Upgrading from Windows 7 to 10 is complete—still catching up! A quick question about file transfer: how’s it going?
Upgrading from Windows 7 to 10 is complete—still catching up! A quick question about file transfer: how’s it going?
After reviewing the information, it seems you're looking for a way to transfer large amounts of data from an old drive into Windows 10 without using many backup tools. You mentioned having terabytes of files that are no longer accessible and wanted a simple method to move them. There isn't a direct built-in feature in Windows 10 to simply drop a hard drive in after installation, but you can use third-party software like WinRAR, Duplicator, or specialized backup programs to extract and transfer the data efficiently. These tools can handle large files and automate the process, reducing the need for manual downloads across multiple accounts.
Generally, yes, any changes the installation made to the registry won’t affect the program’s operation. You’ll need to add icons or shortcuts to the start menu, but the core application should work properly. Files should move smoothly and transfers between drives should proceed without problems.
If you disconnect the drive, keep it on your current boot disk, install Windows 10 there, and then reinstall it, it should recognize it without needing a clean slate? Make sure everything is in readable format with no errors—just some archive files and partial installs. (Regarding registry changes, they’re acceptable since most of what you have is already archived.)
No need to worry about formatting the drive—just ensure it was used with Windows before. Then it should be in NTFS format, which Windows 10 still supports. Your files should remain accessible and apps should function as long as they’re compatible with Windows 10 or don’t depend on registry changes mentioned by @Lurick.
It seems Windows might delay assigning a drive letter at first, but since it's a formatted drive, it should work. For safety, open Disk Management and manually give it a letter.