New laptop to newer laptop migration?

WinVista Ultimate
4GB RAM
500GB HD
Dell Inspiron

I recently purchased a 14" LED screen laptop. I'm giving thought to
exchanging to a 15" LED screen. I've already installed 80-90% of my 'normal'
programs so I don't want to redo the entire installation/activation etc. I
also use VMWare,
Can I 'just' transfer my HD from the 14" laptop to the 15" laptop and be
done with the migration or do I have to redo everything? What are my
options? [MS Vista has been activated and virtually everything else, too!
TIA!

Tom wrote:

> WinVista Ultimate
> 4GB RAM
> 500GB HD
> Dell Inspiron
>
> I recently purchased a 14" LED screen laptop. I'm giving thought to
> exchanging to a 15" LED screen. I've already installed 80-90% of my
> 'normal'
> programs so I don't want to redo the entire installation/activation etc.
> I also use VMWare,
> Can I 'just' transfer my HD from the 14" laptop to the 15" laptop and be
> done with the migration or do I have to redo everything? What are my
> options? [MS Vista has been activated and virtually everything else, too!
> TIA!

If the new laptop is also a Dell, you can probably image the 14" using
imaging software such as Acronis True Image and apply the image to the new
laptop. This will work well if the hardware is similar. If the hardware is
really different, the corporate versions of True Image have an optional
plugin called "Universal Restore" which you can buy. Other imaging programs
probably have something like that, too.

If both laptops come from Dell, you probably won't need to worry about
activating Windows.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

'Depends. If the new laptop has same/compatible processor/chipset
combination, then yes - if not, then no.

Saucy


"Tom" <> wrote in message
news:7C0067BA-3B5D-41C7-948F-...
> WinVista Ultimate
> 4GB RAM
> 500GB HD
> Dell Inspiron
>
> I recently purchased a 14" LED screen laptop. I'm giving thought to
> exchanging to a 15" LED screen. I've already installed 80-90% of my
> 'normal'
> programs so I don't want to redo the entire installation/activation etc.
> I
> also use VMWare,
> Can I 'just' transfer my HD from the 14" laptop to the 15" laptop and be
> done with the migration or do I have to redo everything? What are my
> options? [MS Vista has been activated and virtually everything else, too!
> TIA!

Saucy wrote:

> 'Depends. If the new laptop has same/compatible processor/chipset
> combination, then yes - if not, then no.

Yes if the OP uses an enterprise level imaging program such as Acronis True
Image with the Universal Restore plugin that I mentioned to him.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

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