which utility to migrate apps and Win config to new system?

My wife is going to get a laptop to replace her old home built desktop system that runs Win 10 Pro 64. I know (vaguely) that there are commercial programs that will migrate over all Windows settings and all software installs and configs to the new system. I have no experience in this area, so I'm interested in recommendations (and warnings!)

Free would be nice. However, considering the total dollars involved in this purchase, including the accessories, etc., I'm willing to spend a few bucks if it can save me several days of installing software, getting all the config details right, moving over the Firefox bookmarks, etc.

x509

Hi, if you wish to do a clean install onto the new PC and then transfer programs and settings, the two (not free, single use license, lower cost players) are Laplink - PCMover -and Easeus - PCTrans.

The easiest way to use these is to use a disk image of the old PC as source. Last time I did this, the license for that was cheaper than the version that requires you to move back and forth between the PCs.

(You should use disk imaging routinely anyway (Macrium relfect - free) is continually recommended here- so you can restore your PC to a previous good state quickly and easily even if unbootable).

I had 100s of programs installed- about 95% success- many were transferred with licenses. A few needed reinstalling.

Don't use this for large office suites or security programs.

It can take some hours if there's a lot to transfer, but saves an enormous amount of time, and questions over backups of settings and data.

Go to the sites and read carefully before choosing.

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Alternatively: You can simply take the disk out of the old PC and put it- or, safer, a clone of it- in the new one, assuming BIOS configuration is compatible. Windows will attempt to reconfigure drivers appropriately. Other issues may apply, but people have done this successfully.

At step 5 there, you may find automated repair sorts it out, or you can try running Startup Repair having booted your PC from a Win 10 installation medium, or boot your PC from Macrium reflect's boot disk, and use its handy Fix Boot utility.

dalchina said:

Hi, if you wish to do a clean install onto the new PC and then transfer programs and settings, the two (not free, single use license, lower cost players) are Laplink - PCMover -and Easeus - PCTrans.

The easiest way to use these is to use a disk image of the old PC as source. Last time I did this, the license for that was cheaper than the version that requires you to move back and forth between the PCs.

(You should use disk imaging routinely anyway (Macrium relfect - free) is continually recommended here- so you can restore your PC to a previous good state quickly and easily even if unbootable).

I had 100s of programs installed- about 95% success- many were transferred with licenses. A few needed reinstalling.

Don't use this for large office suites or security programs.

It can take some hours if there's a lot to transfer, but saves an enormous amount of time, and questions over backups of settings and data.

Go to the sites and read carefully before choosing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternatively: You can simply take the disk out of the old PC and put it- or, safer, a clone of it- in the new one, assuming BIOS configuration is compatible. Windows will attempt to reconfigure drivers appropriately. Other issues may apply, but people have done this successfully.

I had never thought about simply cloning the old Windows install. Great idea.

Why do you say that I shouldn't use Laplink or Easeus - PC Trans for large office suites or security programs? If I truly have to do a re-install, I'm concerned that for the MS Office suite, I may not have any more re-installs left on that key. I use Norton Security, from Comcast, so I can manage that OK.

x509

NavyLCDR said:

First I would try just moving the entire Windows 10 installation image over to the laptop. As long as the laptop gets Windows 10 Pro activated on it first.

1. Make sure Windows 10 Pro is activated on laptop.
2. Create a drive image of the laptop to external hard drive.
3. Create a drive image of the desktop to external hard drive.
4. Restore only the C: drive partition from desktop to laptop, overwriting the original C: drive partition.
5. Fix boot errors.

Use Macrium Reflect Free, be sure to create the rescue USB flash drive.

I'm always reading how Macrium Reflect free can be used to install a Windows image on a new system. However, Macrium website makes it sound like moving a system image to dissimilar hardware will fail with the free version. That is, I should use Macrium Redeploy, which is a feature in the $70 Reflect Home Edition.

What is the wisdom of this board?

x509

Bree said:

In anticipation of the release of 1903 I restored a Macrium image of my main laptop (1809) to a virtual machine using Macrium Reflect Free. The only thing I had to do to get it to work was to use the 'repair windows boot problems' tool included the Macrium restore media. Windows itself sorted out the various drivers needed on the first boot.

I used a uup dump release to upgrade it to 1903 and am replying to you from that VM. So yes, the free version can restore to dissimilar hardware.

Good to know. Maybe I just saved $70.

I think I'm going to try the Macrium Reflect approach first. If that works, then great. I will have to deactivate some software on thje old system, but no big deal. I will want to repurpose that old system, so I might just do a fresh install of 1809 (or 1903).

x509

Bree said:

In anticipation of the release of 1903 I restored a Macrium image of my main laptop (1809) to a virtual machine using Macrium Reflect Free. The only thing I had to do to get it to work was to use the 'repair windows boot problems' tool included the Macrium restore media. Windows itself sorted out the various drivers needed on the first boot.

I used a uup dump release to upgrade it to 1903 and am replying to you from that VM. So yes, the free version can restore to dissimilar hardware.

Out of curiosity, can I do an image transfer from a VM to a physical drive? I have some VMs that I don't really need, and I don't know if I still have any unused Win 7/Win 8.1 keys left.

x509