Have you used MS Backup to Migrate W10 - W11? 👍 or 👎?

[paulbates]

Time to move off the ~9 year old W10 iox PC to a new one with W11. There's a lot of W10/W11 users here so hoping someone has experience and an easier migration this time than the old school side-by-side method.

I've looked up the updated MS backup application that has the ability to do this using One Drive. I currently use the free one drive, but I could ramp it up long enough to do this migration.

The questions:

1. Has anybody actually done this with MS Backup? Worth it, not worth it.. any trip wires?
2. Have you done this with another app or way you'd recommend (or not recommend)?

[Geddy]

@paulbates I've not done a "migration" per se, but did buy a Win11 laptop recently. I use full blown Microsoft 365 for 1TB OneDrive (and all the office programs).  The sync between computers is great. The only issue I ran into was (of all things) with IoX Launcher on the desktop and backing up the desktop on two devices. They kept breaking the icon/link so I don't backup the desktop (location/folder). 

With all files in OneDrive it's saved me when a hard drive crashed a few years ago (up and running with a new HD in less than an hour) and with the recent computer purchase. I just had to setup the new machine how I wanted it, but all files/docs were available as soon as I logged into OneDrive. It's wildly simple. 

The key thing is how organized is your current computer? If you keep things orderly and don't have files in random spots syncing with OneDrive is super easy. You can't randomly pick folders to sync (scattered on the system). The folders need to be moved into the OneDrive Folder, but I think that's how most all cloud systems work now (at least looking at Dropbox settings currently the same way).

I keep an eye on slickdeals.net for 365 subscriptions. I have it for a family plan so I can share with my family and even in-laws and parents (up to 6 total people on a family plan). There are typically deals for combo packages and 15 months for ~$70 for family package and maybe ~40 for individual. And they stack so I've got several years stacked currently. (What I'm saying is don't pay "sticker price" if you don't have to.)  

I tend not to want settings from one system put onto a new system. Especially when changing OS versions. I figure there would be enough difference that I'd like to learn the new OS offerings and system settings to just setup the new system first then bring in files I want/need. 

[paulbates]

22 minutes ago, Geddy said:

The key thing is how organized is your current computer? If you keep things orderly and don't have files in random spots syncing with OneDrive is super easy.

Thanks Geddy

For this migration, yes it is. The things I care about are all on and all fit in the 5gb free one drive account. A few smaller things I prepared to move.

Right, wrong or indifferent I chose google drive for my main files a few years ago.. so that's handled and doesn't affect migration. If I understand MS Backup, I'll estimate or it will tell me the size of backup, I'll create a temporary 356 subscription and increase size for that..... let it go through the moves and then cancel it, which I saw I can do.

Also in the mix an office 2016 license I really would like to move over. Long story, the original owners of the computer is no longer with us, and I can't access the local machine admin account the license is associated with. Crossing fingers that it will just restore... if not, another $100 for local ms office license nce. 

[Geddy]

2 hours ago, paulbates said:

If I understand MS Backup, I'll estimate or it will tell me the size of backup, I'll create a temporary 356 subscription and increase size for that..... let it go through the moves and then cancel it, which I saw I can do.

Good luck. I've never tried that, but I do think if they've got a process and it's using OneDrive that way it should work. 

As for moving the license over...don't think it will do that, but do you have the actual key used to activate that? It might be something you could use. But I'd rather get a newer version and just have it running. Depends on use.

Office was one subscription software I didn't mind buying since it keeps it updated/current (for features and security), but the cloud storage can't be beat. I've got the basic Google Drive and Dropbox services too, and they're good in their own right, but I've been very pleased with OneDrive and the ease it provides for my use both personally and professionally. 

[paulbates]

It works ok... not quite as much legwork. Office was already on it. It did move all of the files and edge settings + extensions. Apps need to be reinstalled, and outlook had to be set up from scratch.

I had higher expectations when I saw this

 

Edited Tuesday at 10:07 PM by paulbates

[GlowingHair]

@paulbates 

If you are using Google Drive, why not just make the connection to it on W11 and leave OneDrive out of it? If you are already using GD, that seems like it would save some scrambling.

My situation is very similar to @Geddy when I switched to W11 many, many months ago. However, I had been using Carbonite for backups, so I restored files from there. I don't really have an explanation for using Carbonite rather than OneDrive (I miss the SkyDrive moniker), other than Carbonite was available before I had 1T on OneDrive, so inertia maybe? I had to do a lot of tweaking to get W11 where I want it. Being a Microsoftie, the Office 365 subscription is a must for me. I thought after retirement I wouldn't be doing much with the Office suite, but it is still a godsend, especially since MS actively makes working with Android so easy and nearly transparent (RIP Windows phone). Sorry, didn't mean to ramble. 

[paulbates]

It wasn't about the bulk of my files which were already on gdrive on not this pc. It was migrating my detailed configuration from old w10 to new w11 pc. The new (to me) MS Backup will of course only work with one drive to complete the task.