Old PC to New PC - Transferring programs, files, apps...

Me | November 28, 2020 | newfreep

[newfreep]

I am surprising myself with a new laptop! (shhhhh - don't tell me about the gift and spoil the surprise)

After many, many years of GREAT service from my ASUS "Zen", I'm buying a new "Zen".

After searching the net for an easy & straightforward method to transfer my programs, docs, photos, apps, Outlook emails, etc - I've discovered it's not as easy as I thought.

[discostu]

Transferring files is easy. Big ol’ USB. Or your favorite online backup spot.

Programs don’t transfer. Gotta install em again. Maybe even buy em again depending on lots of random stuff.

[Kirkwood]

It is best to start fresh when you get a new system. Delete any garbage bloatware from the new system you don’t want. Then reinstall your apps and transfer licenses as needed. Use a flashdrive to copy your data like documents and pictures and music. USB3 flashdrives go a lot faster than doing a network transfer. I would steer clear of anything that automates the process because something is bound to go haywire and it will wind up taking you several times longer to sort out, if you can.

[McGruff]

Most programs can’t just be copied over to a new computer. Personal info and stuff can be like others have said. Under no case try to copy your whole old computer to new one.

[minnesota_bound]

Where your files are. If you use another web browser or email program then do a search on the internet for the locations:

C:\Users\”your name”\Desktop
C:\Users”your name”\Documents

Gotta turn on hidden files to see AppData
Open a folder then go to Tools> Folder Options> View> Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

Thunderbird email:
C:\Users\”your name”\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird

Firefox web browser:
C:\Users\”your name”\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla

FreeFileSync - FREE
https://freefilesync.org
This will copy and paste all your files to the new hard drive.
You can setup a sync file so you can backup the files from time to time to another hard drive. ALWAYS have a backup!
Backup your files on the desktop and documents folder and where the email and bookmarks are stored. It just copies all to the folder you choose on the other drive so just like on your old locations.

Windows has that ability to copy and paste but will keep stopping and asking you if you really want to move or copy the files.

MiniTool Partition Wizard - FREE
https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
Click on “Disk Clone” to copy the OS and programs and files to the new hard drive. Image: https://miro.medium.com/max/909/1*cbJaZvIlNgLBBG20pzdqdA.png

If you have a problem with files that will not open anymore like I did after I put the old hard in a external drive enclosure you can run the “Partition Recovery” which fixed the partition table corruption issue in seconds.

EaseUS Todo Backup Home - Buy for $59 or rent at $30 a year.
https://www.easeus.com/backup-software/tb-home.html
I use this to clone the hard drive or make backups of my files. It will also do incremental backups of files as you create them.
Propriety format. You can click on the file which opens the “C” drive then you drill down to say the desktop to view or open your files. Just right click to copy over to the other hard drive.

[aimhigh]

When you have your new laptop, check to see if the drive is encrypted. Mine were, and after upgrading the SSD drive, I couldn’t get into the old drive. It asked for the bitlocker key, which was never given. I’ve since unencypted my laptops.

[TChad]

...what methods are recommended to make the transfer as easy and painless as possible?

You did not say "cheap." For easy and painless, pay a competent tech to do the transfer. The process is too complex to explain in an internet post. Many things can go wrong.

That said...

BACK UP EVERYTHING and verify that the backups work. Unless you see a backup restoration work, assume that it will not.

[AUTiger83]

Reinstall programs you want from scratch.

Copy photos and music to USB or portable hard drive or cloud drive (Microsoft OneDrive for me).

Your Outlook needs no transfer. You just need to log into your existing Outlook account on your new laptop.

[TChad]

It asked for the bitlocker key, which was never given.

Microsoft has it. You can usually get it via your Microsoft account, which you probably created when you set up Windows. Search for "Finding your BitLocker recovery key."

[time4good]

I’ve always built all my computers. My Win7 one finally died and believe it or not instead of a new install of W10 naked I actually used Laplink a program around for 20+ years. It did a pretty decent job to migrate my installed programs on my Win7 hard disk into and under W10. It was worth the money as I didn’t have all the original install images.

All previous times I’d start fresh and reinstall everything.

[time4good]

Agreed. Copying data is easy. Copying installed software is impractical by hand.

[Nifster]

If you are on the cloud it is very straight forward. Back up everything to cloud. Access cloud on new computer. Download

[Pollard]

I think there’s a tool for every OS except for Linux. With Linux, you do a backup of the /home folder (docs and settings), make a list of all your apps. Restore /home backup to new PC, install apps which is quick and doesn’t require restarts. Done. Everything will be like it was, even open browser tabs, history etc. All programs will still have Open >> Recent files.

[Malsua]

Laplink PC mover is probably the least painless and I’ve done hundreds of migrations using a lot of different software.

[zeestephen]

If you have Outlook email and use Windows and Microsoft Edge, it should all happen automatically - including all your settings.

I bought my last computer four years ago.

I switched it on, and all my documents and email archives and Web Favorites were right there.

I had a new screen size, so I needed to make a couple setting adjustments the first week.

After that, it has been working perfectly for four years.

I know that many Free Republic tech heads hate Microsoft.

But for the average computer user like me, I have no complaints at all.

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking

[aimhigh]

It asked for the bitlocker key, which was never given. Microsoft has it.<>I tried that, with no luck. I set up my Microsoft account decades before the laptop.

[Darth Mall]

BFL

[Auntie Mame]

Consideration for your ping list.

[sushiman]

Off topic but ...I have read in several places that Asus technical support inc. phone support leaves much to be desired . Have you had any experience with Asus support ? I’m in the market for a new computer as my HP Touchsmart all in one is dying a slow death at the moment . I’ve been looking at Lenovo ( here in Japan ) who has NEC Japan handle tech support which is nice but I’d rather not buy a computer made by a Chinese manufacturer if I can avoid it which is why I have been looking at Asus .

[dayglored]

Good thought, thanks!