Transferring everything from old PC to new one

[popegregory]

Hi all. Been gifted BiL old PC to replace our even older one. Does anyone have a link to the best idiots guide (or can provide one!) for making the new one like the old one in terms of having things like the same programs installed, same websites stored in browser with passwords, and anything else I might forget to transfer over?

[BlueMR2]

It depends, the easiest way could be to just put your old hard drive in, but it depends on a lot of factors.

[Brother D]

What version of windows are they?

I would simply install Microsodt OneDrive and then make sure all the documents, files and pictures on the old PC are synced with one drive and uploaded (make take a while on slow internet connection)

Then simply sign into the new PC install OneDrive and then you can double check all the files you need are there.

Once everything has uploaded (the icons in one drove will show that)


You will also then have a cloud backup of all your information.

You can then recycle the old PC after either wiping the hard drive or simply removing it

Edited by Brother D on Monday 26th August 00:52

[popegregory]

Brill, thanks. I also need to import browser data but I’ve found how to do that I think and passwords seem to need to be re entered manually.

[ARHarh]

popegregory said:

Brill, thanks. I also need to import browser data but I’ve found how to do that I think and passwords seem to need to be re entered manually.

In google chrome you can export passwords easily, but then if you use chrome again on the new pc and sign in you wont need to bother. Same goes for firefox and you can import google stuff easily. No idea about edge but I can't see why you cant transfer stuff with edge as well.

[Whataguy]

I did this recently, provided you are logged in to the same Microsoft account it's not too bad now.

The new pc will know what apps you have and download them, plus synchronising Crome gives you all your bookmarks and passwords.

You might want to factory reset the new pc, so you go through the setup from new.

[Brother D]

Whataguy said:

I did this recently, provided you are logged in to the same Microsoft account it's not too bad now.

The new pc will know what apps you have and download them, plus synchronising Crome gives you all your bookmarks and passwords.

You might want to factory reset the new pc, so you go through the setup from new.

That's a good reminder for the reset - Windows 11 has an option for a complete fresh re-install (and this took about 20 minutes to do) so you get an as-new experience and you don't have to mess with USB sticks etc.

[anonymoususer]

From windows 7 onwards there is a useful thing called Backup and restore (Windows7) you will find it in the control panel

With some attention to how you do it all your folders and desktop etc are duplicated onto an external hard drtive
Install a new version of windows 10 or 11 on the new PC and then restore the folders from the external hard drive
You do not need to create a system image.

[popegregory]

anonymoususer said:

From windows 7 onwards there is a useful thing called Backup and restore (Windows7) you will find it in the control panel

With some attention to how you do it all your folders and desktop etc are duplicated onto an external hard drtive
Install a new version of windows 10 or 11 on the new PC and then restore the folders from the external hard drive
You do not need to create a system image.

Aside from a few gb worth of docs which I’ve downloaded to external hard drive - this looks like it does absolutely everything else! Thanks!