Migration vs Clone to New PC

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

Hello Everyone,

For the last couple months I've been trying to fix file corruption issues that occurred from a failing local HDD. It's taken a huge amount of my time but the shorter story is I was finally able to clone the failing HDD, then replace it with a new one. Just a few system files seems to have gotten corrupted in my Win10 Pro v1511 OS and my system is working ok now, however it won't update to the latest security updates, won't complete a repair-install via .iso on DVD, won't upgrade to the Anniversary Update via download but I still plan to try via .iso on DVD.

I feel I will get more and more exposed if I don't get the security updates. My PC is otherwise fine but a bit dated, without WiFi or USB 3.0. I have a few questions regarding replacing it with a new PC (time is money).

1- Most of the programs on it now were migrated to it from a laptop about six years ago, by using PC Mover. PC Mover did a decent job but It did migrate some programs I didn't ask it to migrate and a few didn't work afterwards so I had to re-install them but they were just a few and overall PCMover saved me a lot of time. Is PCMver still the best migration software?

2- At that time there wasn't any good free cloning software. Even a paid one that I tried, BounceBack, was horrible. Today there are some good ones. As I understand it, to assure the best results for a cloned HDD for local use in the same PC, it was recommended that the same HDD brand, model and size should be used. This way any particular OEM settings for it working with the motherboard will be in place. Maybe nowadays any brand is fine as long as it's the same size or larger. What's the thinking on this now?

3- a) Regarding getting a new PC, is migrating my current system files to its HDD the same thing as cloning it to another drive and swapping it out?
b) I know for sure that the clone will include my corrupted system files issue. What about migration - will that also include the corrupted files issue or will it just migrate the installed software without the OS?
c) If the best option is migration to the new PC's HDD, won't I be paying for another Windows 10 Pro OS in it? If so, is it possible to buy a PC (desktop) with a clean HDD, then somehow get Microsoft give me a new OS to replace my current defective one to put on the new PC's HDD? Then I would migrate my programs to it. Is that the right way to go about this?

Thanks.

bro67 · 08 Nov 2016

There has been good cloning software out for a long time. If you are moving stuff like programs from an old machine to a new one, you are not cloning and it always spells trouble.

Also because your computer does not have USB 3.0 or other technology, does not mean that it is dated. Computers do not become dated. The Operating Systems are written to force people to upgrade to keep the hardware companies in business.

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

Right, I recognized that...

AndreTen · 08 Nov 2016

Like bro67 said, there are good cloning programs out there (I'm using Macrium Reflect, not just for migrating OS, but also for system backups).
Is there any particular reason, that you avoid installing software and try to "move" it from system to system? If not, I would suggest clean install.

Also, there is no need to repair system from ISO on DVD. Just download ISO from MS and mount it (with right click ...).

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

Thanks but .. it doesn't seem my post is being fully read.

I know there is good cloning software, as I stated. I have corrupted files which developed from my failing HDD's bad sectors so the repair-install was needed.

I have many installed programs, so a clean install of everything will take several months, so that is a last resort only.

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

With Hard Drive Sentinel I was able to identify the bad sectors and the system files on them. I suspect the corrupted files are causing the update install issues. Is it possible to individually reinstall good versions of just the corrupted files? If so, how to I find them and install them.

bro67 · 08 Nov 2016

BretMan said:

Thanks but .. it doesn't seem my post is being fully read.
I know there is good cloning software, as I stated. I have corrupted files which developed from my failing HDD's bad sectors so the repair-install was needed.
I have many installed programs, so a clean install of everything will take several months, so that is a last resort only.

That would be because it was full of unnecessary information that did not apply to what you really are asking about.

When someone gets a new machine and if it has OEM pre-installed software. The majority of us will use the Microsoft ISO to create a DVD or USB stick to remove the OEM shipped OS and put in a clean OS. Also we install software as a brand new install, we do not try an move it from one machine to the other, because there are going to be problems.

When I make a image of a drive when done installing everything. I clone it with Clonezilla, regardless if it is Windows or Linux. Mac OS-X is a different story. If you want to do backups on a regular basis, there are some good software out there like EaseUS Todo Workstation that does a great job in backing up.

If you have so many programs that you want to use, that means yes your only choice is going to be installing them. That is the standard way that has been done for years.

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

I haven't experienced as many problems as you have apparently. Thanks for your opinion.

bro67 · 08 Nov 2016

BretMan said:

I haven't experienced as many problems as you have apparently. Thanks for your opinion.

I do not know where you got that I have had issues when working on machines. Just stating that the way I do it is pretty much the way that everyone does it. You do not even want to know what I charge for setting up a machine, which is actually a steal, compared to having to install a bunch of software and setting up someone's network, which is where I like others make the majority of our money when we help others.

BretMan · 08 Nov 2016

"Also we install software as a brand new install, we do not try an move it from one machine to the other, because there are going to be problems. " I haven't experienced these problems from a migration, as I said.

I'm not as knowledgeable about computers as you are, that's why I'm here, to be helped and help others. Moving on, is it possible to replace individual corrupted files and if so where do I find them and how is it done?