need help with old PC hardware to new PC (any experienced software techs?)

[DragonChi]

According to VMware, you'll be able to recognize the PCI card on the new machine that has virtualized Windows 95. You could probably try this out on your personal computer by making a partition with a clean windows 7 install, installing VMware, and installing the HASP key into your PCI slot. Aside from the VMware (you can probably get this for free as well if you are resourceful), you can try that all out for free, monetary wise. Time wise, it could cost you a weekend.

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-4-es...gh_device.html

All the options in this thread seem viable. The only thing now is to try them out.

I believe that VPN will only allow you to access the files remotely. You will not be able to run the software from home, unless you have the software installed on your computer at home. VNC will allow you to control the Windows 95 machine from home.

There are a lot of users that claimed that Word 97 was easy to used because they were used to it. It has been proven that the ribbon in Word 2013 increased productivity after they learned it. Just some food for thought.

Good luck.

[CharlesInCharge]

Oh I was under the impression that the embroidery software's installation disks were missing. The above install method is best.

[DragonChi]

They could very well be missing, hence the cloning requirement.

I also forgot to credit you (CiC) for following up on the virtualization option. Well done sir.

We stand on the shoulders of giants. As one would say.

[J____]

Suggest you build a new computer and buy the new software. This way the old system is still there for backup in case the new system messes up. If you don't and mess up upgrading the old computer, you loose out on days of work like everyone else says. Also, since your industrial machines are new, I assume your production rate will eventually increase exponentially in the future due to better efficiency and more than likely you'll be producing more products in the future than you are now. That being said, even if you did the upgraded hardware on old software successfully now, if the 20 year old software decides to bugger out in the future when your production is running at a much higher output, the cost in lost time then will be way more than the cost of same time lost now plus the few thousand you'll spend now on upgrading to new software.

Just my opinion though, but I understand all businesses have a budget they have to stick to and can understand if you need to cut back on certain things. From my personal experience though, if I go over budget and splurge on a business expense, the satisfaction and peace of mind know you're working on better and more effective gear is totally work the initial hit on budget. You'll more than likely make back the investment and quickly forget about going over budget a little, but you'll be smooth sailing with peace of mind for a long time.

quick google and wilcom is an embroidery software? Are there more cost effective alternatives as an option?