Steps to ensure foolproof client migrations

25 January 2010 72 views No Comment

As an IT Support personnel you would have come across multitude of problems with PCs and Laptops. As a last resort you might have to completely wipe the hard drive and reinstall the OS. You might even need to provide a new PC.

The steps that is stated here are from my experience and what I normally do for clients PC migration or even reinstalling the OS.

1. Check the list of software needed

Go through and write down all application the client is using. You may discuss with him which are the necessary software. This way you can avoid all unnecessary software that the user might have installed.

2. Prepare software and driver CD in advance

If the software is licensed, get the CD and CD Key from the client. If the software can be downloaded, download them now. You don’t want to take an entire day installing software for your client.

3. Check network configuration

Your client might have some special setting that requires static IP Address. Take it down.
Ensure any specific configuration for Workgroup or Domain is taken care of.

4. Check printer configuration

Prepare the drivers for this in advance. If it is a networked printer check if any special configuration has been made. Once you have the OS installed and all other drivers installed get the printer configured and tested. You don’t want to be returning again just to install their printer.

5. Backup user data

As much as it is the users responsibility you ought to backup all their data. For this purpose bring along an external portable hard drive. Sit with the user and ask him to point to wherever and whichever files and folders he has and back them up. In most cases all files are saved under My Documents and Desktop.

Don’t forget to backup the Outlook Archive(.pst) file and OneNote files, if any. Next is to backup the .NK2 file. This file does the auto fill for Outlook addresses. If the client is not using these just ignore them.

6. Install OS and drivers

I will leave the process up to you. For my practise, after the OS install the chipset or motherboard drivers will be installed first followed by the graphics drivers and any other hardware.

7. Configure Network

Set all IP Address settings noted from Step 3. Set Workgroup or Domain accordingly.

8. Reinstall all software

The most annoying part of the job. Reinstall all software the user needs as per Step 1. Configure Outlook email client and any other software that needs configuration.

Any Anti-virus or anti-malware software should be installed.

Also do a Windows Update to update any security patches. Critical updates are enough in this case.

9. Restore user data

Restore all user data to its original places. This would include any Outlook Archive files and other software specific configuration files.

Final Note

This procedure would take hours if the client has an exhaustive list of software and and lot of data. I know it is a headache. Maybe you could chit chat with your client and get some networking going!

Enterprises and companies with enough resources are deploying imaging technology where by one system is configured with standard software and settings. You take an image of that drive and deploy it to all other machines. Of course all the machine should be of the same make or model. Norton Ghost? It is once of the most popular solution.