Data migration tools?

[Guest Stiletto]

I'm looking into alternative data migration utilities for s***s and giggles, being familiar as I am with Windows Easy Transfer and File & Settings Transfer Wizard. Today I played with Laplink PCMover. Careful with letting it transfer registry settings. It damaged my Windows Security Center settings to the point where it would no longer detect Norton 360 as an installed antivirus program. Fortunately it had an undo. But I was able to hack a Belkin Easy Transfer Cable to work in Windows 98 SE, and use it to transfer to a Vista Home Premium 64-bit install. Living on the edge, man!

There's been lots of acquisitions on this front in the last few years.

Spearit Move Me (http://www.spearit.com) was acquired by Laplink and is now Laplink PCMover. (http://www.laplink.com)

Miramar Desktop DNA (http://www.miramar.com) was acquired by CA and is now CA Backup & Migration (http://shop.ca.com/pc_migration/file_transfer.aspx)

and, of course, Alohabob PC Relocator (http://www.alohabob.com, http://www.apptimum.com) was purchased by Microsoft and became Windows Easy Transfer Companion before they took it offline.

So, on my short list to check out later:

CA Backup & Migration (http://shop.ca.com/pc_migration/file_transfer.aspx)

Detto Intellimover (http://www.detto.com/transfer-files-index.html)

I had hoped to check out Alohabob but apparently there was some sort of online component to it, and it went down when Microsoft killed off the company. I hear it was the best, as far as these things usually go.

Are there any others you guys would suggest? I realize that most of you still just copy stuff by hand or use Ghost or Acronis or something, but it's fun to play with.

- Stiletto