Method and system for automated migration of user settings to a replacement computer system

• US 6,182,212 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cheston, Richard Wayne, Challener, David Carroll, Atkins, Barry Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/211,072
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 709/328, 717/11
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for automating migration of user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system in response to a user input. Selected portions of the registry, or central hierarchial data base within the existing computer system are automatically copied and stored in response a user input. A plurality of application program interface (API) routines are then initiated to retrieve and store selected settings within the existing computer system. Adapter binding information for all adapters within the existing computer system are retrieved and stored. The selected portions of the registry, selected settings and adapter binding information are then transferred to the replacement computer system and copied into appropriate registry keys, directories and files, effectively transferring the system settings from the existing computer system to the replacement computer system.

Claims

1. A method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system, said method comprising the steps of:

in response to a user input;

automatically copying and storing selected portions of a central hierarchial data base within said existing computer system;

initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system;

retrieving and storing adapter binding information for all adapters present within said existing computer system;

transferring said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information from said existing computer system to a replacement computer system; and

automatically copying said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information into said replacement computer system such that user system settings from said existing computer system are migrated to said replacement computer system.

2. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base further comprises the step of identifying a directory within said central hierarchical data base containing all files within a start menu within said existing computer system and copying and storing said files.

3. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base further comprises the step of identifying a directory within said central hierarchial data base containing all files specifying desktop icons within said existing computer system and copying and storing said files.

4. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base further comprises the step of identifying selected portions of said central hierarchial data base which include shell settings within said existing computer system and copying and storing said selected portions.

5. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises the step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store wallpaper settings and patterns from said existing computer system.

6. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises the step of initiating an application program interface routine to retrieve and store power management settings from said existing computer system.

7. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises the step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store keyboard settings from said existing computer system.

8. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 1, wherein said step of initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises the step of initiating an application program interface routine to retrieve and store taskbar attributes from said existing computer system.

9. The method for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 8, wherein said step of automatically copying said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adaptor binding information into said replacement computers system further comprises the step of automatically initiating a code sequence within said replacement computer system which emulates user actions required to set said retrieved taskbar attributes.

10. A system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system, said system comprising:

means for automatically copying and storing selected portions of a central hierarchial data base within said existing computer system in response to a user input;

means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system in response to said user input;

means for retrieving and storing adapter binding information for all adapters present within said existing computer system in response to said user input;

means for transferring said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information from said existing computer system to a replacement computer system; and

means for automatically copying said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information into said replacement computer system such that user system settings from said existing computer system are migrated to said replacement computer system.

11. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base within said existing computer system comprises means for identifying a directory within said central hierarchial data base containing all files within a start menu within said existing computer system and means for copying and storing said files.

12. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base within said existing computer system comprises means for identifying a directory within said central hierarchial data base containing all files specifying desktop icons within said existing computer system and means for copying and storing said files.

13. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for automatically copying and storing selected portions of said central hierarchial data base further comprises means for identifying selected portions of said central hierarchial data base which include shell settings within said existing computer system and means for copying and storing said selected portions.

14. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store wallpaper settings and patterns from said existing computer system.

15. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises means for initiating an application program interface routine to retrieve and store power management settings from said existing computer system.

16. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store keyboard settings from said existing computer system.

17. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 10, wherein said means for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system further comprises means for initiating an application program interface routine to retrieve and store taskbar attributes from said existing computer system.

18. The system for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system according to claim 17, wherein said means for automatically copying said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adaptor binding information into said replacement computers system further comprises means for automatically initiating a code sequence within said replacement computer system which emulates user actions required to set said retrieved taskbar attributes.

19. A computer program product for migrating user system settings from an existing computer system to a replacement computer system, said computer program product comprising:

storage media adapted for utilization within a computer system;

instruction means embodied within said storage media for automatically copying and storing selected portions of a central hierarchial data base within said existing computer system in response to a user input;

instruction means embodied within said storage media for initiating a plurality of application program interface routines to retrieve and store selected settings within said existing computer system in response to said user input;

instruction means embodied within said storage media for retrieving and storing adapter binding information for all adapters present within said existing computer system in response to said user input;

instruction means embodied within said storage media for transferring said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information from said existing computer system to a replacement computer system; and

instruction means embodied within said storage media means for automatically copying said stored selected portions of said central hierarchial data base, said selected settings and said adapter binding information into said replacement computer system such that user system settings from said existing computer system are migrated to said replacement computer system.