Duplicate Document Folders on Same Computer?

I've got Windows 10 22H2 running on two old refurbished computers; a laptop and a PC. The computers are connected by a Windows Home Network

I've used the laptop almost exclusively the last few years since I'm disabled by chronic illness and spend the better part of my time in bed these days.

Lately, however, the laptop has been crashing frequently, which I take to be a sign that it is about to give up the ghost. So I've been copying my programs and files over to the PC which I've pressed into service to tide me over until I can find a replacement for the laptop.

I've got my key programs up and running on the PC and now want to move my documents, pictures, music and other data from the laptop to the PC, starting with the documents folder. But the PC already has a documents folder that contains some folders and files. Can I just rename this Documents folder to something like "Documents-OLD"? And then proceed to copy the laptop's Documents folder to the PC?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that these "Library" folders have special attributes or qualties, and aren't just garden variety folders and may require special handling.

What's the best way to get all my data moved from the laptop to the PC?

Just copy the contents, not the parent folder to the respective folder.

CluelessInSeatl said:

... now want to move my documents, pictures, music and other data from the laptop to the PC, starting with the documents folder. But the PC already has a documents folder that contains some folders and files.
Can I just rename this Documents folder to something like "Documents-OLD"?
And then proceed to copy the laptop's Documents folder to the PC?

I agree with Hearsepilot.


Don't rename anything.
Don't copy across the Documents folder. Copy across the contents of the Documents folder not the folder itself.
And the same applies to the Music, Video, Pictures, ... folders.


Denis

Okay, guys, I think I understand the concept: I need to copy the contents of the Documents folder on the source computer, not the folder itself. And I'm assuming this applies to my Music and Pictures folders as well; right?

So that raises a couple of other questions:

1. I have a lot of subfolders inside my Documents, Music and Pictures folders. But I can't figure out how to select multiple folders in Windows File Explorer. Am I going to have to copy each of the subfolders (and sub-subfolders, etc.) manually one-by-one?

2. And, I can't remember how to open two folder windows side-by-side inside a single File Explorer window so I can just drag and drop the folders across from one window to the other.

CluelessInSeatl said:

Okay, guys, I think I understand the concept: I need to copy the contents of the Documents folder on the source computer, not the folder itself. And I'm assuming this applies to my Music and Pictures folders as well; right?

Yes

CluelessInSeatl said:

2. And, I can't remember how to open two folder windows side-by-side inside a single File Explorer window so I can just drag and drop the folders across from one window to the other.

Just double-click on your file explorer shortcut then browse to your chosen folder. The change of folder is crucial, it is what stops File explorer merely going back to the existing File explorer window when you use the shortcut again.
Then double-click on your file explorer shortcut again then browse to your other chosen folder.
To put them side by side, select one then press WinKey-RightArrow then select the other & press WinKey-LeftArrow.

CluelessInSeatl said:

1. I have a lot of subfolders inside my Documents, Music and Pictures folders. But I can't figure out how to select multiple folders in Windows File Explorer. Am I going to have to copy each of the subfolders (and sub-subfolders, etc.) manually one-by-one?

Select Documents in the left-hand navigation pane then select all its files & subfolders in the right-hand pane all at once. together, at the same time.
Then you can copy or drag n drop the whole lot all at once then go & make a pot of tea.



All the best,
Denis

Try3 said:

Select Documents in the left-hand navigation pane then select all its files & subfolders in the right-hand pane all at once. together, at the same time.
Then you can copy or drag n drop the whole lot all at once then go & make a pot of tea.

Thanks, Denis! Earlier this morning I tried doing just that, i.e., holding down the Ctrl key and then clicking on the the subfolders one-by-one. But File Explorer would only select a single folder, and when I tried to select a second one, it deselected the previously selected one.

But just now I tried again, and was able to select all the sub-folders, one by one, until they were all selected. And then I tried Typing Ctrl+A, and that selected all of the subfolders, which is just what I was trying to do earlier.

I don't know what I was doing wrong when I tried it earlier today. Maybe I was mistakenly holding down the Shift key instead of the Ctrl key? Whatever the reason, that problem appears to be solved.

Thanks for sticking with me through this daunting process.

I think a file comparison app would be helpful. Especially if it can compare files in all subfolders at the same time. Can you recommend one?