Patent ID: 6889376

Claim:
A method for migrating a user's software programs from a first to a second computer, the method comprising the steps of: identifying on the first computer, software products having software product files and product data files requiring to be prepared for future migration; packing the software product files and the product data files in a manner that enables them to be moved at a future point in time to the second computer, based on the identifying step previously executed; operating the first computer in accordance with a general purpose thereof including by running the software product files or generating associated user files after the packing in the first computer; further including storing data files changes and/or control information changes generated by running the software products on the first computer and additionally packing the changes for use on the second computer; moving the previously packed software product files and the product data files without using cloning to the second computer, except for files that are manually excluded, said moving of files being carried out without resorting to examining or considering all files of said first computer including those that are not associated with said identified software products being prepared for future migration; and unpacking the moved software product files and the product data files onto the second computer.