Troubleshooting PCmover Professional: Common Issues and FixesPCmover Professional is designed to simplify migrating files, applications, and settings from one Windows PC to another. Yet even well-designed tools can run into problems. This guide covers the most common issues users face with PCmover Professional and provides clear, actionable fixes so you can complete your migration with minimal downtime.
1. Preparation: steps to take before troubleshooting
Before you diagnose specific errors, perform these foundational checks:
- Verify both source and target PCs meet PCmover’s system requirements and are running supported Windows versions.
- Install the latest PCmover Professional updates on both machines.
- Create full backups of important files on both PCs (use Windows File History, an external drive, or a cloud service).
- Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall software that might block network transfers; re-enable them afterward.
- Ensure both PCs are connected to the same network if using a network transfer, or confirm the transfer cable is correctly connected.
2. Common issue: Transfer stalls, hangs, or is very slow
Symptoms: Transfer progress freezes, percentage stops moving, or transfer takes much longer than expected.
Possible causes:
- Large number of small files (creates overhead).
- Network congestion, poor Wi‑Fi signal, or faulty Ethernet cable.
- Antivirus or firewall scanning causing delays.
- Low disk space on either PC.
Fixes:
- Switch to a wired Ethernet connection for both PCs if possible.
- Pause or stop other network-heavy activities (cloud backups, streaming).
- Exclude PCmover and transfer folders from real-time antivirus scanning temporarily.
- Free up disk space on the destination PC; ensure available space exceeds the total to be transferred.
- Break the migration into smaller chunks: transfer user profiles, then apps, then remaining files.
- If using a transfer cable, try a different cable or USB port.
3. Common issue: Some applications don’t work after transfer
Symptoms: Transferred applications fail to launch, show licensing errors, or behave unpredictably.
Possible causes:
- Applications requiring reactivation tied to hardware IDs.
- Missing dependencies or system files that weren’t migrated.
- Services or drivers that need manual reinstallation.
- User-specific settings or registry entries not compatible with the new OS.
Fixes:
- Reinstall or repair the affected application on the target PC and re-enter license/activation information.
- Check vendor documentation — some software explicitly disallows migration and requires a fresh install.
- Update Windows and install required runtimes (e.g., .NET, Visual C++ Redistributables).
- Use PCmover’s “Applications” selection to ensure apps were included; if not, run another pass focused on those apps.
4. Common issue: Missing files or folders after transfer
Symptoms: Expected documents, photos, or folders are absent on the new PC.
Possible causes:
- Files excluded during migration (filters or user choices).
- Source files in locations not covered by PCmover (external drives, non-standard folders).
- Corrupted profiles or file permission issues.
Fixes:
- Re-run PCmover and carefully review the selection screen to include all user accounts and folders.
- Manually copy files from external drives or non-standard directories.
- Check the source PC for hidden files or folders and correct permissions (right-click → Properties → Security).
- Use the PCmover log (if available) to identify skipped files; restore from backup if necessary.
5. Common issue: Transfer reports “insufficient permissions” or access denied
Symptoms: Errors stating files couldn’t be accessed or copied due to permissions.
Possible causes:
- Running PCmover without administrator privileges.
- Files owned by system or another user account with restricted permissions.
- Encrypted files (EFS) that can’t be transferred without the encryption key.
Fixes:
- Run PCmover as Administrator on both machines (right-click → Run as administrator).
- On the source PC, change ownership or permissions for affected files/folders (Properties → Security → Advanced).
- Decrypt EFS-encrypted files or export/import encryption certificates before transfer.
- Ensure the source account is active and not disabled.
6. Common issue: Network discovery or connectivity problems
Symptoms: PCs don’t see each other, transfer option over network isn’t available, or connection repeatedly drops.
Possible causes:
- Network profile set to Public, blocking file sharing.
- Firewall blocking PCmover ports.
- Different subnets or router isolation settings (guest network).
- Missing Windows features like SMB or network discovery disabled.
Fixes:
- Set both PCs’ network profiles to Private (Settings → Network & Internet → Properties).
- Temporarily disable firewall or add exceptions for PCmover and Windows File and Printer Sharing.
- Connect both PCs to the same router and subnet; avoid guest networks.
- Enable network discovery and file sharing in Windows (Control Panel → Network and Sharing Center → Advanced sharing settings).
- If required, enable SMBv1/SMBv2 support depending on PCmover’s needs (be aware of security risks).
7. Common issue: Licensing, activation, or registration errors
Symptoms: PCmover refuses to start or warns about license validity.
Possible causes:
- License key not entered correctly.
- License assigned to a different PC or exceeded activation count.
- Internet connectivity issues during activation.
Fixes:
- Verify and re-enter your product key carefully (copy-paste to avoid typos).
- Check Laplink/PCmover account for license limits and deactivate on old PCs if necessary.
- Ensure internet connectivity during activation and temporarily disable VPNs or proxies.
- Contact PCmover support for license transfer or reset.
8. Common issue: Corrupted transfer logs or error codes you don’t recognize
Symptoms: Transfer fails with an error code or log files show corruption.
Possible causes:
- Interrupted transfer (power loss, abrupt shutdown).
- Partial writes due to disk errors.
- Software bugs or incompatible OS patch levels.
Fixes:
- Note the exact error code and search PCmover’s knowledge base or support resources for that code.
- Run CHKDSK on both drives to identify and repair disk errors:
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
chkdsk C: /f /r
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
- Reboot both PCs and run the transfer again.
- If logs are corrupted, reinstall PCmover and repeat the transfer on a fresh session.
9. Advanced troubleshooting steps
- Use Event Viewer on both PCs to spot related system or application errors around the time of transfer.
- Capture network traffic with a tool like Wireshark if transfers fail over the LAN—look for retransmissions or resets.
- Create a clean user profile on the destination PC and try transferring into that account to isolate profile-specific issues.
- Run SFC and DISM to repair Windows system files:
sfc /scannow DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
10. When to contact PCmover/Laplink support
Contact support if:
- You see repeated, unexplained error codes after trying fixes above.
- Multiple critical applications fail to function and require vendor intervention.
- License activation problems you cannot resolve through your account.
- You prefer guided assistance for complex migrations (domain environments, multiple accounts, encrypted data).
When contacting support, provide:
- The exact PCmover version and build.
- Windows versions on both PCs.
- A copy of the PCmover log and any error codes.
- Steps you’ve already taken and screenshots if possible.
11. Checklist: quick fixes to try first
- Run PCmover as Administrator.
- Use Ethernet rather than Wi‑Fi.
- Temporarily disable antivirus/firewall.
- Ensure enough disk space on the destination.
- Reinstall/repair problem apps after transfer.
- Reboot both machines and retry.
Troubleshooting PCmover Professional usually involves network, permission, or application-compatibility issues. Follow the steps above in order, and keep backups handy so you can restore data if something goes wrong.
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