Transitioning from a Windows 10 to Windows 11 computer

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[Kathy Stevens]

We are beginning the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 computers and are looking at options to transfer apps and data from the old to the new machines.

As a first step, we are planning to purchase a new HP laptop with Windows 11 Pro.

The heart of the transition will then be moving apps and data from the Windows 10 laptop to the new Windows 11 laptop.

We are considering two options to facilitate the transmission:

• Laplink PCmover v.11 or
• Cloning the Windows 10 drive on to the new machine using Acronis True Image for Western Digital.

Acronis provides three cloning options:

• To replace a disk on this computer,
• To use on another machine, and
• To use as a data disk.

If we go with the Acronis we will use the, “To use on another machine” option.  One consideration here is will the clone of the Windows 10 computer play nicely with the Windows 11 operating system on the new computer.

In both cases, prior to moving the apps and data files from the old to the new machine – we will clone the SSD that ships with the new Windows 11 laptop to an external SSD and then put it away for safe keeping.

Your thoughts.

• This topic was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Kathy Stevens.
• This topic was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by Kathy Stevens.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

One consideration here is will a clone of a Windows 10 computer play nicely with the Windows 11 operating system on the new computer.

If you clone the Win10 to the new Win11 computer, you will end up with Win10 on the new computer, not Win11. Clone copies the source to the destination sector by sector. Then you will have to upgrade the Win10 to Win11. You will have all the Win10 drivers on the new computer. Is the hardware the same? If not, you will have to find the drivers for the new hardware.

Is clone really what you want to do?

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Kathy Stevens

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PKCano

No, the hardware is not the same.

I am working under the assumption that the Acronis option, “To use on another machine” will not upload the Windows 10 operating system onto the new Windows 11 machine and thus no need to, “upgrade the Win10 to Win11.”

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You need to check that out. I think you have the wrong idea of what clone means. Clone is not just transferring apps and data. Clone is making an exact copy, including the Operating System.

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I’ve used Laplink PC Mover twice. It worked OK and quickly. Once from Windows 7 (HP desktop) to 10 (CyberPower PC desktop), and the 2nd time from 10 (CyberPower PC desktop) to 11 (ThinkPad P16, Gen 2 laptop) .

But if you ‘convert’ the OS with it (from 10 to 11) you might be tempting small, mystifying issues to inhabit the new box, like display drivers or wakeup timers, which could eventually cause problems.

I’ve just started using Acronis True Image again. 2025. I find it reliable. BTW, Acronis tells me that the *only* version of True Image which has been tested with Windows 11 is the 2025 version.

Personally I couldn’t imagine any old machine’s OS 10 playing nice with the new machine’s OS 11, even if both are of the same exact generation hardware.

Human, who sports only naturally-occurring DNA ~ oneironaut ~ broadcaster

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Kathy Stevens

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PS… even with Acronis True Image closed I’m finding that my (very powerful) machine’s mouse is slightly more sluggish in its response. That shouldn’t be happening.

Human, who sports only naturally-occurring DNA ~ oneironaut ~ broadcaster

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We have used Laplink in the past and it worked without incident.

However, the thought of using the Acronis option to move the Windows 10 data and apps to a Windows 11 system is intriguing and could allow to avoid purchasing $55 US copies of Laplink.

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As @PKCano has stated, that’s not how cloning works.  A clone is an exact replica.  You would have your Windows 10 installation replacing your Windows 11 installation completely.

If you use cloning, you will have to upgrade the new machine from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (either through Windows Upgrade or an in-place upgrade), which will probably work okay, but I would make drive images of both machines before doing anything further.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Fred

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Maybe old fashioned, but starting off with a new W11 machine is the much easiest way to reinstall the various user software (how much work can that be?), and than copy the userdata.
At the end of the transitioning you might find out thet W11 is Not quite the same as W10.
And than it’s good to know that the OS W11 is not changed.

* _ ... _ *

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@b recommends using the new

Windows Backup app to transfer apps and files as well as hundreds of settings, preferences, credentials and passwords.

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Kathy Stevens

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Be aware that it will only work with Microsoft accounts and not with local accounts or domain users.  It has a very narrow use case at this time.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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From the low-tech upper-deck seats … My EssentialPIM Mail App is in Program Files(x86) and the Database with email folders-Appointments-Tasks-Etc …. is via Win C\users\…AppData\etc.
Do these Transfer methods deal with this reality … or HOW are these Separated App Members handled? (ie) the APP is moved BUT you must manually transfer the database

I read for Win Backup App/Remember My APPS: This setting is not available for work or school accounts, and Windows does not remember your apps for work or school accounts. SO, IF you use the Work-School Method Trick to setup a Local Acct doesn’t THIS fact make this method UN-usable?

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

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Correct, it won’t work for anything but a Microsoft account setup.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Acronis True Image offers, “Disk cloning and migration software”.

Based upon their website, their software can be used to:

Upgrade a hard drive:

• Migrate to a larger or a faster drive,
• Disk migration from a faulty drive to a new one, and
• Move from an HDD to an SSD drive ― no extra work needed, except cloning and replacing the drive.

Move to a new computer:

• Full system migration with complete data and settings transfer and
• Easy migration without reinstalling apps and adjusting settings.

Make a backup:

• Create a full image backup of your drive,
• Never miss a single file with a complete drive backup, and
• Backup your system before updates, upgrades, or testing new software.

In order to start any of the processes listed above you:

• Open Acronis,
• Click on tools,
• Select clone a disk, and follow the instructions from there.

They go on to state,

“Restore Windows to any hardware: Acronis Universal Restore allows you to create a bootable system clone and recover to a new computer with a different processor, motherboard or drive than the original system.”

https://www.acronis.com/en-us/products/true-image/cloning/

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Two things. Your link to Acronis True Image makes no mention of changing operating systems. Additionally, as others have already stated, cloning is an exact copy (as Acronis states, a replica) of your old drive to a new drive. Per your link:

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

“Restore Windows to any hardware: Acronis Universal Restore allows you to create a bootable system clone and recover to a new computer with a different processor, motherboard or drive than the original system.”

“Restore Windows”.  You won’t be “Upgrading” Windows.

I can’t speak about Acronis, as I have never used it. I’ve been using TeraByte’s Drive Imaging through its many iterations for a couple of decades. I’ve used it for numerous hardware upgrades without issue. I have used it to migrate a laptop Windows 10 installation to a desktop PC without issue. (The laptop was dual boot, so I uninstalled one side to free up the retail license)

That desktop PC is still running that same Windows 10, but will soon be upgraded to Windows 11 using Windows Update. Every bit of installed software, data, settings and customizations will remain intact with the exception of the changes in the Start Menu. No data will be lost. Everything will just run.

I can say this with confidence because I’ve been doing this sort of thing with TeraByte’s Drive Imaging for years, and it has yet to fail me.

As I said in my previous reply, you can probably clone your Windows 10 machine to your new Windows 11 machine, but all you will have accomplished is having your Windows 10 machine on different hardware. You will not have Windows 11 on that machine without upgrading.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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That being said, if you take an image copy of your old system with Acronis, you can install Acronis on the new Windows 11 system, and open up the image from the old Windows 10 system and recover any personal files and settings, but as @Fred says, you are better off re-installing your apps individually on the new system.

Here is a copy of Acronis 2020 where it shows a restore of files from a backup image *.tib . You can select individual files or folders to a new system from the old system’s backup.

 

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You have had several people’s input on what a clone is. Don’t get bit by using the wrong thing.

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PKCano

For the purpose of this topic, I am using the term “clone” as it is used by the Acronis app.

When you click the clone option in Acronis it gives you three “cloning” options:

• To replace a disk on this computer,
• To use on another machine, and
• To use as a data disk.

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Don’t say you weren’t warned.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

When you click the clone option in Acronis it gives you three “cloning” options:

To replace a disk on this computer,
To use on another machine, and
To use as a data disk.

All 3 options will put Windows 10 on your new PC.
Acronis doesn’t deal with moving from one OS version to another, just moving from one PC hardware to another.

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PL1

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Now you could then let Windows update upgrade the system from 10 to 11, but as several folks have indicated, you are going to end up with an exact replica of your original Windows 10, not a Windows 11.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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Just for clarity for my own muddled brain’s sake . . .

If I correctly understand you are saying that if @Kathy Stevens goes ahead and clones her existing Windows 10 to the new Windows laptop and wipes out Windows 11 Pro she then would be able to upgrade from the Windows 10 that replaced Windows 11 Pro on the laptop  back to Windows 11 Pro again?

And would that upgrade to Windows 11 Pro on the new laptop preserve in Windows 11 Pro the applications, data, and settings cloned over from her existing Windows 10?

As an aside, I don’t see where @Kathy Stevens mentions that her existing copy of Windows 10 is Windows 10 Pro. If it’s not she would be upgraded to Windows 11 Home, no?

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Kathy Stevens

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PKCano wrote:

If you clone the Win10 to the new Win11 computer, you will end up with Win10 on the new computer, not Win11. Clone copies the source to the destination sector by sector. Then you will have to upgrade the Win10 to Win11. You will have all the Win10 drivers on the new computer. Is the hardware the same? If not, you will have to find the drivers for the new hardware.

Does this answer your question? It would be the same Edition (Pro) after an upgrade.

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opti1

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Thanks @PKCano –

I guess @Kathy Stevens rendered my Pro vs. Home question irrelevant by posting that her Windows 10 also is Pro.

I understand that if the new laptop has different hardware at least some drivers may have to be updated. But I’m still curious if the applications, data, and corresponding Windows settings  from the cloned Windows 10 Pro would be preserved.

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If you upgrade (not a clean install) from Win10 to Win11, you have the option to 1.) keep your Apps and Data, 2.) keep you Data, or 3.) keep nothing. If you choose the first, it updates the OS and leaves the rest.

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opti1

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opti1

Yes, all of our computers are currently Windows 10 Pro machines.

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In a perfect world we would go with the Windows 11 Pro configuration on the new computer as delivered.

Then:

• Recover 40,000 data files from a backup,
• Install the 31 programs that we us in our standard computer setup,
• Recover the 54 desktop icons used on the old machine,
• Setup Outlook and recover its calendar and contact PST files,
• Recover the four user profiles used by Dragon Professional dictation software,
• Tweak the system. and
• The list goes on.

The new install process, as outlined above, could take more than a day per machine assuming the we can find all of the media and license material.  Multiply that times the five windows computers that we are using that do not support Windows 11 and the magnitude of the task becomes apparent.

In the past we have used Laplink PCmover without incident and will likely use it again.

But I was curious about Acronis’ abilities.

I have reached out to Acronis for their impute.

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Kathy Stevens wrote:

In the past we have used Laplink PCmover without incident and will likely use it again.

That seems like the best approach. PCMover addresses your exact situation.

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Laplink PCMover may work for you. Here is another option.
EaseUS has a product that will do what you want. It’s not free. I have seen it used successfully some years back. https://www.easeus.com/pc-transfer-software/pctrans-pro.html.

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Kathy Stevens, PL1

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I have Acronis and the worst part is if you have a backup on a USB hard drive from one computer, you cannot see or open the file on another with Acronis, at least I cannot. I simply wanted to open the back-up file in Acronis on the second computer and transfer the files/folder that I want to the new computer. It will not recognize the file on my hard drive since it is not associated with the new computer. Any solution to this?

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Greg B wrote:

I have Acronis and the worst part is if you have a backup on a USB hard drive from one computer, you cannot see or open the file on another with Acronis, at least I cannot. I simply wanted to open the back-up file in Acronis on the second computer and transfer the files/folder that I want to the new computer. It will not recognize the file on my hard drive since it is not associated with the new computer. Any solution to this?

Have you installed Acronis on the second computer? That would be required to open a .tib or .tibx backup file. Since you would need a license for both computers, one way around that, would be to boot up into a USB or DVD created by using the “Rescue Media Builder”. Once booted into the recovery disk on the second computer, you could then open the backup file on the USB.

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SO I cloned the Win-10 from a old 2012 laptop on samsung SSD 2tb with samsung migration software, tested the cloned ssd on the old machine, that worked perfectly fine.

Then I put the new cloned win-10 ssd in a new 2023 Win-11 laptop. and installed the missing drivers for the new machine manually using USB.

In the new machine the windows update asked me to update win-10 to win-11. Successfully updated to win-11 with all old machines softwares and files.

But after a recent window 11 update, the keyboard and mouse don’t work on the upgraded SSD.

Dont know whats going. I rechecked putting original SSD w/t Win-11 of this new laptop and it works fine.

I have been doing this type of OS transition/upgrade since win-7 to win-8 to win-10, so thought will be fine in win-10 to win-11.

Dont know what to do. Please guide.

Please not: I am NOT a computer expert. Just a regular user.

Thanks for any suggestions.

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Typo, the old laptop is 2014 probably

 

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VPN wrote:

But after a recent window 11 update, the keyboard and mouse don’t work on the upgraded SSD.

To me, that seems like your USB drivers need to be updated for the new machine. Without a mouse or keyboard, you can’t very well see if there is a problem in device manager.

I would try cloning your old PC again, and after updating the drivers for the new computer, and taking all updates that Win10 offers (Do not update to Win11 yet),  check device manager to make sure there are no exclamation points. Anything with exclamation points needs a driver update. Once Device Manager is clear, you should try updating to Win11 again.

It should look like this:

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Or just plug in a USB keyboard and remove all keyboard / mouse drivers in Device Manager, then reboot and let Windows sort it out.

cheers, Paul

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TechTango

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