Moving settings etc from current Windows 10 computer to new Windows 11 computer

MartusJK

Hi there

I currently have a Windows 10 (Pro for Workstatons) PC and I am getting a new Windows 11 Home PC. I was wondering if there’s any way to transfer my existing settings/setup/customisations etc onto the new PC? The files I want to keep aren’t a great problem, I can identify them and move them over, but when you’ve had a PC for a few years you build up so many personal customisations to Windows, including particular programs and display preferences etc and its such a pain to set them all up again from scratch so is there any methods/tools to transfer these into the Windows on the new PC? I guess everything like that is recorded in the Windows registry settings so could you copy those? Another way I thought of was to maybe somehow clone my current PC to the new one and then update it to Windows 11 BUT would that affect the warranty/registration of the Windows 11 that comes with that PC? Could I somehow upgrade it to the Windows 11 that came with the new PC? (not sure if they come with a simple Windows installation disk anymore?). Also I will probably sell my current PC so will that be a problem if I have upgraded its Windows 10 on another machine? (the current PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 as its processor doesn’t comply).

Very appreciative of any solutions (as simple and straightforward as possible please), sorry I’ve put several different issues in there but hopefully you get the general idea, do let me know if I need to clarify anything (I have used Windows for many years so familiar with all the basics but pls go easy on the ultra techie speak!)

[Deleted User]

If it is just Windows settings then they will transfer across to your new PC when you log in to your new one if you use a Microsoft account to log in. That is the easiest way.

If the customisations are in individual apps, eg Photoshop toolbars then these won't transfer across.

400ixl

My advice would be not to try to automate the transfer of apps and settings. Being across different operating systems even the same OS on different hardware often leads to more of a mess.

Better to make the changes in the user interface having installed the applications manually. Some settings / configurations will come across if the app uses profiles.

It really doesn't take that long, especially if you have both PC's next to each other. Likely done in an evening.

MartusJK

Deleted_User I take the point about a Microsoft account making it easier but thats something I have always resisted for the past, 20 - 30 years as they have always had such a bad reputation for extracting personal data, so I dont want to give in on that now!

400ixl yes thats how I have always ended up doing it previously, but it is such a pain, I do admit I am a bit of an active cusotmiser of all sorts of Windows and programme settings so one evening is probably on the short side! (side by side will be interesting as one is 32" and the new one 34"!)

debitcardmayhem

Do any of these applications have their own export tools? Often things like eg firefox/thunderbird live in their own appdata folders just a thought

gefnew

How to Transfer Files from PC to PC on Windows 11 (5 Quick Ways) - EaseUS

Withbellson

MartusJK said:

Hi there

I currently have a Windows 10 (Pro for Workstatons) PC and I am getting a new Windows 11 Home PC. I was wondering if there’s any way to transfer my existing settings/setup/customisations etc onto the new PC? The files I want to keep aren’t a great problem, I can identify them and move them over, but when you’ve had a PC for a few years you build up so many personal customisations to Windows, including particular programs and display preferences etc and its such a pain to set them all up again from scratch so is there any methods/tools to transfer these into the Windows on the new PC? I guess everything like that is recorded in the Windows registry settings so could you copy those? Another way I thought of was to maybe somehow clone my current PC to the new one and then update it to Windows 11 BUT would that affect the warranty/registration of the Windows 11 that comes with that PC? Could I somehow upgrade it to the Windows 11 that came with the new PC? (not sure if they come with a simple Windows installation disk anymore?). Also I will probably sell my current PC so will that be a problem if I have upgraded its Windows 10 on another machine? (the current PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 as its processor doesn’t comply).

Very appreciative of any solutions (as simple and straightforward as possible please), sorry I’ve put several different issues in there but hopefully you get the general idea, do let me know if I need to clarify anything (I have used Windows for many years so familiar with all the basics but pls go easy on the ultra techie speak!)

It is simple to bypass the CPU requirement, if upgrading to Windows 11 Pro on the old device will solve your issue. You'll just run the upgrade from installation media rather than through Windows Update.

https://pureinfotech.com/create-windows-11-bootable-usb-unsupported-pc-rufus/

https://pureinfotech.com/upgrade-windows-10-windows-11/#upgrade_windows10_11_iso

MartusJK

Withbellson said:

MartusJK said:

Hi there

I currently have a Windows 10 (Pro for Workstatons) PC and I am getting a new Windows 11 Home PC. I was wondering if there’s any way to transfer my existing settings/setup/customisations etc onto the new PC? The files I want to keep aren’t a great problem, I can identify them and move them over, but when you’ve had a PC for a few years you build up so many personal customisations to Windows, including particular programs and display preferences etc and its such a pain to set them all up again from scratch so is there any methods/tools to transfer these into the Windows on the new PC? I guess everything like that is recorded in the Windows registry settings so could you copy those? Another way I thought of was to maybe somehow clone my current PC to the new one and then update it to Windows 11 BUT would that affect the warranty/registration of the Windows 11 that comes with that PC? Could I somehow upgrade it to the Windows 11 that came with the new PC? (not sure if they come with a simple Windows installation disk anymore?). Also I will probably sell my current PC so will that be a problem if I have upgraded its Windows 10 on another machine? (the current PC can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 as its processor doesn’t comply).

Very appreciative of any solutions (as simple and straightforward as possible please), sorry I’ve put several different issues in there but hopefully you get the general idea, do let me know if I need to clarify anything (I have used Windows for many years so familiar with all the basics but pls go easy on the ultra techie speak!)

It is simple to bypass the CPU requirement, if upgrading to Windows 11 Pro on the old device will solve your issue. You'll just run the upgrade from installation media rather than through Windows Update.

https://pureinfotech.com/create-windows-11-bootable-usb-unsupported-pc-rufus/

https://pureinfotech.com/upgrade-windows-10-windows-11/#upgrade_windows10_11_iso

Many thanks for that, very interesting, And then after that is it completely certain that the PC will work perfectly ok with Windows 11? And subsequent updates? And if so why did MS excludes those processors?

Well to be completely honest in my case it was almost a bit of an excuse to get a new PC, mine is 4 years old and I do want to get a bigger screen to help with my detiorating eyesight

MartusJK

debitcardmayhem said:

Do any of these applications have their own export tools? Often things like eg firefox/thunderbird live in their own appdata folders just a thought

Yes youre right some like Firefox do, but even then I have extensions to Firefox setup (ad blocks etc) and tweaked them (e.g. exceptions sites) so will all that go over too? But its not just applications, its so many things like e.g. taskbar with 44 different links aaranged in categories, hibernation settings, histories of what Ive installed, what file types are associated with what apps, and so on and so on

MartusJK

gefnew said:

How to Transfer Files from PC to PC on Windows 11 (5 Quick Ways) - EaseUS

thanks for that, yes I do have EaseUS installed and have used it a bit for backups in the past, but Ive always been a little wary of its Chinese ownership, and having wording like "transferring files from PC to C on Windows 11 can definitely prove to be one of the excellent options for most of the expectations" doesnt exactly inspire confidence! But its something to consider

mrochester

MartusJK said:

Deleted_User I take the point about a Microsoft account making it easier but thats something I have always resisted for the past, 20 - 30 years as they have always had such a bad reputation for extracting personal data, so I dont want to give in on that now!

400ixl yes thats how I have always ended up doing it previously, but it is such a pain, I do admit I am a bit of an active cusotmiser of all sorts of Windows and programme settings so one evening is probably on the short side! (side by side will be interesting as one is 32" and the new one 34"!)

Don’t forget Windows 11 Home *requires* a Microsoft account (I don’t think there’s a way around that now like there was with Windows 10) and I believe Windows 11 Pro will very shortly require a Microsoft account.

Basically Microsoft are trying to totally eliminate local accounts from Windows. 

Edit - actually it might be possible to create a local account after initial setup.  My can’t Microsoft just let you create a local account on setup?