One area we get a lot of questions about is how to transfer software when purchasing a new computer. Every piece of software works in a different way and they all differ in how they can be transferred from your old system to the new one. There are a few general rules to bear in mind when upgrading to a new system. First off, ask what software comes with your new system. Your new system might come with a copy of Microsoft Works installed, but if you’re using the Microsoft Office suite at work you probably won’t want to use MS Works. Your system might come with software for burning and viewing movies and listening to music, but if you like your existing software you may need to purchase a new copy or upgrade to the latest version. Some software requires activation upon purchasing, a process specifically designed to ensure the software is only installed a certain number of times. If your old computer came with a copy of Microsoft Office installed, chances are you’ll need a new version for your new computer. If however you purchased Microsoft Office and own a retail copy, you will most likely be able to install this copy on your new system. Finally, be aware that different applications store your information in different ways. Microsoft Word documents will be stored as single files in your My Documents folder unless you specified otherwise. Simply Accounting on the other hand stores it’s information in the Program Files directory and is easily overlooked when copying data. For more information or assistance with transferring to a new computer, contact AlphaKOR.