Getting a New Computer...

While getting a new computer is exciting and I usually can't wait to try out all the bells and whistles, but at the same time there is always this dark cloud looming over my head...the dark cloud of transferring all of my specific modifications, configurations, and settings from my old computer. I recently switched from my original Intel 3.2GHz Pentium 4 computer running Windows 7 Professional (on top) to an AMD 3.4 GHz Phenom II computer running Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit (on bottom) (Note: I had no idea that the case fan had blue LEDs when I bought it; I love it because the front USBs are at the top of the case).

Following are listed some tips and tools that can help ease the transfer of your information from one PC to another:

Cross-Browser Bookmark Transfer: http://www.xmarks.com/
XMarks is often the first add-on/extension I install on a new computer (right after I install Firefox and Chrome). XMarks has the ability to sync bookmarks and passwords between different computers. Currently it is syncing the bookmarks between my new Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit computer, my old Windows 7 Business computer, my Toshiba m750 Tablet PC (running Windows 7 Business), and my 13" MacBook. I do not sync passwords through the service though. Call me paranoid, but I would rather not provide my usernames and passwords to the same company that has the exact URL of where to use them.

Firefox Password Exporter: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2848
This Firefox extension has the ability to export your stored usernames and passwords into a XML file which can then be imported on another computer. The really fun part of it is that if you install and configure Firefox on your new computer using this add-on, then fire up Google Chrome, then Chrome will get all the usernames and passwords as well.

Putty Saved Sessions Transfer: http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/02/01/howto-transfer-your-putty-settings-between-computers/
I use Putty all the time. Why? Because it works reasonably well and I often need to Telnet/SSH into our ASA firewall or one of the voice gateways. I also use it to connect to my Linux box at my house. However, with putty there is no configuration file to move from one computer to another, but I found the steps at the link posted above that make it easy to transfer those saved sessions out of Putty.