NFR Moving Data From Old Laptop to New One

GAT

GAT

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I know a lot of you guys are computer savvy ... just as much or more than those on a computer site ... so here's the situation. My wife has an HP laptop running Windows 10. The computer is older than dirt so we just bought a new one (also HP, also Windows 10). I thought there was some manner in moving all of her old computer, including programs, onto the new one. Basically, cloning the old into the new.

I was talking to the IT guy here at work and he said you can't move programs, just data. We'd need to reinstall all the programs in the new machine.

WTF? Some of those programs will not be easy to track down, especially if they were originally installed as a download with no disc. It can be done but I was wondering if the IT guy knows what he is talking about. If I ran a full backup of the old computer to an external drive and then installed the backup program on the new computer, could I restore the old programs and data on the new 'puter via the backup on the external drive?

Or is there a transfer program out there that also transfer program applications and not just data files?

Sorry to ask this on a flyfishing forum but I trust you guys.
 
Nope, that's the right of it. Programs have to be installed on the machine because there's dependencies that have to be established and whatnot. Windows is the most complicated of the bunch when it comes to downloading and installing software, too. One of the many reasons I'm becoming more and more of a Linux advocate... I can find and install any program I want within seconds.
 
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Well crap. This is going to be a big, expensive hassle. I can tell that right now.
 
Like Evan says, I'm not sure that it's possible on a Windows machine due to the way things are set up re software/hardware interaction. Besides, you are almost always better off with a nice clean install of Windows.

Not that it helps you GAT, but I'll mention that anyone on a Mac who needs to do this can use Carbon Copy Cloner.

bombich.com

Carbon Copy Cloner: macOS Backup Software - Bombich Software

bombich.com bombich.com
 
Not a windows guy. Mine are Macs. I back up onto a hard drive once a week. When I get a new computer I do a back up, plug it into the new computer and 10 minutes later everything is transferred and it looks just like the old one. Programs, data, everything. Can't imagine why it would be different with windows, but then again I hated all the windows updates and crap and switched years ago.
 
Honestly, if it weren't for Adobe Creative Cloud, I'd be 100% Linux all the time. I may work on getting Mac OS working on my laptop as a dual boot to totally purge my Windows out for good. After Windows 11 I decided I was done. I can tolerate Mac OS, but only so I can continue to use Adobe (the only thing I can't run in Linux).
 
This works fairly well transferring stuff including applications on Windows 10:

Laplink® Software, Inc. — The global leader in endpoint migration - Trusted for over 40 years

Laplink® is the global leader in consumer, SMB, and enterprise PC migration software & the only solution recommended by Microsoft®, Intel®, and all OEMs.
web.laplink.com web.laplink.com

BUT the hitch is "Applications may require re-entry of a license code or re-activating on the new PC." If you are very techie there are ways to find this info on the old hardware. As you indicate that the programs are older than dirt, then I would get new versions of the software and start clean.

Edited to add: @Evan B is correct. There are numerous dependencies behind the scenes where a full backup would be terrible to do... Makes me cringe thinking about it...

Before you get too far into the 'woods' make sure the new hardware is Windows 11 compatible. If it is not advertised to be you can install and run an app that will let you know. Bottom of this page:
www.microsoft.com

Windows 11: Windows Copilot, Features and Benefits | Microsoft Windows

Discover Copilot on Windows 11 and features that boost productivity, creativity, and more. Upgrade your everyday with the latest version of Windows 11 from Microsoft.
www.microsoft.com www.microsoft.com
 
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east coast said:
Not a windows guy. Mine are Macs. I back up onto a hard drive once a week. When I get a new computer I do a back up, plug it into the new computer and 10 minutes later everything is transferred and it looks just like the old one. Programs, data, everything. Can't imagine why it would be different with windows, but then again I hated all the windows updates and crap and switched years ago.
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Are you using TimeMachine for those backups?
 
A straightforward way is using Microsoft's cloud system called OneDrive. You can purchase some huge amount of memory on OneDrive through the Microsoft store relatively cheaply. Upload all programs and data from your old computer to OneDrive, then on your new computer, sign into Microsoft account and download all programs and data from OneDrive. Here's an article that might be helpful:

www.computerworld.com

The best way to transfer files to a new Windows PC or Mac

Using a cloud storage service removes the hassle of transferring files to your new computer via utilities or external drives — and it also supports mobile devices.
www.computerworld.com www.computerworld.com
 
Mukman said:
A straightforward way is using Microsoft's cloud system called OneDrive. You can purchase some huge amount of memory on OneDrive through the Microsoft store relatively cheaply. Upload all programs and data from your old computer to OneDrive, then on your new computer, sign into Microsoft account and download all programs and data from OneDrive. Here's an article that might be helpful:

www.computerworld.com

The best way to transfer files to a new Windows PC or Mac

Using a cloud storage service removes the hassle of transferring files to your new computer via utilities or external drives — and it also supports mobile devices.
www.computerworld.com www.computerworld.com
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Like has already been said, this is for files only. His issue is with programs and apps, which need to run install scripts to establish dependencies on the local device.
 
Evan B said:
Like has already been said, this is for files only. His issue is with programs and apps, which need to run install scripts to establish dependencies on the local device.
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You are correct sir. The issue is indeed the programs (or apps as someone came up with instead of program) that is the sticky wicket.

My wife and I are deciding what programs she uses the most and which ones she hardly uses at all. Compared to what I use on my computer, she uses very little so it may not be a big and expensive of a deal as I thought it would be.
 
GAT said:
You are correct sir. The issue is indeed the programs (or apps as someone came up with instead of program) that is the sticky wicket.

My wife and I are deciding what programs she uses the most and which ones she hardly uses at all. Compared to what I use on my computer, she uses very little so it may not be a big and expensive of a deal as I thought it would be.
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when you figure out the programs, send me a PM and I may have some solutions for you to make it easier/cheaper. (no, nothing illegal :p )
 
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If she originally installed the programs from a download, the original install file may still be in the downloads folder. If so, easy to reinstall. It's an opportunity to clear out the deadwood.
 
GAT said:
You are correct sir. The issue is indeed the programs (or apps as someone came up with instead of program) that is the sticky wicket.

My wife and I are deciding what programs she uses the most and which ones she hardly uses at all. Compared to what I use on my computer, she uses very little so it may not be a big and expensive of a deal as I thought it would be.
Click to expand...
Pro tip: On your new machine create a folder named Program Downloads. I call mine _Win 10 Downloads, but whatever. When you download a new program, choose the "save" option and put it into that folder. I create folders for each program and keep the registration info in there also.
example.jpg
 
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east coast said:
No I have a separate hard drive. Just plug it in and it backs the whole thing up in under 10 minutes. I figure if this thing goes down I at least don't have to worry about that part of it.
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Thanks. Fyi, I am using TimeMachine to back up my macbook on an external hard drive once a week.
 
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