Moving installed programs to a new computer

[hummer7]

I have been using windows 10 (which was recently auto-updated from Windows 8).
This computer is an old desktop Dell computer.
Now, I am going to receive a new Dell Windows 10 desktop computer at any time now.
I wonder how I can move or copy an pre-installed programs (excluding windows) to the new computer.
This would save me a lot of time and effort. Please advise me. Hummer

 

[mitchell65]

You cannot do what you want. You just need to install each program individually onto the new Windows 10 PC. The reason is that when you install a program the setup software adds certain files to your system and makes various entries to the registry which cannot be "copied" to a new machine.

 

[MilesAhead]

There are utilities that claim to do this. I have not used any of them myself. I would search on terms: Windows application migration software

Here is a couple of links to start:

How to transfer your files and programs to a new Windows 10 PC - Aug. 6, 2015

The Best PC Migration Software of 2016 | Top Ten Reviews

 

[whs]

Best is to start anew. Then you don't get the old gremlins. Any "migration" is only a useful temporary solution.

 

[mjf]

I'd agree with WHS and reinstall any installed programs. Non installed programs of course don't matter.
With licensed software you may need to deactivate or uninstall on the old PC first so that you can reuse the license.

 

[LordSnow]

I don't my answer will be the best solution, but it will work. You can backup your old computer and then restore to your new computer. Generally, there are two ways to transfer Windows 10 OS to another computer, one is via Windows built in backup utility, the other is via third party software.

Windows built in backup utility: unlike Windows Server Backup, Backup and Restore in Windows 10/7 doesn’t have an option for Bare Metal Recovery, but you can still create a bare metal backup using Wbadmin. Bare Metal backup = System State backup + System Volume + Any other critical volume. You can use the following command to run a bare metal backup
Wbadmin start backup –allcritical –backupTarget:X: -quiet –vssfull
More detail: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/249694#method3

You can transfer os to another computer with dissimilar hardware using free third party software, such as AOMEI Backupper Standard.
Use Wbadmin to Do Bare Metal Recovery to Dissimilar Hardware

 

[mitchell65]

I don't my answer will be the best solution, but it will work. You can backup your old computer and then restore to your new computer. Generally, there are two ways to transfer Windows 10 OS to another computer, one is via Windows built in backup utility, the other is via third party software.

Windows built in backup utility: unlike Windows Server Backup, Backup and Restore in Windows 10/7 doesn’t have an option for Bare Metal Recovery, but you can still create a bare metal backup using Wbadmin. Bare Metal backup = System State backup + System Volume + Any other critical volume. You can use the following command to run a bare metal backup
Wbadmin start backup –allcritical –backupTarget:X: -quiet –vssfull
More detail: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/249694#method3

You can transfer os to another computer with dissimilar hardware using free third party software, such as AOMEI Backupper Standard.
Use Wbadmin to Do Bare Metal Recovery to Dissimilar Hardware

But the OP is asking how to transfer his programs and files to a new computer specifically NOT the Operating System as here;

I wonder how I can move or copy an pre-installed programs (excluding windows) to the new computer.

 

[AddRAM]

You cannot do what you want. You just need to install each program individually onto the new Windows 10 PC. The reason is that when you install a program the setup software adds certain files to your system and makes various entries to the registry which cannot be "copied" to a new machine.

Exactly

 

[RolandJS]

There is an advantage to "copying/migrating" stuff from one computer to another: the "planted" programs and utilities are in the desired directories, with their shortcuts in the desired shortcut folders. End-user has a blueprint, a roadmap, etc., of just what goes where. Now, the fun begins -- end-user, while installing all programs and utilities into the new computer, if/when in doubt as to what all was originally installed, can look at the "planted" shortcuts, and pick up on the so-far uninstalled stuff; and install. [**]
I made a zDsktp 7-zip file of all three computers' shortcut folders. If/when, I have to replace a hard-drive, I have a roadmap, a blueprint of everything that was installed, and where that everything was installed, and where the shortcuts are.

[**] Not everything is copied, migrated, many programs and utilities do not copy/migrate over.