How to Move Programs From One Laptop to Another

I have just bought a new HP laptop running Windows 10. How can I get my pictures, applications, tax returns etc off the old one and onto the new laptop in the right places? Terry

The answer to this question used to be a free Microsoft utility called Windows Easy Transfer (WET), which was first supplied with Windows Vista. However, when Microsoft released Windows 8, it did a deal with Laplink to provide a free version of its PCmover program instead. Earlier this month, it announced a similar deal for home users of Windows 10.

So, you can now download a version of PCmover Express either via Microsoft's web page (Move your files, folders, and more, for free) or from Laplink. It's not hard, but I recommend reading the 19-page illustrated user guide (PDF) before you start.

This "limited time offer" does not apply to business users, who are, I guess, identifiable because their PCs are connected to domains. Commercial users can buy the program for a discounted price of $19.95 or £13.95. Multi-license packs are available.

Alternatives to PCmover

EaseUS has also entered the market with an alternative Windows 10 Easy Transfer Tool, which is also a free download for home users. I haven't used it, but I have previously recommended EaseUS's free backup and partition management utilities. (Yes, you should do a backup before you upgrade to Windows 10.)

EaseUS also offers System GoBack Free "to downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 7/8/8.1". This could be a good idea. The Windows 10 upgrade allows you to go back to your old operating system in a few minutes (go to Settings, Update & Security, and select Recovery), but this relies on a "windows.old" folder that will be deleted after 30 days to save disk space.

Zinstall Easy Transfer is a commercial program that does the same thing for $59. It comes with support, which can be expensive, and a money-back guarantee if you run into a technical problem that the company cannot solve.

For completeness, you can still use Windows Easy Transfer, which may appeal if you've used it several times before. A user called champlagne has explained the process on Microsoft's Answers website. The basic idea is to move the WET files wdscore.dll and MigAutoPlay.exe along with the data migration file.

In theory, you can do the transfer via a cable, a network connection, or DVD or CD-ROM discs, but I recommend using an external USB hard drive. It's generally the most reliable approach, and means you have a separate backup of your data.

Moving applications

All the easy transfer utilities move personal data and files, not applications. That's much harder to do. In general, it's better to re-install programs from scratch, using original media and any product keys required. If you have downloaded programs from the web – including browsers and email programs such as Windows Live Mail – it's better to redownload the latest versions and do a clean installation. If you have downloaded any apps from the Windows Store, you can easily re-install them by going to My Apps.

However, there are commercial utilities that will move programs from one Windows PC to another. The leading example is Laplink's PCmover Professional, which costs $29.95 or £20.95 (half price offer). Another is Zinstall's WinWin ($119). However, EaseUS offers a free version of Todo PCTrans Free 8.0, which will transfer two applications. The unlimited version, Todo PCTrans Professional, costs $49.95. See Transfer data, software and applications to Windows 10.

If all else fails, you may need to go back to your old PC, run the appropriate program, and File/Export the missing data to an external hard drive. You can then connect this to your new PC, and import the data into the program, or its new replacement. This may well include browser bookmarks and passwords. Also, double-check that any offline email files have been copied across.

This is less of a problem than it used to be now that people are using more cloud-based programs and syncing services, and as Windows itself becomes a cloud-based operating system. Nowadays, when I set up a new PC, I just sign in with my Microsoft (outlook.com) account and pick whichever older PC I want it set up like. Windows then installs all the apps, settings and wallpaper for me.

It may also be important to "de-activate" some programs that you have installed on a new PC. This applies to Microsoft Office and Office 365, Adobe Creative Suite, and Apple iTunes, among others.

Active vs permanent data

When setting up a new PC, think about which files you need on a day-to-day basis and which ones could be stored elsewhere. If you're moving from a PC with a 500GB or terabyte hard drive to one with a 64GB SSD (solid-state drive) or 32GB eMMC Flash drive, you may be forced to think about it.

If you are a typical user, then you're actively using a relatively small number of documents, spreadsheets, recent photographs and so on. You can probably upload all of them to the OneDrive account that is integrated into Windows 8/8.1/10. OneDrive provides 15GB of free online storage, and – unlike Google Drive – this is separate from your email storage. Of course, you can also use free storage at Dropbox, Flickr, Amazon and other sites.

You may also have a large collection of unchanging media files – photos, music and movies – and old documents that could be stored safely on an external hard drive, a PC server, or a NAS (network-attached storage) device. If you use a PC server or NAS, the files can be shared with multiple PCs and mobile phones.

It takes a very long time to move gigabytes of media with an easy transfer program, and I don't see the point. For example, I have all my music files in one big, hierarchical directory on an external hard drive, backed up to a second external hard drive. (FreeFileSync on my desktop PC keeps them in sync.) I never copy them from one laptop to another. Instead, I just load any albums I currently want to have as local files – a different selection each time – via network shares.

In fact, we're just getting to the point where many people could use SD and microSD cards to move data around in bulk. Today, 32GB cards are cheap, 64GB cards are affordable, and larger sizes not out of reach. You can fit 200 to 300 albums on a £10 32GB microSD card and move it between various laptops and mobile phones. However, this is not archival storage, and you should have backup copies on an external hard drive and (if possible) online as well.

Have you got another question for Jack? Email it to Ask.Jack@theguardian.com

How to Move Programs From One Laptop to Another

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2015/sep/17/move-files-programs-to-new-pc-windows-10

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