Abstract: A computer migration method for transferring non-physical aspects from a source computer to a target computer according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the method includes surveying the source computer aspects, and without scripts, associating portions of the source computer aspects into source computer Application Groups on the fly. The method also includes generating a list at least including the source computer Application Groups; receiving a user's selection of source computer Application Groups to be migrated to the target computer; and transferring selected source computer Application Groups to the target computer,; wherein the target computer is adapted to supplant the source computer after migration.

Abstract: A novel computer migration tool allows a user to selectively migrate assets of choice from a source computer to a target computer. The migration tool is non-script based, and intelligently ascertains “on the fly,” which assets on the source computer are part of each program, whether or not the migration tool has previous information about the programs or has ever encountered said programs. The novel techniques of determining how all of the files of a source computer are to be grouped (i.e., to which programs, files are associated) include examining installation log files created by “installation technology,” where they exist. Where installation log files do not exist, the migration tool uses a rules-based approach to group files (into programs) according to common folders, common creation dates, common modification dates, and, examining file allocation tables, group files that are proximate.