Windows 10: Best way to transfer files and programs between two Win 10 PCs?

I just received a new Win 10 PC with a 500 Gb SSD for my primary drive (OS and programs) and an internal 1Tb conventional HDD for my data (library).

I would like to transfer my programs and files from my existing Win 10 PC to my new PC. My existing PC has two conventional HDDs -- both are 500Mb. The C drive has everything and the E drive is a clone.

Both the new and old PCs are running Win 10 Pro x64.

What programs do you recommend? I do have Macrium Reflect that may do the job. I'll be checking with their excellent support this week.

Thanks,

Louis

:)

 

Best way to transfer files and programs from old windows 10 computer to new windows10 computer

Why is it that people only want to know about the best way to do something? Nobody ever asks about the
worst way.

I've done plenty of things on my computer in the worst way, which is how I learned what
not to do. Besides, recovering from doing things the wrong way builds character. If nothing else, I am surely a character.

There are lots of easy ways to transfer files. Copy and paste using a USB drive. Backup and restore also works very well.

Transferring programs is a lot harder, because programs connect with the system partition and install registry entries which are not easily transferred. There is third party software that claims to do it (for a price) but the only way to guarantee success
(and avoid license issues) is to reinstall the programs on your new computer.

 

Best way to transfer files and programs from old windows 10 computer to new windows10 computer

Best? Clean installation of the programs, copy the files so you end up with only what you really need on the new system and archive the rest to external media.



Easiest? Something like
Laplink PCMover.



In-between might be backing up the old system and restoring it onto the new system since they are the same OS.

 

Did you pay for Macrium Reflect or using the free version? I would make an image of the hard drive of the new computer with Macrium Reflect, and then use the re-deploy feature of Macrium Reflect (paid version) to deploy the image of the old computer to the new computer:
Re-deploying to new hardware - KnowledgeBase - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

 

I have the paid version. I think it's outstanding!

Louis

 

Dear LCDR,

I've read the re-deploying article you cite. It looks promising. I've sent in a RFI to Macrium to get their advice.

It looks like there are several alternative routes to get the job done -- short of reinstalling a dozen programs.

Thanks for the advice.

Louis (1LT USA)

 

I would not trust a redeploy. Installing the programs will be safer. And transferring data files should be easy.

 

Why not? That's exactly what it is there for.

 

Although there is one concern - if you have programs that you purchased single computer licenses for, like Microsoft Office, it will be illegal to keep those installed on two computers at the same time - so you might have to pick and choose which of those types of licenses you keep installed on which computer - to stay legal.

I assume you are 1LT active duty? Your military computer network provider (Navy and Marine is NMCI) probably offers a Microsoft Home Use Program (HUP). You can purchase Microsoft Office for $11.00.

 

Another approach assuming you have installed Windows:

There are two programs you might like to consider designed specifically for this:
Laplink PC Mover and Easeus ToDo PCTrans.
I have successfully used the former to 'reinstall' 200+ programs from 1 PC to another several times from one Window edition to another, and from one instance of a Windows edition to another.

The latter is newer, and comes from a company with a strong reputation (disk imaging/backup software and partition manager e.g.)

Naturally this is not intended to allow you to install and run two licensed copies where this would be invalid, and many programs will be installed but not licensed when so transferred.

Exceptions: large programs (games?) and complex programs (AV/Firewall) should not be transferred.

Transfers are selective.

 

Dear LCDR,

I was a 1LT on active duty -- during the Vietnam era -- but that's another story. I certainly don't want to duplicate a single-use license program. I'm currently using numerous programs that may require re-installation (Windows Office 2010, Adobe Illustrator, Sketchup, etc.).

Louis

 

I've been looking at Laplink PC Mover. It looks promising. What I'm having trouble learning is if it (and similar programs) will move programs between two Win 10 PCs. I would not run both PCs at the same time. I would use my old Win 10 PC as a backup and only use it if my new Win 10 PC is on the fritz.

Thanks for your advice.

Louis

 

Thank you for your much more difficult service than mine has been.

Also, I would trust a program that moves the entire OS over and only resets the hardware info than a program that moves just the programs and data over. Windows 10 (since about Windows 95) has actually been designed to be redeployed. Most of the individual programs installed on that Windows 10 don't have that capability designed into them, to be moved from one Windows 10 OS to another without actually re-installing them.

 

Hi, best to look at the site and see what they currently support in terms of the exact method. I can tell you what I did:
My objective was to upgrade Windows on the same PC, starting with a clean install of Windows (same or later version- different instances). I therefore couldn't do this over a network or by connecting the two PCs with a transfer cable.

- 1. used the program to create a (very large) archive file from the source PC on an external disk
- 2. swapped the hard drive, ran PC Mover, and used the archive file to 'install' the programs on the new build

It will work - same Windows version to same Windows version or - older Windows version to newer Windows version
"PCmover is not designed for migrations from newer operating systems to older operating systems".

PCTrans (I've not used it yet) says:
"Transfer applications & data via network connection or image file
Transfer selected applications & data from one PC to another or from previous OS to new OS after Windows in-place upgrade."

(On a side note, interestingly PCTrans claims to transfer programs from a 32 bit to 64 bit build. Sometimes however one should consider- or need - a 64 bit version of a program. Not looked for a comment about PCMover on that- and probably not a relevant issue here)

 

Thanks for the information. Being able to selectively move a program from one PC to another -- in my case both Win 10 PCs -- would be perfect. I'll look into both PCTrans and PCMover.

Louis