Transition from desktop to laptop

[Featureless]

Is it as simple as cloning the desktop ssd to the laptop? Or do all the applicatons and data have to be reinstalled?

[ldsnet]

All of your applications have to be reinstalled (if Microsoft, you probably have to be repurchased).
Your data can be copied drive to drive.

[Featureless]

Well that's discouraging.

[C.G.]

All of your applications have to be reinstalled (if Microsoft, you probably have to be repurchased).
Your data can be copied drive to drive.

Many Microsoft apps can be installed on multiple devices. I am told that the OS, I assume W10, can be transferred if it was a bought version but not when it was OEM, but I have not had the opportunity to test that yet.

[HecklerNKoch]

The applications have to be reinstalled, and it is better this way, they are portable apps or PortableApps.

The data can be simply transferred over. Best to use a utility like 'Fast Copier' to verify by checksum that everything transferred flawlessly (no corruption).

[The War Wagon]

All of your applications have to be reinstalled (if Microsoft, you probably have to be repurchased).
Your data can be copied drive to drive.

This.


But you can still buy Office for XP on fleabay. Just download the 2007 and later patches, and it'll run on Win10 even. You can use it as MANY times as you want, with the authentication code. I can't remember how many computers of mine I've installed it on since 2002!

[Featureless]

I use Acronis to backup the entire SSD. It has been my understanding that if my desktop were stolen or destroyed all I needed to do was restore that backup on a new machine. That's not the way it works?

[Jorvaljr]

Fyi,
Simply take out the ssd from the desktop and install it in the laptop. Everything should work. As is, then simply go to the laptop manufacturer website and under support download drivers for your laptop. Ive done many times myself without issue

[Marauder2003]

If you do a bare metal restore it is a big problem. There is stuff in the installed OS that is unique to the CPU, Northbridge and Southbridge chips, audio chips, video chips, network chips, etc.

The first time you boot the restored drive in a new PC Windows will go crazy trying to update itself. Chances are it will not be stable afterwards.

I use Acronis to backup the entire SSD. It has been my understanding that if my desktop were stolen or destroyed all I needed to do was restore that backup on a new machine. That's not the way it works?

[sonofeugene]

What OS is on the new laptop?

If it's Windows Pro, I'd leave it. The reinstall your apps on the new computer. You may have to call MS to get new pass codes.

[Featureless]

What OS is on the new laptop?

If it's Windows Pro, I'd leave it. The reinstall your apps on the new computer. You may have to call MS to get new pass codes.

The OS on the laptop will be Win 10 Pro 64 bit same as on the desktop.

[sonofeugene]

Then, unfortunately because of the way MS apps work, your best bet is to do new installs of all apps you want on the new computer. Then hook up to the old drive and copy over all files you want.

On a Mac, there are applications that can clone your drive to another drive. I used one to copy everything on my wife's old drive to a new drive. I then swapped drives and all I needed was a new pass code from MS for the Office apps and I was good to go.

[sonofeugene]

Apparently there are now cloning apps for MS OS. Here's one for 20 dollars:

https://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/clone-resource/clone-operating-system-windows-7.html

[sonofeugene]

Here's a good review of various options:

https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/hard-drive-cloning-software/

If you can, try and find one that will just copy apps and leave he OS alone.

[HecklerNKoch]

You guys are slaughtering Featureless.


You cannot just clone one drive onto another that would be going on a wholly different motherboard and chipset without running into problems.