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Replacing an old PC with a speedy new Windows XP system can make your computing life easier, but transferring all your data, settings, and applications can be a hassle. A bevy of programs (some of which are free) promise to help re-create your Windows 95/98/Me/2000 machine on your new computer.

Both the Professional and Home Edition versions of Windows XP include a Files and Settings Transfer Wizard for migrating settings (albeit for Microsoft products, mostly). For more-complex transfers, other choices let you transfer entire applications or park your data on the Internet while you're between PCs.

Bring In the Clones

Windows XP's Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools) works best with large-capacity removable disks, such as Zip. (For optical media such as CD-RW, you must use the wizard to save the old settings and data to a file, which you can then write to disc.) Iomega's version of the XP program, a free download called Iomega XP Moving Kit Software, is a bit easier to use.

But these free programs do not easily migrate settings and data from unsupported apps. For more software support, you'll have to pay for services or software like SkyDesk's SmartClone 2.0 ($50) or LapLink's PCSync 3.0 ($80).

SmartClone's price includes free online storage of as much as 250MB of data for up to 30 days. You can migrate over a network or with removable media, but you must have your license checked online.

Eisenworld's $50 AlohaBob PC Relocator 3.0 and PCFirst's $50 PC2PC transfer entire applications--great if you can't find installation disks or if you must deal with an oddball program.

If you're in a hurry, PC2PC's optional USB-to-USB cable is a better choice than the slower parallel or serial cables included with other packages (see chart). As with SmartClone, you must go online first to initiate the process and have your license checked.

With both these programs, you may end up with a lot of unwanted or misplaced files. For example, PC2PC replaced AOL 7.0 on our new PC with the 6.0 version from the old PC. PC Relocator moved Outlook Express e-mail and addresses into the wrong Windows folder on the new PC.

Still, depending on your needs, these apps can simplify PC moving day. For the price and for its ease of use, my pick is PC Relocator.