easiest way to move documents to new laptop

Several possibilities - and it rather depends if the structure is simple.. e.g. is it just a matter of transferring from e.g. a few top folders downwards.

One thing you DON'T want to do - and that's DON'T move the files; copy them, leaving the originals in place. That way you can repeat the copy should something go wrong.

a. Easy if you already have a disk image of the old PC.
Just mount the disk image of the source PC on the new PC and so copy the files.

Plus good for anything more complicated where multiple transfers might be needed: create a disk image (or better- use one you've already created- you do use 3rd part disk imaging regularly, I hope- endlessly recommended here..)

b. Transfer via an intermediate USB3-connected USB3 disk/flash drive. Dead simple. And fast as you should have USB3 available.

c. Network the two PCs. {(But networking is frustrating and slow to set up, so don't even consider that unless you were going to do that anyway. Transfer speed is subject to network limitations.


Things like browser favourites, passwords if any, email client data if any - require special consideration.

If you use the same username on new pc set sync on and setting will transfer

dalchina said:

b. Transfer via an intermediate USB3-connected USB3 disk/flash drive. Dead simple. And fast as you should have USB3 available.

This is the easiest and safest way to Copy the files. Drag and Drop or Copy and Paste to the Flash drive then put drive into new computer and reverse the process.

Just copy them to / from a external drive or USB stick

Use the external drive suggestions as above ... and leave a copy on the drive as the start of your backup process.

DO NOT use OneDrive ... I guarantee you'll be back here with another post asking for help about lost files.

idgat said:

Use the external drive suggestions as above ... and leave a copy on the drive as the start of your backup process.

DO NOT use OneDrive ... I guarantee you'll be back here with another post asking for help about lost files.

Also the upload speed is poor - 1Mb/sec for me

Hello @mg8t7gn,

I would Copy & Paste the data to an external USB, HDD, SSD, etc, and then Copy & Paste the data to the new location. This will also give to a currently transferred backup of the data if needed in the future. Also, if the initial Copy & Paste to an external USB, HDD, SSD, etc FAILS, you can just redo it.

I hope this helps.