Thanks. So the bottom line is that I can restore data easily but to bring over the apps in such a way as to avoild reinstalling is the real trick, and that's what the LapLink PCmover app promises to do.
What trick ? Just do a complete restore from a completed backup with most any backup app. Even if the hardware drivers are different XP is very good at recognizing the different hardware & requesting the appropriate drivers BUT this may lead one to need reactivation depending on which version of XP we're dealing with. A word of caution is that not all backup apps include the drive's boot sector & that's why I prefer imaging when ever possible.
----------+----------
Wayne D. Johnson
Ashland, OH, USA 44805
<http://www.wavijo.com>
