Export (clone) as much Windows 10 preferences as possible

Hi, I'm running Windows 10 Pro slightly modified:

- Custom wall paper
- Custom colors (active / inactive windows)
- Some tweaked Explorer preferences
- Specific disabled services
- etc.

But I'm moving between computers (3 in total). I basically configured the main one manually, did the same on the 2nd step by step (not 100%), and the 3rd one, well, it's just the cloned SSD from the main computer. I have used Ultimate Windows Tweaker with great results, but it's functionality won't export/import all or as much preferences as needed, is there anything better?

I would like to avoid wasting too much time doing everything manually on the 3rd computer. There are programs I won't need on this one, and some others that I will need; besides, for some weird reason there are two main things that crash on this machine when cloning the drive (whatever method I have tried), but these work well when installing from scratch, that's why I'm doing a full install from 0, but you know how much time this often takes.

cereberus said:

Try the new Windows Backup tool, and on clean install on new pc it will ask for backups.

Be careful on backing up user folders - click no to saving to onedrive, or choose not to back up user folders at all.

Thanks, I will explore this. I don't have the fully updated W10, so I'm not sure what's the new Windows backup tool you mention. Mine (currently) is the one allowing to create a system image. I'm currently reading about migration/transfer tools.

I must confess, I do dislike the amount of time a manual procedure involves, but every fresh install it's always faster in performance.

dalchina said:

Just wondering... why not...
- clone your installation onto another drive and insert that into your target machine
- sync your settings between machines

#1. Nope, for the reasons explained above, I need a fresh install, I have no idea what's conflicting. I've been there, sometimes installing exactly the same things works (but doing it from scratch)
#2. I'm currently reading about sync, it's vague and I'm yet to find good specifics.

thanks

dalchina said:

What I choose to do is to make minimal changes, easily reproducible, and ensure the changes I make survive upgrades. I find no need to make changes to services.

Yes, I've done that, it's like "I have a system/method", but it's always good to explore if others have better ways, I'm hoping to avoid some extra work.

One of my "issues" is some tools I use for my job, like literally using multiple versions of Adobe InDesign for transparent file compatibility. I really dislike how specific tools come with extra services to check for: updates, licensing, "file or system integrity", connect to the cloud, etc. I have managed to identify and remove many, or just reduce them. At the end of the day these things steal ram and CPU power.

Yes, I tried WinAero, but the amount of stuff it exports/imports (while diverse), doesn't cover everything I need. And for some reason (this is the third time it happens), disabling Windows Update via this tool left the MS Store absolutely broken

Thanks, I'll explore a bit later after work.

Try Super Grate. YMMV...


'Take A Test' account questions

Super Grate - below average

Started from scratch early in the morning and things look fine already with decent progress. I'll share my approach here.

My computer as it is, it's the result of:
- Files and folders (easy to copy)
- Hidden data folders with account information (most it's not needed, the most important in my case is my Firefox profile, but this is easily solved via account sync, a solid Firefox feature), and some other folders here and there, already part of the big user profile folder.
- Apps, very few need full installation; some I configured and tested in the past to work without new installations (just copy and paste)
- Look & feel, mostly the way things look and are disposed, because muscle memory is a thing, and the eye looks for the same things at the same places. This is a bit difficult to transfer and I have needed to perform manual configurations in the past.
- Settings <- now this can be a pain. In order to improve performance and just due to personal preference, I have some Windows services disabled, same goes to some -group policy- configurations. Yes I dislike "Quick Access", and having all the animations enabled on advanced options, etc. (lucky me, I can pre-set this using Nlite).

In the past I've had excellent luck cloning my hard drive, like... tons of times, and the need of drivers on new hardware has been minimal. Issues? only with an HP Probook, my wife's Macbook Pro, and my iMac (at the center of this topic).

My current approach?. Used NLite in the past minimally (a software tool to modify a Windows ISO and export a customized new install); today decided to try again feeding as many preferences as I could into the program, this covers look, feel, colors, settings, preferences, even removing some out of the box apps. The result I have is a smaller ISO less bloated, and with some customization on it already. Just installed it and things are looking great. The nice thing about this is having a customized ISO for any new installations.

Other than this, I'm copying what can easily be copied, and reinstalling what it's unavoidable.

dalchina said:

There are valid ways to disable Windows Update if you need to. The topic has been repeatedly discussed and there's a tutorial (and a tutorial proposal with a different approach) that work.

I do agree with you about 3rd party progs sometimes being 'aggressive'.

I don't think you'll find one single solution: you will likely need several. The only way I can think of to aggregate these is as I mentioned to collate a number of registry changes into one reg file.

Some changes made via the GUI can be scripted- tutorials offer data that can be used for that.
Settings Pages List of URI Shortcuts in Windows 10
App Commands List for Windows 10
CLSID Key (GUID) Shortcuts List for Windows 10

- just depends how much time you wish to spend automating these (and testing).

Tried in the past diff ways to disable Windows Update, some worked but it couldn't be reverted for some reason. One in particular (can't remember the name right now) crashed my Windows10, tried a few times and yes, it was the app for some reason. WinAero works, but it broke my Ms Store and reverting the change didn't help. It's funny because in my current machine I disabled it via GPEDIT and also manually disabling the Windows Update service, and somehow enabling it again (just the service) works, everything works and I can use the Store (and I get no automatic updates), but for some reason the same changes on new installs don't work, and using one or both methods breaks the store. I'm not too worried about this, I'll enable it when needed, perhaps later with more time I'll review the tutorials for improved ways.

Yes, registry customization can be simplified keeping a library or unifying multiple files into one.

Exactly as you say: I couldn't find a single solution so I'm using a mix, but NLite is doing enough already to begin with. Thanks for the extra links.

F22 Simpilot said:

Try Super Grate. YMMV...

Interesting! unfortunately a bit late. This tool looks good, I'm surprised there isn't much information about it floating on the web. The presentation (documentation) could be improved, it's too cold-technical (while not being actually technical), instead they could describe in more detail what it does for the user, but my comment is not in criticizing mode, it's just what I would have engaged me at least, hope they improve it, perhaps I'll try it in the future, at this moment I'm already more than 50% ahead in my goals. Thank you for the suggestion.