Moving _apps_, settings and data to a new win10 PC

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waynemcl

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#222885 2-Sep-2017 08:23

Hi, computer Gurus: (is there a better thread for this? let me know)

I'm moving to a new PC, and I want to take my data, settings and apps/programs with me (because I'm fussy, have extensively modified environment, and have a bajillion obscure and engineering software, many of which are a large PitA to install, I'm guessing it'd take me ~a month to reinstall my whole system). Both are Win10 pro.

Re free versions of:

-Acronis trueimage (doesn't have the universal restore feature)

-EaseUS Todo PCTrans (2 apps only)

-laplink easy transfer (not now free)

are no go. I'm happy enough to front up $50, but only if reasonably confident it'll do the job, and I won't have to buy another copy for the 2nd machine; other fish-hooks etc

Anyone tried these, got recommendations?

I've had a search, but couldn't find any recommendations yet.

Thanks in Advance nerd pals.

Lias

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#1857194 2-Sep-2017 15:01

Easiest way is just take the drive out of machine A, and put it into machine B.. Windows 10 will keep on trucking.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

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waynemcl

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1857206 2-Sep-2017 15:42

Thanks for the reply.

I've read that that won't work: https://www.howtogeek.com/239815/why-cant-you-move-a-windows-installation-to-another-computer/ and elsewhere but to be honest, I haven't tried, because I'm moving to SSD, and want to keep the windows activation correct.

Have you had success with this approach? How did you deal with the change in hardware vs windows serial number?

Cheers

Lias

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#1857218 2-Sep-2017 16:00

Usually you need to reactivate, but that's not normally a problem.. I've changed systems several times both with Windows 7 and 10 without problems.

ANglEAUT

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#1857305 2-Sep-2017 18:55

The Microsoft User State Migration Tool (USMT) does copy a whole bunch of settings and configurations from one user account to another (with in same PC or PC2PC) but it will not copy across the applications. Besides that, Windows applications do NOT like to be copied from PC to PC. That's why you either use the portable version with less OS integration or you use Mac with their disc images.

Another problem you will run into is that your SSD is typically smaller than your spinning HDD. That means moving data to an alternate location.

If you are serious about moving to SSD, resize your OS partition smaller than the SSD, create an image using Clonezilla or other imaging tool and dump the image onto the SSD. Once booted, expand the partition to fill the SSD.

Like Lian, I've reactivated WinX successfully after a major hardware change. If it doesn't work across the Internet, phoning MS and explaining the situation to them has also worked for me. YMMV

Please keep this GZ community vibrant by contributing in a constructive & respectful manner.

ronw

1222 posts

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#1857380 2-Sep-2017 22:02

AOMEI is the answer.Its free download and do a system backup install your new drive and do a restore.

I have just done it and it worked fine onto Samsung SSD

Nokia 7 Plus
Nexus 6P 32Gb
Nexus 6 Phone
Nexus 5 Phone
Nexus 7 2013 Tablet
Samsung TAB A 8"
Samsung TAB A 10"

& many Windows laptops, Desktops etc

1101

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#1857956 4-Sep-2017 10:40

Moving the HD to the new PC is not allways that simple, same with re-imaging to the new PC
You'll have Win & Office activation issues, driver issues, win may not even start if the hardware is dissimilar.

The BEST way is backup & copy across data. Export email & re-import.
All your programs WILL need to be re-installed.
That is is the best way, trying to move the whole lot as is will only cause headaches
Yes its painfull to start from scratch, but at least everything will work correctly afterwards

Also, some programs can detect when they have been simply moved(NOT reinstalled) to a new PC & may simply refuse to run (or cause other headaches for you) . Expect re-activation issues on some of your software regardless

While it is possible to simply move the HD(or image) to the new PC, its often never that simple & may require considerable time to get everything working. That option is a last resort only
When Win sees a major hardware change, it sees it as a case of piracy & behaves accordingly.

MadEngineer

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#1857961 4-Sep-2017 10:43

1. Sign in with your Microsoft account
2. ...
3. Profit

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

waynemcl

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1858488 4-Sep-2017 21:06

Thanks for the suggestions folks.

I tried laplink PCmover for business continuity reasons. (I wanted to be very sure I had a remaining functional machine later this week, so didn't want to pull the drive from the old machine). After some networking foolery, it started working, and transferred 140 gig, but when sorting out the DLLs etc on the target it broke (out of memory [with 16GB RAM and swap, I assume]). Their phone support was actually rather good, and they offer a money back guarantee, so I suspect for a lighter transfer this may have been a good solution.

I then rebuilt the windows OS, (HP have hidden the activation code somewhere in the hardware, I didn't need to touch it, and it's come up with the correct new serial number) and started doing manual transfers. It's gone very well, helped by the speed of the new machine.

Today at one of my workplaces, I find that a transfer to SSD had gone badly for an IT guy there, they'd pruned and cloned the OS, and imaged it, but it still wouldn't boot. They also ended up with a clean windows, and re-installing. Not ideal, that staff member says it's rather slowing him down.

@madengineer almost none of my software is MS, except MSVS which was trivial to install, even with setting it up to do arduino C++ code for a client using LoRa.

MadEngineer

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#1858518 4-Sep-2017 22:03

... as in your windows live/msn/hotmail/watever. it'll save your windows settings, including your wallpaper image.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

1101

3086 posts

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#1858752 5-Sep-2017 10:28

waynemcl:

Today at one of my workplaces, I find that a transfer to SSD had gone badly for an IT guy there, they'd pruned and cloned the OS, and imaged it, but it still wouldn't boot. They also ended up with a clean windows, and re-installing. Not ideal, that staff member says it's rather slowing him down.

That happens. Its why I almost never try & do a clone onsite
Some name brand laptops (and a few PC's) have a weird non standard partitioning that most cloning software cant cope with...eg up to 5 partitons
For some machines , doing a HD clone/copy, its a matter of trying & trying & trying again , trying different cloning software . All those attempts takes a long long time so just isnt practical onsite