I need to replace my laptop - is this feasible?
Discussion
This is probably a candidate for 'stupid question of the week' but If I bought a new laptop with no operating system installed could I transfer the contents of my existing machine's hard drive to it (or even swap hard drives) and would it work 'just like that'?
My current laptop has a broken case though still works perfectly but I don't want the hassle of re-installing lots of software and buggering about with configuration and so on.
My current laptop has a broken case though still works perfectly but I don't want the hassle of re-installing lots of software and buggering about with configuration and so on.
The IT people will no doubt shoot me down, with good reason, but I think if you are using Windows there is a way to automatically migrate the data from your old laptop to your new one, and I think it involves using Microsoft OneDrive.
If you are using a Mac, then you can easily swap to a new one by using Migration Assistant. It basically copies everything to your new Mac. Files, software, settings, email, everything.
If you are using a Mac, then you can easily swap to a new one by using Migration Assistant. It basically copies everything to your new Mac. Files, software, settings, email, everything.
I've just done something similar (well I didn't, a man I paid did). My screen failed on my MBP, known issue but still a pain. Keyboard was also buggered although I used an external to compensate. The laptop actually functioned just fine, just the screen and laptop.
Anyway, found a local geezer who said he would replace the screen for £X and when I took it round I asked him if he could fix the keyboard as well. In the end he found a used shell with a working keyboard and screen and swapped the innards over into that one. All works well. Thing to note though that the model of laptop needs to be exactly the same if you're swapping components over otherwise it no workee. At least on a Mac anyway.
Anyway, found a local geezer who said he would replace the screen for £X and when I took it round I asked him if he could fix the keyboard as well. In the end he found a used shell with a working keyboard and screen and swapped the innards over into that one. All works well. Thing to note though that the model of laptop needs to be exactly the same if you're swapping components over otherwise it no workee. At least on a Mac anyway.
Riley Blue said:
This is probably a candidate for 'stupid question of the week' but If I bought a new laptop with no operating system installed could I transfer the contents of my existing machine's hard drive to it (or even swap hard drives) and would it work 'just like that'?
My current laptop has a broken case though still works perfectly but I don't want the hassle of re-installing lots of software and buggering about with configuration and so on.
Easiest way to do this would be to buy the exact same model and just swap over the hard drive. Otherwise don't worry about it too much. This is not the Windows of yore where drivers were compiled into the kernel, you may have to reinstall a few drivers on your new laptop but by and large Windows can handle.new hardware... Just make sure it's the same CPU (I.E. intel to intel, not AMD).My current laptop has a broken case though still works perfectly but I don't want the hassle of re-installing lots of software and buggering about with configuration and so on.
Don't worry about trying to find a laptop with no OS. It's pretty hard and doesn't matter anyway because you want to do a backup from your old laptop to an external drive and restore that onto your new laptop.
There are loads of tools available to do a block level backup and restore including the inbuilt Windows Backup and Restore tool (found in the control panel).
Also make sure to have a spare USB stick in case you need to create a separate boot disk.
In the real world, You can just swap the hard drive over and it will very likely work.
You may encounter some driver oddities, but these should be ironed out by Windows update in fairly short order.
That being said, running an old drive (Especially if it's a laptop HDD (Actual spinning disk)) and swapping OS installs between hardware is not the best for stability / speed.
One option would be a cloning station like the below -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIDECO-Docking-Station-Su...
(First result as an example, many and varied available!)
With your origin drive and an identical capacity SSD - You would then have your original, and a new SSD for the new laptop. - We used this method at an MSP I worked at for quick HDD -> SSD Upgrades, including some with laptop swaps, and never encountered any issues. (And if you do, the origin drive is still there!)
All that waffle aside, consider grabbing O365 Family and taking advantage of Onedrive. It makes moving between devices much more convenient and gives you some cover against drive failure / loss.
Oh - Edit to add:
Windows licenses (10 onwards) are bound to hardware using a hardware hash / GUID - You may need to reactivate: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/reacti...
Fortunately, usually a painless process!
You may encounter some driver oddities, but these should be ironed out by Windows update in fairly short order.
That being said, running an old drive (Especially if it's a laptop HDD (Actual spinning disk)) and swapping OS installs between hardware is not the best for stability / speed.
One option would be a cloning station like the below -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIDECO-Docking-Station-Su...
(First result as an example, many and varied available!)
With your origin drive and an identical capacity SSD - You would then have your original, and a new SSD for the new laptop. - We used this method at an MSP I worked at for quick HDD -> SSD Upgrades, including some with laptop swaps, and never encountered any issues. (And if you do, the origin drive is still there!)
All that waffle aside, consider grabbing O365 Family and taking advantage of Onedrive. It makes moving between devices much more convenient and gives you some cover against drive failure / loss.
Oh - Edit to add:
Windows licenses (10 onwards) are bound to hardware using a hardware hash / GUID - You may need to reactivate: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/reacti...
Fortunately, usually a painless process!
Edited by Haltamer on Friday 17th May 09:41
Moving a drive from a considerably different PC to a new one running Windows will likely BSOD the installation.
What do you want to migrate? Separate apps and data and your problem is simpler.
You can build a script to run and install all of your programs: https://winstall.app
You can use WingetUI or the command line, whatever you prefer.
I would just make sure you have serial numbers or sign-in information.
I can nuke my installation and be up and running, date and programs - in a clean install - in an hour.
What do you want to migrate? Separate apps and data and your problem is simpler.
You can build a script to run and install all of your programs: https://winstall.app
You can use WingetUI or the command line, whatever you prefer.
I would just make sure you have serial numbers or sign-in information.
I can nuke my installation and be up and running, date and programs - in a clean install - in an hour.
Just buy a new laptop and spend a couple of hours installing the apps and programs you need, it will be far less time consuming than trying to get an old HDD to run an old OS on new hardware not to mention the fact windows will not like the hardware change and want you to spend ages trying to get the serial number to work.
And don't store any docs or stuff you need on the HDD as that is just asking for trouble, store them on the cloud, then changing laptop or HDD will be far less painful.
And don't store any docs or stuff you need on the HDD as that is just asking for trouble, store them on the cloud, then changing laptop or HDD will be far less painful.
As others have mentioned.
Find a good cloud backup service (one drive, google, Dropbox, iCloud if you have a Mac). Back all your files up to that and re download them.
In this day and age cloud is so easy. i bought a new MacBook couple of years back and took all of 30 mins for 240 Gb of data.
Find a good cloud backup service (one drive, google, Dropbox, iCloud if you have a Mac). Back all your files up to that and re download them.
In this day and age cloud is so easy. i bought a new MacBook couple of years back and took all of 30 mins for 240 Gb of data.
Main problem will likely be the windows license, modern laptops store the OEM license key in the BIOS.
Unless the version of windows on the existing machine is a non OEM license purchased separately, it will not transfer to the new machine.
Unless you plan to run some form of Linux, I wouldn't bother.
It's usually cheaper to buy the license with the laptop. Plus all the hassle of installing the OS (It's not hard just takes time) and you need a working second computer to do it.
If you don't use cloud services for backup then getting a caddy for the existing drive is the simplest solution and if the existing machine is that messed up then gives you an external HDD and you could copy the files over.
Unless the version of windows on the existing machine is a non OEM license purchased separately, it will not transfer to the new machine.
Unless you plan to run some form of Linux, I wouldn't bother.
It's usually cheaper to buy the license with the laptop. Plus all the hassle of installing the OS (It's not hard just takes time) and you need a working second computer to do it.
If you don't use cloud services for backup then getting a caddy for the existing drive is the simplest solution and if the existing machine is that messed up then gives you an external HDD and you could copy the files over.
The new laptop's SSD is 512GB (it'll have Win 10 Pro installed) whereas the old one has 1TB so I'm now intending to use the new one for software only and put the old one in a caddy for data.
I have downloads or disks for all the software so installation ought not to be an issue.
Thanks for the guidance.
I have downloads or disks for all the software so installation ought not to be an issue.
Thanks for the guidance.
otolith said:
15 months before Win10 goes out of support and stops getting security patches, by the way. Was a bit irritated to find my work laptop is not compatible.
It'll be interesting to find out whether my replacement laptop will be compatible with Win11. My existing one isn't, one of many millions that aren't I imagine.otolith said:
15 months before Win10 goes out of support and stops getting security patches, by the way. Was a bit irritated to find my work laptop is not compatible.
65% - 70% of PCs are still running Win10. I'd guess that 20% - 30% of PCs will still be running it in 15 months time. I know I will unless my laptop dies.I'd expect that Microsoft will extend security patching for a further 18 months.
Fore Left said:
otolith said:
15 months before Win10 goes out of support and stops getting security patches, by the way. Was a bit irritated to find my work laptop is not compatible.
65% - 70% of PCs are still running Win10. I'd guess that 20% - 30% of PCs will still be running it in 15 months time. I know I will unless my laptop dies.I'd expect that Microsoft will extend security patching for a further 18 months.
otolith said:
We will get some breathing space if there is an extension of security patches (though Win 10 will be 10 years old at that point) but we will fail our cybersecurity audit if any devices are running out of support operating systems.
There will likely be a new Windows out before they stop supporting Win10 given how much of a failure Win11 has been. Similar to Vista and Win8. captain_cynic said:
There will likely be a new Windows out before they stop supporting Win10 given how much of a failure Win11 has been. Similar to Vista and Win8.
Isn't W11 basically a continuation of W10? And isn't W11 going to be the last "standalone" version of Windows? I'm sure all future "Windows" will just be built on the same base code in the same way that Apple OS is just incremental builds.Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff