said:
Yeah but it is a $50 tool that you ought to be able to easily justify the purchase of to your superiors. You do have a budget for tools and the like no?
Click to expand...

Having a budget for tools is one of those things decided at corporate HQ and assigned to teams not concerned with backing up individual PCs. OTOH, I will try to plant the idea...
 
Computer Bloke said:
Aha! A rookie mistake - you've established yourself as the expert on a product I haven't used. Now for the barrage of questions.

Zinstall sounds interesting but I can't tell from their Web site if it simply has a list of applications it knows how to move or whether it handles arbitrary applications algorithmically (i.e. by cleverness and magic). Do you have enough experience of the product to be able to enlighten us on this? It's not a problem that comes up often (and I have enough sneakiness and low cunning to be able to move most things the hard way) but there's no harm in having a choice of tools for the same job.

Also, I might have missed it but do you happen to know if Zinstall allows in-place upgrades from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows, or vice versa? It's a once-in-a-blue-moon problem but it would be nice to have a better solution than nuke and pave.

Oh, and there doesn't seem to be a free version. What were those greedy developers thinking?
Click to expand...

Ok here's the skinny so to speak. Back in 2015 someone posted a thread on TN about how they got an offer to test drive it. So I signed up for it. Used it 3-4 times.

You know how many of these tools can work fairly well if it's simple situation. One of the ones I did was from my D610 running XP Pro, 32 bit, to a brand new Gateway laptop running W8 64 bit Home. I considered this one to be a real test. My Dell had all kinds of things beyond Office. Lot's of stuff like Wireshark, R-Studio, etc . To be honest I was surprised at how well it worked. Granted W8 still supported 32 bit apps, it migrated them over just fine.

Back then there was one major limitation. Many applications use drivers to implement features instead of libraries (dll's). Apps like QB, Wireshark, etc. Those apps will be moved but will not work as the drivers are not moved. Not sure of the state today. Office, '07 if I remember correctly, worked fine but had to be re-registered. But that's common when moving an installation to new hardware.

Not used it since the license expired. But I certainly would offer it if I had a storefront or did more break/fix work. But it would be a premium service so to speak. Pitched to business users or those who really need that old app that they lost the installation media.

Obviously this app does pose legal issues since one can actually move apps which will function on the new machine and still function on the old machine. So that requires certain conditions to prevent being tied up in possible litigation. Personally I'd tell the customer that, because of this feature, I'd have to keep the original drive or an image for backup purposes and they would get a blank drive from the old machine if they did not have the installation media.

I periodically check the site and they are actively developing so I think that it's a worthwhile tool. Maybe drop them a line mentioning your interest as a service provider to see if you might be able to get a 30 days trial.
 
Porthos said:
Even if I worked for someone else, I would have purchased the tools I have especially Fab's.;)
Click to expand...

The current problem is essential threefold:

1. The PCs/Support Contract are not mine, so for this instance there is no payback outside of goodwill among my team.
2. Corporate Support monitors all non-standard applications and report on them a couple levels above me. Since FAB's website is blocked by our corporate firewall, there might be red flags.
3. I was forced to take a break from servicing my own customers because of medical stuff (cancer, chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, extended travel costs due to cancer center being 300 miles away from home) since about mid 2016. I'm just now getting ready to pick up the torch again; but my budget is tight.

I am not against using it for my customers and I greatly appreciate the suggestion!
 
s
ComputerPlano said:
I was forced to take a break from servicing my own customers because of medical stuff (cancer, chemo, radiation, multiple surgeries, extended travel costs due to cancer center being 300 miles away from home) since about mid 2016. I'm just now getting ready to pick up the torch again; but my budget is tight.
Click to expand...
I totally understand. I recently had to close my Retail shop and spend 17 days in the hospital(nothing compared to what you are going through) Please take care of your self best ishes with your health. Sometimes it takes something like this to happen for us to realize everyday we wake up alive is a blessing and should not be wasted.

ComputerPlano said:
Corporate Support monitors all non-standard applications and report on them a couple levels above me.
Click to expand...
That is tottaly understandable but sucks none the less.
 
Porthos said:
s
I totally understand. I recently had to close my Retail shop and spend 17 days in the hospital(nothing compared to what you are going through) Please take care of your self best wishes with your health. Sometimes it takes something like this to happen for us to realize everyday we wake up alive is a blessing and should not be wasted.


That is totally understandable but sucks none the less.
Click to expand...

The good news is the cancer is gone coming up on one year June 8! Forgive me for just saying Praise God! (But after all I've gone through, I'd say that even if the cancer wasn't gone. He "carried me through deep water" more than once. And it is my sincere wish none of you ever have to even listen to my story in more detail, much less have you or a loved one experience any of it.)

I understand the company not wanting to have a complicated software environment. We want our customers to standardize and simplify, too... ;-)
 
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