Question Win 10 on old PC to Win 11 on new PC - how to migrate from old to new without having to reinstall everything on new PC?

[xmojo]

I run Macrium Reflect backup software to regularly do full images of C: drive on the old Win 10 PC. I've recently bought a new PC that has Win 11 installed. I don't really want to have to reinstall all the apps/programs I have on the old PC onto the new PC unless there is no other choice. I was thinking if this might be a good way to approach it:

1. Move the M.2 drive from the old PC to the new PC and make it the primary boot drive
2. Upgrade Win 10 to 11 on the old M.2 (couldn't do this on the old PC due to outdated components)
3. Do full backup of old Win 10 (now Win 11) drive
4. Run Restore of backup to Win 11 drive that came with the new PC
5. Remove old PC drive from the new PC and make the other drive the boot drive

Would this work, and what pitfalls would I possibly encounter?

 

[DSzymborski]

New PC means new install. It's best practice. Windows 10/11 does better at trying to compensate when people cut corners than older versions, but it still leaves your Windows a mess. It might not work at all, but perhaps even worse, you could be chasing minor issues from slightly odd underperformance to crashes for months or years. At the end of the day, Windows is not designed to be modular in this manner unless you have a very specific Windows-to-Go install (which you would not have by accident).

As in most things, it's best to just do it right the first time and cut off a potential source of headaches.