Q: Recently I got a new PC which installs Windows 8 while my old PC is running Windows 7. I would like to know whether there is a utility that can copy all installed programs from one PC to another since I do not want to reinstall and reconfigure these programs on new PC. By the way, I do want to clone programs only, not including Windows OS. Is there a good idea? Copying files one by one has been deprecated since it will cost a lot of time. PS. I have a 500GB USB external hard disk if it is useful.
A: It is highly suggested that users clone the partition which saves installed programs to another PC’s hard disk since cloning disk will overwrite the hard disk on new PC, containing Windows. If there are multiple partitions to copy, just clone them one by one though it is a little bit time-wasting. And the free drive clone software MiniTool Drive Copy is capable of copying all installed programs to another PC in a quite easy way. For detailed operating steps, please look at the following example.
How to Copy All Installed Programs to another PC with MiniTool Drive Copy
We have said copying the partition which saves programs can help transfer all installed programs with ease, so users just need to copy partition or partitions with the recommended free drive clone software. Of course, an external hard disk is needed. Firstly, please connect the external disk with computer and launch the program to get its main interface:
Then, choose “Partition to Partition” module since it is only for cloning a single partition.
Next, select the partition which saves installed programs (the source partition) and click “Next>”.
Then, choose a partition or unallocated space on the external disk to save content on the source partition and click “Next>”.
Next, change the size and location for the new partition and click “Finish”.
At last, click “Yes” button to start copying partition. After that, to copy a single partition is finished. If other partitions also save needed programs, copy these partitions one by one in the same way. Then, copy partitions on the external disk to new PC. When partitions are cloned, to copy all installed programs to another PC will be completed.
If users just want to copy installed programs but not Windows OS, clone partition with the free drive clone software MiniTool Drive Copy. If to copy content, including installed programs and Windows OS, just clone the entire disk.