A method and system for describing, extracting and migrating application information from a first personal computer to one or more other computers is described. This method and system provides a means for selecting and translating the information useful in transferring application programs, settings and files while maintaining the preferred preferences and directories of the users. Using a standard INI file format, this method makes use of Application Information Files (AIFs) that contain a collection of tags. The tags provide identification of multiple versions of the application and conversion information for settings, registry information and files. This invention provides the method of creating self-extracting auto-migrate packages, which permit user customization of the set of files and settings to be migrated and which provides the intelligence needed to write files to the appropriate destination locations and to make the appropriate registry changes. Efficiency enhancing features and functions are also provided.