Migration From Intel MacBook Pro Salvaging Old Perpetual License Software

Every time an OS or Hardware upgrade is done, the old haunt recurs. Will it force repurchase of old software to recreate the work flow environment that has been so vital in the past? I have finally completed migrating my software from my Intel based MacBook Pro with Windows 10 on a Boot Camp select partition to my new M3 MacBook Pro with Virtual ARM Windows 11 and can comment on my experience. To achieve a full migration that preserves and yes, improves work flow, it took some time devoted to discovery.

There are actually more migration paths than just MacOS to MacOS.

1) MacOS to MacOS allows choosing to migrate one or more of four types, but only two are of interest, Applications and Data Files. And as far as apps go, the migration may fail to transfer some programs due to compatibility issues, - usually, missing dll files. Note that the Windows Migration is all or nothing and going from 10 to 11, that may be problematic. For some software, testing whether it will run after migration has one hitch: It will be necessary to re-enter the original license key.

2) Copying over certain programs that have all their code in one directory on the old machine can be done. On Windows 11, you'll need to run a Command Shell or Power Shell as Administrator to copy the directory into the Program Files or other place where they were on Windows 10 on the old machine. And yes, in some cases, a failure will result due to missing dll files and with a recommend to re-install.

3) Re-Installation can be done in two ways, 1) from the original CD/DVD or 2) from your account with the software vendors web site, if they are still extant. The issue in both cases is the need to have in your records, the license keys.

4) Replacing an old version software with a newer replacement version because the old company doesn't exist anymore or you've lost the license keys. Hopefully, you can find a replacement that allows a perpetual license.

5) If you aren't able to migrate a Windows software application toi the new machine, but have had it on MacOs, the ARM Windows 11 Virtual running on Parallels will allow you to run the MacOs Version from the Start Menu.

Why go through all this? Most software these days is subscription only and if you have a robust collection of expensive software to move, that spells a big cost every year, whereas migrated older perpetual license versions do not. The only issues are forward file compatibility and no longer being eligible for updates. If you don't expect to read new file formats ever, neither is a problem.

I was able to migrate all my software apps from the old machine to the new with no requirement of subscriptions.

 

I was able to migrate all my old system software, except for one item. .... XRite's iProfiler which complained that it could not find a .dll. The same profiler is now sold by CalBrite for $299.00 and there is no subscription. I'll buy the iProfiler when it comes time of need. iProfiler is a kit with a monitor that hangs down over computer screens and is used to adjust the screen's color profile for folks who are deep into photography and/or cinematography.