How should I go about transferring data from Windows 10 to Windows 11 via hard drive?

dussy · Aug 2, 2023

So basically I'm trying to transfer all of my files from my Windows 10 computer to a Windows 11 computer. I've read online that it isn't possible to transfer applications to a new PC, which is why I won't be attempting that

Basically, I'm wondering what exactly I should transfer and to where to avoid losing any data. I assume that I would go to This PC > Gateway > Users > Myself and copy everything from there, but I figured I'd ask this forum just to make sure. Thanks!

x BlueRobot · Aug 2, 2023

The easiest method would have been take a backup image or clone of the Windows 10 machine, then restore that image on the Windows 11 machine and then do an in-place upgrade to Windows 11. That way you would have all your data and applications.

glasskuter · Aug 2, 2023

What @x BlueRobot says is correct, it will work, but it's a personal choice. If it were me and I had a new computer, I would want to start out as clean as possible. It's a good time to install the apps one uses, leave off any one doesn't use, and know that no junk is carried over from a previous Windows installation. But that's just me and the way I do things.

There are a lot of variables involved here. How I would get all my files onto the new computer would depend on whether or not personal files (documents, desktop, pictures) were backed up to onedrive on your old machine. If they are, then you should also see them on your new computer automatically. On the new machine, if you are using Windows 11 Home with a Microsoft account, the location of your personal files defaults to Onedrive automatically unless you intervene. 5gb of free onedrive storage is included with your MS account. Depending on how many files you have on your old machine, you can easily go over the storage limit and have to purchase more storage if you decide to store all your files in onedrive rather than on your computer drive.

That's the first choice you have to make before you start moving your files.
Answer these questions so we can steer you in the right direction.
1. On old machine, are your personal files going to Onedrive. You can know real fast if you right click on your documents or pictures folder, select properties, click location tab. What is the location listed there??

2. On new machine is it Windows 11 Home and are you using a Microsoft account? Do you want to use Onedrive?

Report back what you find.

dussy · Aug 2, 2023

glasskuter said:
What @x BlueRobot says is correct, it will work, but it's a personal choice. If it were me and I had a new computer, I would want to start out as clean as possible. It's a good time to install the apps one uses, leave off any one doesn't use, and know that no junk is carried over from a previous Windows installation. But that's just me and the way I do things.

There are a lot of variables involved here. How I would get all my files onto the new computer would depend on whether or not personal files (documents, desktop, pictures) were backed up to onedrive on your old machine. If they are, then you should also see them on your new computer automatically. On the new machine, if you are using Windows 11 Home with a Microsoft account, the location of your personal files defaults to Onedrive automatically unless you intervene. 5gb of free onedrive storage is included with your MS account. Depending on how many files you have on your old machine, you can easily go over the storage limit and have to purchase more storage if you decide to store all your files in onedrive rather than on your computer drive.

That's the first choice you have to make before you start moving your files.
Answer these questions so we can steer you in the right direction.
1. On old machine, are your personal files going to Onedrive. You can know real fast if you right click on your documents or pictures folder, select properties, click location tab. What is the location listed there??

2. On new machine is it Windows 11 Home and are you using a Microsoft account? Do you want to use Onedrive?

Report back what you find.

Thank you both for the information, here are my answers to your questions:

1. Yes, I do believe that my files are backed up to one drive on my Windows 10 device; after doing what you asked I found C:\Users\Myself\OneDrive\Pictures and C:\Users\Myself\OneDrive\Documents for locations.

2. Yes, my new device is Windows 11 Home and I am using a Microsoft account. If OneDrive would make the process as simple as possible, I would love to use it, but I am also open to using the process that @x BlueRobot mentioned if it can bring my applications over.

By the way, I do believe that my files exceed the 5GB limit of OneDrive's free storage so I'm not sure if it would be the best option for me.

Thanks again for helping me out.

glasskuter · Aug 2, 2023

dussy said:
By the way, I do believe that my files exceed the 5GB limit of OneDrive's free storage so I'm not sure if it would be the best option for me.

If that is so you should have been getting some sort of notifications from onedrive on your old machine.. Since you want to follow through with @x BlueRobot's suggestion, I won't intervene and will let him advice you further.

glasskuter · Aug 2, 2023

dussy said:
I do believe that my files exceed the 5GB limit of OneDrive's free storage

on a side note here, if you subscribe to Office 365 you have 100 gb onedrive storage included with that.To tell have much onedrive storage you've used and how much is available login to onedrive on the web. Personal Cloud Storage – Microsoft OneDrive

Porthos · Aug 2, 2023

glasskuter said:
if you subscribe to Office 365 you have 100 gb onedrive storage included with that

That is one TB

glasskuter · Aug 2, 2023

Yeah, he's right. My bad.

x BlueRobot · Aug 2, 2023

dussy said:
but I am also open to using the process that @x BlueRobot mentioned if it can bring my applications over.

If you wish to go down the in-place upgrade route, then there is a tutorial for it here: Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

Please follow Option 2 and while the tutorial refers to a repair install, it's actually an upgrade and will allow you to install Windows 11 with your applications and personal data. The reason why it mentions it as a repair install is because you can also use it to repair your system as well.

TM21 · Aug 2, 2023

First, you should always have your data files under your own control, preferrably on some backup media, like a Flash Drive that only you have control of. And, not on some Outer Space location that you have no real knowledge of as to where it is, or who is in control of it.

Once your data is fully backed up and under YOUR control you're free to do all the Installing Windows you may want.

It's best, if you can set up safe locations for your data files, before you need to back them up, move them to a new PC, etc.

It's taken me years, to develop the data protection scheme that I'm currently using.
I've categorized all my data into just five folders, which I keep on my D: drive, out of sight of the OS.
Then, using a simple Batch File and XCOPY, I can back up those five folders to any other media I choose. My first choice is three Flash Drives and my fourth choice is a 1TB internal HD, that I use ONLY for data. It has NO OS on it at all.

And, should I want to share all or any of those data files with another one of my PC's. it's really easy to download them onto another PC from a Flash Drive.

But the bottom line is, that all my data is right here, 100% under my control, 24x7 and not off in space somewhere.

TM

glasskuter · Aug 2, 2023

x BlueRobot said:
The easiest method would have been take a backup image or clone of the Windows 10 machine, then restore that image on the Windows 11 machine and then do an in-place upgrade to Windows 11.

dussy said:
I am also open to using the process that @x BlueRobot mentioned if it can bring my applications over.

I said I wasn't going to intervene again but felt the need to point out you might want to explain to the poster the different ways this can be accomplished as it has to be done BEFORE the in place upgrade itself can be done. We can't assume this poster knows how to clone or image/restore. The Windows 10 installation also has to be Home version. Otherwise, there will be a licensing conflict since her embedded key in new machine is for Home. Also, it would be prudent to backup the Windows 11 drivers so any missing could be rolled back in. Any preinstalled manufacturer apps on the new machine will be lost.

How should I go about transferring data from Windows 10 to Windows 11 via hard drive?

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