Question How do I transfer programs with data from one computer to another?

[Wing901]

Moving files and data from one computer to another is easy but moving programs with data together is definitely not .How do I make it?

 

[DSzymborski]

You don't. You install the software you want on the new computer. Anything else will be a janky mess that varies from software to software.

 

[USAFRet]

Moving files and data from one computer to another is easy but moving programs with data together is definitely not .How do I make it?

You don't.

 

[punkncat]

You could attempt to do so with a clone, but this would be on the assumption that you want the second machine to be a copy of the first, and also that the hardware is the same. In this case it may or may not transfer licensure.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Most programs save their settings and per-user generated data somewhere in C:\Users\[Username]. You can do a wholesale copy and paste, skipping over any files Windows complains about.

 

[Wing901]

You could attempt to do so with a clone, but this would be on the assumption that you want the second machine to be a copy of the first, and also that the hardware is the same. In this case it may or may not transfer licensure.

It has nothing to do with licences. Both computers come with windows 10 pro licence(upgrade from windows 7 pro). The programs are either free or could be run on any computers as long as not at the same time.

 

[USAFRet]

It has nothing to do with licences. Both computers come with windows licence. The programs are either free or could be run on any computers as long as not at the same time.

Some applications can be trivially copied from system to system.

Many cannot.

When an application is first installed, it make dozen/hundreds of entries in teh Registry and elsewhere.
The other OS or system knows nothing about these.

There is no universal "Always works"

 

[Wing901]

Most programs save their settings and per-user generated data somewhere in C:\Users\[Username]. You can do a wholesale copy and paste, skipping over any files Windows complains about.

You mean copy everything or related files/data from C:\Users\[Username] and it will be OK? Of course I will install all the software again. I just wanted to preserve the data and the settings/configuration with the programs.

 

[USAFRet]

Of course I will install all the software again.

That was not clear in your original question.

 

[Wing901]

Some applications can be trivially copied from system to system.

Many cannot.

When an application is first installed, it make dozen/hundreds of entries in teh Registry and elsewhere.
The other OS or system knows nothing about these.

There is no universal "Always works"

That was not clear in your original question.

Since the programs cannot be transferred, I need to install them again. The most important thing is if the programs could still access to the related data as before.

 

[USAFRet]

Since the programs cannot be transferred, I need to install them again. The most important thing is if the programs could still access to the related data as before.

This depends on the specific program, and where/how they store their settings.

Each application may be different.

The data YOU created is irrelevant. You can point your video editor at any .mp4 and do your thing.

 

[hotaru.hino]

You mean copy everything or related files/data from C:\Users\[Username] and it will be OK? Of course I will install all the software again. I just wanted to preserve the data and the settings/configuration with the programs.

For the most part, yes. There's some programs that may save settings elsewhere, but that tends to be the exception than the norm.

 

[Wing901]

For the most part, yes. There's some programs that may save settings elsewhere, but that tends to be the exception than the norm.

Thank you. I will try.

 

[lojikal]

Thank you. I will try.

I'd strongly suggest a fresh install. Anything else is simply just asking for some long term headaches. Unless you've got some prior experience with this task which is unlikely given your post, then my advice would be to simply follow DSzymborski's recommendation.

 

[hotaru.hino]

I'd strongly suggest a fresh install. Anything else is simply just asking for some long term headaches. Unless you've got some prior experience with this task which is unlikely given your post, then my advice would be to simply follow DSzymborski's recommendation.

They're only moving the settings over, which for most applications, is not a problem, because they'll be looking for them anyway. And if the current settings files are not compatible, because the app somehow had a major version update between now and then, then those settings simply don't get used.