Seeking advice re: best, easiest way to move everything from old Win 10 to new Win 11 PC

I am planning to replace an old Win 10 Pro PC with a new Win 11 Pro PC (OOTB). Both computers are AIO (All In One) desktops. The computers are not connected by any kind of network. I do not use any kind of cloud backup (and don't want to). And I want to do it using only local accounts.

--I have heard about PC transfer/data migration software, which supposedly takes basically everything from the old computer (files, apps, settings, etc) and moves them all to the new one. Is this true? If so, what's a good one?

--I have also heard this can be done with some types of drive image creation software. True?

--Any other ideas would be helpful as well.

Thanks!

Hello,

You might also check out if using the Windows Backup app to transfer your PC like in the tutorial below may work for your situation.

It does require both to use an internet connection though.

If I buy a brand new computer, I don't want all the junk that has accumulated over the years in my old one to move over to my new one. I backup my personal files from my old one(you can copy & paste files/folders to an external drive.) I On my new one, I install just the apps I use (not the stuff I don't), copy my files from the external drive into my new user account folders and move on fresh and clean. There are several things I don't believe in when it come to my computer....shortcutting and having a lot of junk.

You didn't mentioned what kind of computers (Laptop or desktop) you have and what are the specs of them (old and new).

There are many ways to do it.
- If the old computer main drive is EFI - GPT, on the new computer generate all drivers backup and a main drive image backup.
Then the easiest way is to take the old computer drive and install on the new computer and then clone the old computer drive on the new computer drive. Remove the old drive and then let it upgrade to Win 11. I don't like this method as glasskuter already said, you transfer all trash from old computer to the new one.

- I agree with glasskuter that a new computer deserve a fresh install. If the new computer has no OS do a Win 11 Clean install as EFI - GPT. If it already came with Win 11 keep it. Take the old computer drive and install on the new computer and then copy the old computer data files to the new computer drive. Remove the old drive and then install the programs and applications you wish to have.

glasskuter said:

If I buy a brand new computer, I don't want all the junk that has accumulated over the years in my old one to move over to my new one. I backup my personal files from my old one(you can copy & paste files/folders to an external drive.) I On my new one, I install just the apps I use (not the stuff I don't), copy my files from the external drive into my new user account folders and move on fresh and clean. There are several things I don't believe in when it come to my computer....shortcutting and having a lot of junk.

Click to expand...

Absolutely agree!

The only difference here is that I'm a Microsoft 365 subscriber. The moment I log in to my new computer all my data and photos are instantly there in my 1TB of OneDrive and the latest Microsoft Office is there ready to work.

I also agree with @glasskuter leave the dust bunnies on the Win 10 computer.

1st thing I do is use REVO Uninstaller free, to remove all the Microsoft bloat.
Then install the things I want and tweak as necessary.
Then make a fresh backup.

What is bloat and what isn't is a personal choice. This is usually what I remove....





Here's some other things that you may find useful...