A question that I get asked a lot is "How do I transfer my software and files to my new PC? and I answer this by asking "Have you kept your product key and original installation CD's that you purchased the software on?, the reply that comes back is normally, "I don't know" or "What is that?" or even "I might have them somewhere". To explain what I mean, when you buy software from a shop or on line it will usually come supplied with an installation file and a unique 'product key' sometimes known as a 'license key', in the case of software that is purchased from a shop the product key will usually be on a sticker either on or inside the box and the installation file will be supplied on a CD/DVD ROM disc,  if you have bought your software from an online shop you would have downloaded an installation file to your PC and the product key would have been sent to you via e-mail, you should have made a note of this and copied the install file to a CD/DVD, sometimes when making the purchase you are given the option of buying a back up CD/DVD disc that will be sent to your home address but if you are like me and want to save some money, you should make your own, it is these two items that you need to safeguard especially the 'unique product key' as it is this that will allow you to be able to use the software, how ever all is not lost, if you don't have these two items there are a couple of things that you can do;

1. If the software is still active on your old PC you can retrieve your product key by opening the software and in the file menu along the top there will be a tab titled either 'about' or 'help', if you open this you will be shown your product key, this will vary between software publisher's, make a note of this and then you can go to the manufacturer's website and download the installation file again, burn it to a CD/DVD and then you will be able to install it on your new PC.
2. You can contact the software manufacturer via their support site and they will usually identify you via your e-mail address and card details that you used to purchase the software in the first place, in the case of software that you bought from a shop you would have been given the opportunity to register your purchase during installation with the manufacturer and they will be able to trace you that way. 

If you are unable to do any of the above then you will have lost the product key completely and you will have to re-purchase your software again if you want to use it, this time please make a back up copy of it, if you don't know how to do this I will be explaining this in greater detail in another article later on.

  Simon

22/Dec/11

Source: http://simon-b.org/moving-to-new-computer.php

 ↑ Back to Top

Your Comments Are Welcome

Click here to add a comment

Name:


Location:


Web site:


Email:


Rating:






Title:


Comment:




Please enter the Captcha code:

There are no comments to display, be the first to comment on this post.