Migrating data to new computer - two drives in new computer

CC123 · 25 Dec 2015

Hey guys, I'm currently finishing up a new build and am trying to find ways to migrate the data. My current computer has most of the files and os installed on the C drive. But with the new computer I have an SSD I plan to use only for the OS and a few games while a second hdd will hold the majority of my stuff. I was originally planning to use Windows Easy Transfer for the migration but that would mean everything would get transferred to the SSD (if I remember correctly) which it won't have enough space for. Does anyone else have an alternative way to transfer the data? Thanks!

ignatzatsonic · 25 Dec 2015

My preferred methods would be:

1: temporarily connect the old drive to the new PC and drag and drop whatever data needs to be moved. You don't need to formally mount it. Just open the case on the new PC and connect the old drive by cable, leaving it laying on your desk.

2: use a USB flash drive. Copy from the old drive to the flash drive, then plug the flash drive into the new PC and drag and drop. Might take multiple round trips, depending on how much data you have and the capacity of the flash drive.

In my experience, Easy Transfer is problematic, to put it mildly.

CC123 · 27 Dec 2015

Yeah I thought that's what it would come down too, already have the files copied. Is there a good way to copy the settings of programs? I'm assuming just copying the appdata folder is a quick and dirty way to do it but would it break anything?

whs · 27 Dec 2015

Forget program settings. The programs you have to install again.

RolandJS · 27 Dec 2015

The only thing copying AppData would do: for all programs already installed, most [maybe not all] of the settings from the old computer would take and hold within the new computer, if the account names on both computers are the same. A more power migration program might be Acronis Migrate Easy, however, I have not vetted or used it, yet.