Best way using Acronis 2014 (or equal/better/other) files backup to new laptop

Just got a win8.1 Dell laptop 1TB HDD to twin my 2013 ASUS win8.1 w/True Image 2014.

1) fear of old HDD blowing up, even though emplying disk backups to ext.HDD via USB routinely

2) biz core softwares mostly do NOT work on win11 (tested on new laptop) + so may to upgrade them + no way to replace them with bigger/better/faster (no inventors out there or dare to trust new MS OSs?)



Was thinking the safest way to have all this core w8.1 software to be immortal was to Acronis File Backup to USB-HDD from desktop to laptop.

Q:

Desktop has Acronis TI installed

ext.HDD will accept data

Now ...... does laptop need Acronis TI installed on it to receive this data?



Why the File way?

Afraid a disk backup would carry drivers, et al. that would render the laptop "dead"





I guess I could do a simple backup but that's way slower right?

It is unclear what you are asking.

Are you trying to transfer some programs but not the whole OS+programs?

If so, no imaging tool can do that. File Transfer will not work if programs are not portable (i.e. do not have registry entries).

You would need to use (expensive) specialist software such as Zinstall, Laplink PC Mover or Easeus PCTrans

Easeus PCTrans does have a free version limited to two programs, but worth trying before deciding to buy.

Have you tried Windows 10 also.

Finally, this is a Windows 11 forum - you should post on sister site www.eightforums.com