Ordered a new computer online, will arrive Monday

[KS Toronado]

Old computer still works fine just old and slow, both have windows 11. Old one has a cd burner.
new one does not.

What's the best way to get everything I want to keep off the old one and installed onto the new one?

Can I run a USB cable between the two? Will probably need to install FireFox from online but how
to get all my bookmarks transferred? Any help is appreciated, Thanks, KS

[CurtEastPoint]

1. bookmarks are stored in your browser

so any machine you open that browser on (and of course, log in to it) will have the bookmarks.

The rest of the data? I do know that I've used wireless to copy data from one PC to another. Details needed from someone smarter than I.

[erronis]

4. Only if you have set up your browsers to synch these things.

They don't automatically get copied without logging into the browser's servers.

[canetoad]

2. I'd be getting them both online

And networking them - copying all the old stuff to the new computer.

If you haven't already done so, now, before you have too much stuff on it, is a good time to partition your C drive into two drives. C: for Windows and programs, D: or whatever for your own personal stuff. This makes is easy for future migrations. You can do this via Computer Management/Disk Management.

I'd also be installing a copy handler - Tera Copy to monitor and check that copying the files is not fouling up. It's invaluable.

IMO, you are best to start afresh with your Windows, registry, programs etc. Old wine into new skins and all that. (I think that should be new wine into old skins....)

Use the networking wizard, it's not hard. Just make sure that first you Share all the folders on your old machine that you need to copy. You could copy over your Firefox user profile or export bookmarks as a json file. There is also a neat little tool called MozBackup which makes it pretty easy. Make sure you "Show Hidden Objects" in Explorer - you need this to see where your Mozilla profile is stored.

PM me if you need any help.
Edit to add Mozbackup link: https://mozbackup.en.lo4d.com/windows

[Eko]

3. Here is a video of using your old hard drive and putting it in your new computer and keep everything.

It says Windows 10 but it would prob work in Windows 11. I have done this once and it worked well. I can look up and see if you can do the same thing to 11 if you want but you have to take out your old hard drive an put it in the new computer. It is pretty easy to do.

[canetoad]

5. Good thought

But it won't speed up a bloated and buggy operating system.

[Eko]

6. depends on what the old hard drive is.

If its a ssd and the newer memory and processor are better than the old one it absolutely will. If its an old platter drive it will some but not as much. Mine was a ssd and without a doubt worked for me.

[Eko]

7. If the os is buggy you can try a windows repair.

Or just do a update to the newer windows, I believe that is what I did.

[LPBBEAR]

8. There is a lot

of suggestions here that are going to waste a lot of time.

First don't bother trying to copy programs from your old Windows system to your new Windows system. Its a waste of time. Plan on reinstalling all of the programs you use right from the start. What you want to copy is your user created files. Documents, videos, pictures etc.

Ok, get a USB flash of some decent size. 256gb for instance. Thats assuming you don't have more data than 256gb. Bigger is better.

Copy to your USB flash drive at least the following directories from C:Useryourusername
Contacts
Desktop
Documents
Downloads
Favorites
Music
Pictures
Videos

Next enable hidden files in your old Windows system. There are a number of paths to do this. This is one.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/show-hidden-files-0320fe58-0117-fd59-6851-9b7f9840fdb2

Now when you look in C:Useryourusername you'll see a directory named "AppData"
In that directory are 3 folders. Local, LocalLow and Roaming.
In each of those directories you should find a folder called Mozilla. That is where all of your user data is stored for Firefox.

On your USB drive make a new folder called AppData
Once that folder is there open the folder and create new folders named Local, LocalLow, and Roaming.
Copy the Mozilla files from the same named folders on your old computer into the new same named folders on your USB Flash drive. Thats everything from Firefox.

Once you have your data backed up to your USB flash drive do a complete Virus scan before trusting your old data. Do this BEFORE the next step.

Once you have your new system up and running just copy everything from your flash drive to the same named user folders in your new system. Do this before you install Firefox.

That should do it. Save the USB as a backup in case your new system has a problem.

BTW, its likely your old system is perfectly fine. Windows (the software) degrades over time. Once you're sure you new system is working properly a complete reload will make your old system act like a brand new computer.

If you have more questions let me know. I'll pop in later to see if you do.

[KS Toronado]

9. Thanks, I'll follow your advice.

[KS Toronado]

10. Got the new one , only had 4 meg of ram

Last edited Fri Jan 12, 2024, 02:38 PM - Edit history (1)

ordered 2 8s for 16 total and just finished installing them.

Got "AppData" window open now with the 3 folders. Local, LocalLow and Roaming.

Noticed Thunderbird had files in there also which is my email program, should I include those also?

Thanks Mike

On edit......
Isn't it possible to just copy and paste the entire folders on to the USB flash drive?

[LPBBEAR]

11. Yes

Isn't it possible to just copy and paste the entire folders on to the USB flash drive?

Sorry, didn't see your post until this morning.

Yes, Thunderbird works the same way as Firefox. This is what makes the 2 applications easier to deal with when transfering from one system to another compared to Outlook for instance. No time consuming export/import process. Just copy/paste.
Copy the entire folders for Thunderbird just like you did for Firefox from all 3 original locations on your old system and put them in the same folders in your new system.
Make sure you don't open Thunderbird on the new system until you've done this. If you have already opened Thunderbird before doing this delete the auto created folders on the new system, copy the old folders, and then open Thunderbird. It should automatically see all of your old data at that point.

Let me know how it goes.

[KS Toronado]

12. I figured after I transferred everything

is when I would go online and install FireFox & Thunderbird new from their website.
That'll be the big project for tomorrow, now I'm going to watch the Chiefs play in freezing
temperatures. Thanks for your help, I'll let you know what happens.

[LPBBEAR]

13. It should

work. Interestingly Firefox and Thunderbird in Linux work basically the same way except the folders are hidden folders called .mozilla and .thunderbird. The "." marks the folder as hidden. Also a fun fact is that you can take the folders from Windows and move them right into Linux and they'll work just fine. Firefox and Thunderbird are completely cross platform

[LPBBEAR]

14. followup

Did you get it all worked out?

[KS Toronado]

16. Finally I have time today 1/26

Last weekend I got everything put on the flash drive, set the new all-in-one computer up on the
kitchen table leaving the old one set up on the computer desk so I could look up help if
needed, but the new one said sorry you @#*%^@# idiot you need internet connection to start
using this new device, or something like that.

Hope it doesn't automatically want me to upgrade to windows 11, was a MAC person my entire
life and always using windows at work, might try going the Linux route.

Well off to set the new one up finally......

[KS Toronado]

17. Talking from the new one

Appears AppData transfer was successful, haven't downloaded Thunderbird or FireFox yet.
Ad for this said windows 10 home, it gave me 11 without asking me. Went to check on pictures
and others, everything I want to open.....up pops the "Enter your Microsoft password" crap

They made me open/start an account with Microsoft with a password, I never set a password
to start the computer, but they want the Microsoft password to start up and everything else.

I'll go through settings to see if I can solve some of the issues, planning on downloading
Thunderbird first to make sure it works OK and if it does then I'll get FireFox.

Thanks for all your help, Mike

[KS Toronado]

18. Downloaded both of them, and they refuse to install

window pops up that says........

For security and performance, Windows 10 in S mode runs Microsoft-verified apps
The new Microsoft Edge, built using the same open source technology as Google Chrome, is now ready to download.
Learn more
Switch out of S mode

Last line is highlighted and even clicking it nothing happens

[LPBBEAR]

19. Sorry for late reply

Didn't notice all your updates til yesterday.

"Hope it doesn't automatically want me to upgrade to windows 11, was a MAC person my entire
life and always using windows at work, might try going the Linux route."

I went the Linux route back in the mid 90's. I haven't regretted it one bit. I'm a semi-retired computer tech and I dread having to work on customers Windows systems.

"Appears AppData transfer was successful, haven't downloaded Thunderbird or FireFox yet.
Ad for this said windows 10 home, it gave me 11 without asking me. Went to check on pictures
and others, everything I want to open.....up pops the "Enter your Microsoft password" crap "

It should be easy. Unless Firefox and Thunderbird have changed their normal setup it should be basically done once you install the programs into your new computer. I just did the same thing yesterday on my Linux system. I set up a new hard drive and just copied the .mozilla and .thunderbird directories to the new drive. Worked perfectly. I did have to make gmail happy but that's their new security thing and nothing to do with the directories.

"They made me open/start an account with Microsoft with a password, I never set a password
to start the computer, but they want the Microsoft password to start up and everything else. "

Yeah, I hate that crap. Microsoft gets less consumer friendly with each new release and update.

"window pops up that says........
For security and performance, Windows 10 in S mode runs Microsoft-verified apps
The new Microsoft Edge, built using the same open source technology as Google Chrome, is now ready to download.
Learn more
Switch out of S mode"

They're always pulling that kind of sh*t. That's the kind of monopolistic crap they were pulling back in the 90's. They were on the verge of being broken up until the Republicans and the Bush administration saved their worthless butts.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/windows-10-warns-me-use-microsoft-verified-app

Once you're all moved to your new system you might consider using the old one for a Linux system. I guarantee you it will run better with Linux than it ever did with Windows. Happy to lend a hand if you decide to give it a go.

[KS Toronado]

20. That's a good idea

Set the old one up with Linux and I can see how I like it. First thing I'm gonna do is figure out how
to upgrade the ram, going from 4 to 16 is like getting out of a Pinto and into a Corvette.

Those pop up windows that wouldn't allow me to install what I wanted to, had to go on Microsoft's
website and affirm that I didn't want their super duty virus catching software and I'll be perfectly
happy taking the risk of hackers destroying my life and possibly burning my house down.

I'll drop you a note after I get the ram increased.

[LPBBEAR]

21. Upgrading Ram

is pretty easy.
If its a brand name system go to crucial.com or kingston.com and look up the brand name/model name of your computer. They should have the info as to what type of Ram your system uses and how much Ram your system motherboard can support as well as how many slots are available on your system motherboard.
If its a generic PC you'll have to look up the brand name/ model name of the motherboard it uses to get that same info. I usually go to the motherboard manufacturers website for that info.
Memory prices can vary widely. I've upgraded a few systems recently with a brand of memory named "Timetec" that has worked fine. It's fairly cheap. I found it on Amazon. If you haven't switched Ram before just watch a few You Tube videos in advance. Its not hard to do.
If you decide to give Linux a try bear in mind there are hundreds of different versions (distributions) out there. They are mostly all free to download and install. If you find one you like you can donate to whichever one you end up using. One I have found works well for most new to Linux users coming from Windows is called "Linux Mint". (the Cinnamon version)
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
That site lists most of the versions available.
https://distrowatch.com
Linux Mint just recently released their newest version. The download comes in a .iso file which can be burned to a CD or DVD depending upon the size of the .iso file using your computers cd/dvd burning software. Once you've created the disc you go into the computers "bios" and set the boot to start from the cd/dvd drive, save the setting and restart the system with the disc in the drive. The disc will have an installer application on it that allows you to set up Linux on your computer. As well the disc will allow you to explore Linux right from the cd/dvd disc before installing so you can get an idea of how it looks and works. Firefox and Thunderbird are available for Linux and look much the same as what you're using in Windows.

Anyway, as an old computer geek friend of mine who is no longer with us used to say about playing with computers..."Have fun wrecking science!".

[Marion Morrison]

15. How to get everything off old and put onto new.

Unplug the hard drive and plug it into your new computer.