--- title: "\"File Storage Device\" Migration - Laplink's Technology Blog" description: "We got a great question the other day on twitter from @jethrosan and had to share it with you. He asked the following: We sure do, it can be done with PCmover® using the “File Storage Device” migration option. So, if you are wanting to conduct an in-place upgrade of your existing PC to a CLEAN install of Windows® 7 here are the steps to …" image: https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Twitterquestion.jpg --- TRUSTED FOR OVER 40 YEARS - [About Laplink](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [About Us](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [Management](https://go.laplink.com/management) - [Careers](https://go.laplink.com/careers) - [Laplink Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/) - [Media Center](https://news.laplink.com/) - [Support](https://contact.laplink.com) - [Knowledge Base](https://help.laplink.com) - [Laplink Account Login](https://laplink.com/mysupport/default.asp?FinishURL=/mysupport/mysupport.asp) - [Contact](https://contact.laplink.com/) [![Laplink](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Blog%20%20Main/images/logo-white.png?width=750&height=242&name=logo-white.png "Laplink")](https://www.laplink.com/) - [Personal & Home Office](https://go.laplink.com/pcmover-feature-overview?hsLang=en) - 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Evaluation requests are processed and approved usually within one business day. Please fill out the form below. Please note the Evaluation copy of PCmover Enterprise requires you to be logged into a domain when testing. If you would like to test Enterprise without this requirement, please contact corpsales@laplink.com to receive an alternate copy of the software. Thank you for your interest, and for choosing Laplink Software! ##### Contact Sales × ![Featured Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Twitterquestion.jpg) # “File Storage Device” Migration Published by [Thomas Koll, CEO](https://blog.laplink.com/author/thomas-koll-ceo) on October 26, 2010 at 7:29 AM We got a great [question](https://laplink.cleverbridge.com/59/cookie?x-ad=Blog_Goodquestionpost_1026&redirectto=http%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2fjethrosan%2fstatus%2f28017219276) the other day on twitter from [@jethrosan](https://laplink.cleverbridge.com/59/cookie?x-ad=Blog_Contest_Twitteranswerpost1022&redirectto=http%3a%2f%2ftwitter.com%2f%2fjethrosan) and had to share it with you. He asked the following: [![](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Twitterquestion.jpg?width=414&height=206&name=Twitterquestion.jpg "Twitterquestion")](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Twitterquestion-1.jpg?hsLang=en) We sure do, it can be done with PCmover® using the “File Storage Device” migration option. So, if you are wanting to conduct an in-place upgrade of your existing PC to a CLEAN install of Windows® 7 here are the steps to complete this type of migration: ** Step 1) **Select “Migration” [![](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Migration-1.jpg?width=360&height=319&name=Migration-1.jpg "Migration")](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Migration.jpg?hsLang=en) **Step 2) **Select “OLD computer” (Generally we suggest you start with the NEW computer, but not in this scenario!) [![](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Old-Computer-1.jpg?width=354&height=313&name=Old-Computer-1.jpg "Old Computer")](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Old-Computer.jpg?hsLang=en) **Step 3)** Select “File Storage Device” and click Next [![](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/File-storage-device.jpg?width=354&height=313&name=File-storage-device.jpg "File storage device")](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/File-storage-device-1.jpg?hsLang=en) **Step 4)** Select “Skip this step. Do not use a snapshot.” [![](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Snapshot.jpg?width=354&height=313&name=Snapshot.jpg "Snapshot")](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Snapshot-1.jpg?hsLang=en) After you complete these steps, continue through the rest of the wizard and pack up your “moving van” to the storage device you are using. After this is complete you can install Windows 7 however you would like. After the installation of Windows 7 is complete, re-install PCmover and go through the wizard again selecting the “File Storage Device” migration. Select the folder that PCmover created on your storage device and it will then “un-pack” all of the programs, files and settings you previously selected and place it where it needs to go. Voila, you are finished! Let us know if there are any other questions and we’ll have one of our technical guys get on here and answer some questions. Tags: [Windows 7](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/windows-7), [Uncategorized](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/uncategorized), [PCmover](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pcmover) [Back to Blog](https://blog.laplink.com) #### Add Comment Published by #### Thomas Koll, CEO ![Author Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/TKauthor.jpg) As Chairman of the Board and CEO of Laplink, Thomas guides the company’s strategic direction. Prior to joining Laplink in 2003, Thomas was Chairman of the Board for Infowave, where he was involved in interfacing with global business and financial communities. Thomas also served as Infowave’s Chief Executive Officer from February 2001 to April 2002. Prior to joining Infowave, Thomas worked at Microsoft for more than 13 years. He was Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Network Solutions Group where he was responsible for Microsoft’s worldwide business with telecommunication companies. Thomas was instrumental in developing Microsoft’s vision for the communications industry and led the development of strategic partnerships in mobility, broadband and hosting. Previously, he was General... [Read more about Thomas Koll, CEO...](https://blog.laplink.com/author/thomas-koll-ceo) ## Related Articles ## [PCmover Image Assistant - Interview with CTO - Laplink's Technology Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/2010/02/24/pcmover-image-assistant-interview-with-cto?hsLang=en) We sat down with our Chief Technology Officer Jack Wilson and asked him what he thought were some... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2010/02/24/pcmover-image-assistant-interview-with-cto?hsLang=en) ## [Switching Hardware? Avoid The Risk of Data Theft. - Laplink's Technology Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/2012/11/01/switching-hardware-avoid-the-risk-of-data-theft?hsLang=en) from the Chairman & CEO of Laplink: Thomas Koll [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2012/11/01/switching-hardware-avoid-the-risk-of-data-theft?hsLang=en) ## [The Heartbleed Bug: A Note from Laplink - Laplink's Technology Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/2014/04/18/the-heartbleed-bug-a-note-from-laplink?hsLang=en) The OpenSSL project team announced a serious security vulnerability, known now as the Heartbleed... [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2014/04/18/the-heartbleed-bug-a-note-from-laplink?hsLang=en) - ©  LAPLINK SOFTWARE INC. 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