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

Withbellson

MartusJK said:

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

Your question was as to moving stuff from 10 to 11 on a different device whilst keeping your personalisations. . An issue that might be made easier if you were moving from 11 to 11. Hence the upgrade on the old device.

But there is no good reason of which I know, to move to Windows 11 in the first place right now. If you need a bigger and better monitor, buy a bigger and better monitor.

You can try just plonking the SSD from the old PC into the new PC as it's boot drive. Mine just worked.  

Withbellson

mrochester said:

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?

You can. but you need to disconnect from the Internet. No Internet; no possibility to create an online account, so it defaults to a local account.

Neil_Jones

Withbellson said:

mrochester said:

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?

You can. but you need to disconnect from the Internet. No Internet; no possibility to create an online account, so it defaults to a local account.

Not in Windows 11 setup it doesn't.  That works in 10, but in 11 you just get bugged to go online.  You have to time it just right to get the option.

It can be done in Windows 11 through Setup with a bit of chicanery:

https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-still-complete-windows-11-home-setup-without-internet/

Officially you need an MS account for Windows 11.  However the upgrade to Windows 11  with a local account in Windows 10 gives you... a local account in Windows 11.  So that immediately poked a hole in the logic.

mrochester

Neil_Jones said:

Withbellson said:

mrochester said:

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?

You can. but you need to disconnect from the Internet. No Internet; no possibility to create an online account, so it defaults to a local account.

Not in Windows 11 setup it doesn't.  That works in 10, but in 11 you just get bugged to go online.  You have to time it just right to get the option.

It can be done in Windows 11 through Setup with a bit of chicanery:

https://www.neowin.net/news/you-can-still-complete-windows-11-home-setup-without-internet/

Officially you need an MS account for Windows 11.  However the upgrade to Windows 11  with a local account in Windows 10 gives you... a local account in Windows 11.  So that immediately poked a hole in the logic.

Yeah Microsoft are trying to make it more and more difficult to have just a local account. That desperately want that juicy data (it makes sense since they now need to monetise in a different way).
 

GDB2222

I have not paid for windows for years now. I just upgrade old versions to the latest version. In return, they get some of my data. So far, that trade off has worked well for me.

mrochester

GDB2222 said:

I have not paid for windows for years now. I just upgrade old versions to the latest version. In return, they get some of my data. So far, that trade off has worked well for me.

Yeah, if you’re happy with that it works great!

MartusJK

mrochester said:

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?

thanks for pointing that out. Googling around seems to throw up many different answers to that, but there still seems to be effective workarounds, the simplest response I found was:  You don't need an MS account. Just don't connect to wifi/internet until after setup is complete so hopefully I can continue my long avoidance!

Olinda99

you can set up W11 with a local account only.

1. install W10 with a local account first then upgrade to W11

2. google for other methods but eg

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-set-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

Emmia

MartusJK said:

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

So you're worried about Microsoft having some of your data (to the point of workarounds), but you're willing to use Chinese owned software which may be giving that same data (and potentially more) to the Chinese government?

mrochester

Emmia said:

MartusJK said:

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

So you're worried about Microsoft having some of your data (to the point of workarounds), but you're willing to use Chinese owned software which may be giving that same data (and potentially more) to the Chinese government?

We should be worried about anyone having our data and minimising the amount and who has it as much as possible.