For 25 years software tools company Laplink has been selling its popular PCmover utility for $US50. But, just for today, you can get a copy for free.
UPDATE: seems that although Laplink sent out an announcement with an embargo time of 2am this morning, the actual free downloads don't kick off 'till 2am Friday morning.
For a quarter of a century, US-based Laplink Software has been carving out a lucrative niche selling tools that help people transfer data from one PC to another. Starting with its original connection cable launched in 1983, the company has expanded to the point where it now claims the lion’s share of the world’s migration software market.
Today only, in a global marketing push designed to highlight its silver anniversary, the company is offering visitors to its website (www.laplink.com) the chance to download its flagship PCmover application for free – no strings attached. It usually costs $US50.
PCmover helps those needing to migrate to a new PC by automating the task of moving data files, applications and settings.
One of PCmover’s biggest selling points has always been its ease of use. Just install it on both the old and new machines, connect them via a transfer cable, and the software does the rest. Compatible cables include Laplink’s own USB and parallel cables and Windows Easy Transfer cables.
Alternatively you can use removable media as long as it can be read by both machines, however this will slow down the whole process and removes the benefits of automation.
The tool scours the hard drive of the original machine and compares its contents with that of the target computer. You can opt to either transfer all files or manually select those you wish to use on the new box.
If your computer has more than one user, the software offers the option some or all of them at the same time. Personal details such as file ownership and access control are preserved for each user during this process.
The utility works with almost any Windows operating system (other than 64-bit flavours) and can even be used to transfer files to an Intel-based Mac. It's a particularly handy tool for the task of migrating files and settings between
Windows 9x versions and Windows NT-based versions such as XP and Vista,
even though the operating systems have quite different file structures.
Each copy of the software is licensed for only one migration. Anyone wanting to make multiple transfers between PCs will need to purchase and download another copy from the company web site... or find a way to download multiple free copies during the 24 hour free period!