Question about transferring non-OS files from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro?
Question about transferring non-OS files from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro?
I received a refurbished PC as a Christmas gift in early 2025.
Previous system: Windows 11 Home, i3-8100 CPU, 1TB hard drive, 32GB RAM, Creative SoundBlaster AE-5 PLUS, NVIDIA GeForce GT1030 graphics.
New PC features: Windows 11 Pro, i5-12500 CPU, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM, same sound and video setup.
I moved the HD, sound, and video components from the old system to the new one without changing the operating system.
For transferring all non-OS files and data, what is the most suitable method?
Ensure your software is set up on the new machine if needed. For browser bookmarks, export them to a backup file, move the file to the new computer, and import them. With Thunderbird, simply adjust it using your email accounts (you may also transfer any saved emails).
Regarding the internet browser, if you are using Firefox or Chrome, you can log in with your Firefox or Google account to store your current settings and bookmarks in a profile. Then when you switch to a new computer, you simply log in again and everything will be restored as before. This is the method I use with Firefox and it functions perfectly.
It relies on the size of the data. For small files under 10GB, a cloud drive works well. If not, consider using an external SSD for moving the data.
I had already moved my bookmarks from an external drive successfully. I brought it into a PC tech last week. They managed to recover my passwords and get Thunderbird working again, but the GUI interface for Thunderbird has changed significantly since 2020 on my previous PC, so I just need to adapt.