Question How to restore old pc to new pc?

[smalltech]

Hi everyone,

My old pc is faulty and unable to load windows 10 now, I want to restore my old to a new pc.

Q1. I use macrium reflect to do a full backup of my current activated Windows 10 Home PC everyday, my current Windows 10 has a password, my current PC is faulty now and unable to load into Windows 10 (black monitor screen), if I use macrium reflect to restore my current PC to a new PC does it mean I do not need to buy a new Windows license key for the new PC because my current activated Windows 10 will be restored to the new PC and on the new PC I will just login using my current Windows 10 password?

Q2. If I use macrium reflect to restore my Windows 10 to a new PC, what happens if later my old PC is repaired then I login to my old PC Windows 10 and I login to the new PC Windows 10? (not sure what happens if login the same copy of Windows 10 is in 2 different PC)

Q3. Where can I see a step by step guide to restore my old PC whole Windows 10 system (Macrium reflect backup file) to my new PC?

Q4. My old pc is faulty and I am unable to use it. I am using my laptop that does not have any dvd/cd drive. I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) that I need a Macrium Reflect boot disk (dvd or usb stick) to boot in my new PC then I can restore my macrium backup image to the new PC, how to make a boot disk and how to boot from the boot disk?

Q5. New PC has the option of [Un-activated windows 11 home 64-bit] or [Activated windows 11 home 64-bit (need to top up money)], I assume un-activated windows means windows is installed but unable to login because no license key (correct me if i am wrong), would un-activated windows be ok for me since I am going to restore macrium reflect backup of my old pc to the new pc?

Thank you

 

[USAFRet]

You're wanting to apply an Image from the old PC to a whole new system?

Don't try this.
It is unlikely to work.

3 possible outcomes:
1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.
I've personally seen all 3.

Depending on where it came from, you can probably apply your Windows 10 license to a new Win 11 install on the new system.

 

[zinkles]

does it mean I do not need to buy a new Windows license key for the new PC because my current activated Windows 10 will be restored to the new PC and on the new PC I will just login using my current Windows 10 password?

No. by "new pc", do you mean the same pc, but refurbished, or a pc with whole new hardware? when hardware changes, the windows will be needed to reactivated. (this is done to prevent people from doing what you mentioned above [there are exceptions where this doesn't always happen]). even if you manage to build another pc with identical hardware, you won't be able to restore the same license, unless you enter it again.

If I use macrium reflect to restore my Windows 10 to a new PC, what happens if later my old PC is repaired then I login to my old PC Windows 10 and I login to the new PC Windows 10? (not sure what happens if login the same copy of Windows 10 is in 2 different PC)

nothing will happen to your old pc, but your new pc won't work either (for the reasons i stated above). whole you could do this, and get it working on 2 devices it's a violation of the EULA, which you can read more online if you look it up.

. Where can I see a step by step guide to restore my old PC whole Windows 10 system (Macrium reflect backup file) to my new PC?

https://www.zinstall.com/how-to/how...ndows-10-computer-with-all-programs-and-files

Q4. My old pc is faulty and I am unable to use it. I am using my laptop that does not have any dvd/cd drive. I am assuming (correct me if I am wrong) that I need a Macrium Reflect boot disk (dvd or usb stick) to boot in my new PC then I can restore my macrium backup image to the new PC, how to make a boot disk and how to boot from the boot disk?

check the guide: https://www.zinstall.com/how-to/how...ndows-10-computer-with-all-programs-and-files

Q5. New PC has the option of [Un-activated windows 11 home 64-bit] or [Activated windows 11 home 64-bit (need to top up money)], I assume un-activated windows means windows is installed but unable to login because no license key (correct me if i am wrong), would un-activated windows be ok for me since I am going to restore macrium reflect backup of my old pc to the new pc?

ofcourse nothing will happen with an unactivated windows copy. but youll lack the personalisation features and that annoying watermark wil appear at the bottom.

"unable to login" is not the thing. you can login to windows and use it normally, but it's unactivated. the above features I said will not be present tho.

EDIT: Your backup may also encounter issues, so I'm not keeping high hopes if I were you.

 

[smalltech]

No. by "new pc", do you mean the same pc, but refurbished, or a pc with whole new hardware?

New pc means a newly bought pc that I will be buying now, whole new hardware, different hardware from my old pc (that I have been using for many years until it is faulty now)

ofcourse nothing will happen with an unactivated windows copy. but youll lack the personalisation features and that annoying watermark wil appear at the bottom.

"unable to login" is not the thing. you can login to windows and use it normally, but it's unactivated. the above features I said will not be present tho.

EDIT: Your backup may also encounter issues, so I'm not keeping high hopes if I were you.

My old pc (faulty now) is installed with windows 7 home dvd and it has the key entered into it (activated). A few years ago I updated the windows 7 to windows 10 and use it until now.

From what you have said it seems like nowadays an unactivated windows would work too.

If I have an unactivated windows 10 or 11 now, does it mean anytime I can buy a windows key and covert it to activated windows?

Is windows 10 or windows 11 better for my new pc? ( I am thinking of installing windows 10 as I am happy with it, no need to worry about unexpected bugs/settings of the unknown windows 11 (i have never use windows 11, not sure how many days do i need to relearn or is it worse than windows 10)

What site can I buy cheap windows key?

If I restore a backup I think I will restore the backup that was created a few days before my pc become faulty, so to ensure the problem issue is not inside the backup.

Thanks

 

[zinkles]

If I have an unactivated windows 10 or 11 now, does it mean anytime I can buy a windows key and covert it to activated windows?

yep, anytime.

Is windows 10 or windows 11 better for my new pc? ( I am thinking of installing windows 10 as I am happy with it, no need to worry about unexpected bugs/settings of the unknown windows 11 (i have never use windows 11, not sure how many days do i need to relearn or is it worse than windows 10)

windows 11 is fairly easy to learn, the same stuff, but reskinned to look 'appealing'.
if your pc specs match up with the windows 11 system requirements, you're good to go, but you won't get a snappy experience unless you're in spec ,with the 'recommended system requirements' of win 11

 

[punkncat]

A few things.

There have been some recent issues with W7 to W10 activations staying in place, even aside from swapping to different hardware, which is a part of what Windows uses to validate a key now.

As above, don't try to force a backup of an older system onto new hardware. Best to do the clean install and then put the programs and such that you need back in place. As above, you don't have to register yet, but will not be able to make certain changes for personalization.

You could always try to let us know what the old system is, what the issue is, and what you have attempted towards correction. A few more eyes on the issue might have an easy way to get that system back and do a proper (neutral) backup of actual data you need to keep rather than OS for a (now) broken system.

 

[smalltech]

Are the system and directories of windows 10 and windows 11 the same? e.g. the directory that files are installed, stored etc C:\Users\Username\Documents

I am buying a new pc that comes with either unactivated windows 10 home or unactivated windows 11 home, please help me choose. I have never use windows 11 before. I am using windows 10 home in my faulty pc for many years.

When will windows 10 users be forced to upgrade to windows 11 for free? I guess the upgrade is forever free?

 

[zinkles]

When will windows 10 users be forced to upgrade to windows 11 for free? I guess the upgrade is forever free?

you can chose to keep win 10 forever, just like some PCs running win 7, you can keep win 10. no forcing done (except the upgrade msgs, which you can pause)
3

am buying a new pc that comes with either unactivated windows 10 home or unactivated windows 11 home, please help me choose. I have never use windows 11

you can chose, both are similar. if you want to, you can chose win 10, it's personal preference.

Are the system and directories of windows 10 and windows 11 the same? e.g. the directory that files are installed, stored etc C:\Users\Username\Documents

both are the same. everything is the same except for the interface, which there are rounded edges, greater animations that will 'enhance' the user experience. other than that everything else is the same

 

[smalltech]

if i get Un-Activated Windows 10 Home 64-Bit now then after using if i want to upgrade to windows 11 is it i can free upgrade to Un-Activated Windows 11 Home 64-Bit by myself inside the windows 10?

Thank you

 

[zinkles]

if i get Un-Activated Windows 10 Home 64-Bit now then after using if i want to upgrade to windows 11 is it i can free upgrade to Un-Activated Windows 11 Home 64-Bit by myself inside the windows 10?

Thank you

you can, if your pc supports windows 11. any pc that meets the minimum windows 11 requirements will pass, and you can install windows 11. you can get the free upgrade. it will also be non activated. if you buy a activation key while youre in windows 10, that key will also work for windows 11 as well once you've upgraded.

read : windows 11 minimum system requirements

 

[smalltech]

Is it true Windows 10 Home will be supported until January 13, 2032

I see from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/16ze8j8/i_plan_on_using_windows_10_iot_ltsc_till_2032/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1HBZw6Hu3w&ab_channel=AndriyMikhailovichTech

 

[zinkles]

Is it true Windows 10 Home will be supported until January 13, 2032

I see from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/16ze8j8/i_plan_on_using_windows_10_iot_ltsc_till_2032/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1HBZw6Hu3w&ab_channel=AndriyMikhailovichTech

depends, Microsoft could discontinue it in maybe a couple years, or they can chose to keep it for longer. it's upto them. it's easier for them if everyone is on one up-to-date os, so who knows.

 

[DSzymborski]

Is it true Windows 10 Home will be supported until January 13, 2032

I see from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/16ze8j8/i_plan_on_using_windows_10_iot_ltsc_till_2032/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1HBZw6Hu3w&ab_channel=AndriyMikhailovichTech

No, that's Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC, not Windows 10 Home. That's mostly for small devices with a single purpose, like kiosks.

And you can use something like Start11, which is pretty inexpensive, and make Windows 11 look like most other modern Windows editions or your own custom combination.