New Laptop - Best Way to Move Apps and Files

southerndoc · Jul 13, 2024

Any recommendation on which program to use to move everything from an old laptop to a new one when it arrives? SynologyDrive and OneDrive will move most important things, but I'm looking for an easier way to install the following apps:

Microsoft Office 365
Dragon Medical One
VMWare Horizon Client
Pandora
iTunes (with its music library)
Chrome
Firefox

Basically I want to try to avoid needing to download and set up each app again. With Office, I have templates that I would like to still be present.

My laptop is 5 years old and on its last leg unfortunately.

wiganken · Jul 13, 2024

I don't think here is a way to do this. See my old thread: -

Is there an easy and free way to transfer everything from old PC to new PC?

Windows 11 23H2 Build 22631.3155 Current laptop is a DELL Inspiron but, if I buy a new laptop (of another make) is it possible to simply copy over all apps and files using software without overwriting the new laptop's specific drivers? This link shows what I mean but is there another easy and...

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Berton · Jul 13, 2024

First thing I'd do is run File Explorer, Properties of the drive, Tools tab, Error checking to assure there's no problems.

Programs for Windows generally require installing to copy files to the drive, create Registry entries for Windows to know how to run the program, copy support files such as .dll to the Windows folder/subfolders and create menu entries and icons for starting a program. Third-party programs can do it but they also can copy over any problems.

glasskuter · Jul 13, 2024

You have to re-install your apps on new device. For any paid apps, remove from old machine first so you can use your product key on the new machine. As far as personal files not already on Nas or Onedrive, manually back them up. If your browser settings and favorites are not being synced, back those up too.

southerndoc · Jul 13, 2024

I've thought about this today and it may be better to just start fresh anyhow so things aren't copied over (i.e., any quirks with installations).

On another note, is there a way to specify the local username if you use a Microsoft account? Mine is firstnamelastname@outlook.com. I don't want my local username/directory to be firstnamelastinitial (i.e., johnd instead of johndoe). Can you specify this while setting up Windows with an online account?

Berton · Jul 13, 2024

southerndoc said:
On another note, is there a way to specify the local username if you use a Microsoft account? Mine is firstnamelastname@outlook.com. I don't want my local username/directory to be firstnamelastinitial (i.e., johnd instead of johndoe). Can you specify this while setting up Windows with an online account?

My default setup on a new Notebook back in Dec. used my E-Mail address and the setup used the first 5 characters of that name on the folder in C:\Users. On older machines I created a User with a Local Account with Administrative rights and name of my choosing and log into that. Then I log out of that Microsoft Account, reboot to log into the new account followed by removing the Microsoft Account.

glasskuter · Jul 13, 2024

I believe this can be done after the Microsoft account user profile is created.
See if this is what you want Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

You can change the name that appears on the lock screen too

Change User Account Name in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the name of a local account or Microsoft account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser...

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jimbo45 · Jul 14, 2024

southerndoc said:
I've thought about this today and it may be better to just start fresh anyhow so things aren't copied over (i.e., any quirks with installations).

On another note, is there a way to specify the local username if you use a Microsoft account? Mine is firstnamelastname@outlook.com. I don't want my local username/directory to be firstnamelastinitial (i.e., johnd instead of johndoe). Can you specify this while setting up Windows with an online account?

Hi there
provided you aren't using W11 Home edition - at ist boot (the OOBE boot) after installing windows in the setup phase-- choose is this computer for school or workplace, then for sign in options choose domain join.

Then thing continues with a local account.

I haven't got W11 Home edition so I can't tell if this works on that edition --otherwise this works fine on W11 Pro, W11 pro for workstations, W11 education, W11 enterprise and W11 iot.

Cheers
jimbo

southerndoc · Jul 21, 2024

My laptop arrived a few minutes ago (thanks FedEx Home for Sunday delivery!).

Can I create a local account, later switch to the Microsoft account, and then have things sync (files/folders, apps, etc.)?

Windows 11 Pro is installed.

Mainly wanting to sync settings. Not sure which is easier -- sign in initially with Microsoft account and then rename the userfolder or if I should create a local account and then add the Microsoft account.

BamaInArk · Jul 21, 2024

southerndoc said:
My laptop arrived a few minutes ago (thanks FedEx Home for Sunday delivery!).

Can I create a local account, later switch to the Microsoft account, and then have things sync (files/folders, apps, etc.)?

Windows 11 Pro is installed.

Mainly wanting to sync settings. Not sure which is easier -- sign in initially with Microsoft account and then rename the userfolder or if I should create a local account and then add the Microsoft account.

I'm not sure how a pre-loaded Win11 and OOBE work when first booting up. Perhaps someone with more knowledge will post. But you should be able to create a local account. Perhaps the OOBE bypass will work.

And FWIW you do not need to log in to your PC with a Microsoft account for it to sync up. You can have a local account and then sign in to your Microsoft account even automatically. That is the way I use my MS account and still have a local account login.

andrew129260 · Jul 30, 2024

southerndoc said:
Can I create a local account, later switch to the Microsoft account, and then have things sync (files/folders, apps, etc.)?

You can sign in with a microsoft account so that when you sign into the new pc the settings will sync to the new one like personalization preferences etc and files etc. But you would need to wait for onedrive to backup the files first so it can sync to the new one.

If you are not paying for onedrive, and you have more than 5GB of files, it might be worth uninstalling onedrive before switching from the local account to the microsoft account so that just the settings sync instead of files.

Turn On or Off Remember Preferences for MSA Across Windows 11 Devices

This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Remember my preferences for your Microsoft account (MSA) across all your Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices you sign in with the same Microsoft account. When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your...

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New Laptop - Best Way to Move Apps and Files

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