using PCmover and going to Windows 11

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I’m trying to use PCmover to upgrade my old Windows 8.1 PC to a new PC that has Windows 11 preinstalled on it.

My 1st attempt ran to “successful” completion per the PCmover message at the end.

However, when I restarted the new PC it wouldn’t boot up.  I had to do a factory reset on the new PC.

Has anyone here done such an upgrade using PCmover and going to Windows 11?

Thanks for any help offered,

Dick-Y (aka southieguy)

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I always take the opportunity of a new machine to reinstall my stuff and clean out the old. Configuration for existing stuff is usually easy to migrate / restore from backup.

What are you trying to move?

cheers, Paul

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southieguy

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Paul causing the T,

I’m trying to move my W8.1 old PC to the new Dell XPS with W11.

I have uninstalled my “nice to have” software from the old one, figuring it would be easier to reinstall them after PCmover is done.

I think I may have come up with what’s causing the boot issue after PCmover says it is finished and I should restart the machine (which wouldn’t boot up).

I use the paid-up version of Macrium reflect on the W8.1 PC, and have created a “Macrium Reflect System Recovery” boot option to use when I have to restore from a backup.

My thought is that that is what is causing my issue.

Before trying PCmover again, I am going to remove that Macrium boot option from the W8.1 machine.

Does that make sense?

Thanks,

southieguy

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You want to replace Windows 11 on the new PC with now unsupported EOL Windows 8.1 ?
Just create a FULL image copy (all drives/partitions) of your Windows 8.1 and restore to your new PC (wiping everything on the new PC).
You will have problems with old 8.1 drivers not compatible with new hardware and missing new drivers for the new hardware…as well as not compatible registry entries, settings…

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southieguy

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Alex5723:

I want to use PCmover to make the move, not overwrite the W11 op system on the new PC.

In particular, I want to mostly use PCmover to move my Hotmail (Outlook) and profiles over.

Most of my programs I will uninstall on W8.1 and reinstall on the new PC .

Maybe I am not understanding what you are suggesting or warning me about.

southieguy

 

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We used PCmover in the past but found that it moved a lot of detritus from the old to the new system.

We now do a clean install when we get a new computer by:

• Seting up windows (do not create a Microsoft account) but delay running Windows updates;
• Updating system drivers, etc from the computer manufacturer’s website;
• Running Windows update.
• Installing security software and VPN;
• Installing apps, such as Microsoft Office, either from their original media or by download;
• Coping data files from the old computer onto an external drive and then coping them from the external drive onto the new PC; and
• If you use Microsoft Outlook, export you calendar and contact files to external media and then reinstall them on the new machine.

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southieguy

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I have Hotmail/Outlook as part of a subscription to Microsoft 365 personal.

I want to ensure that all my saved email messages from over the years come over to the new Windows 11 machine.

Is there a way to do that w/o using PCmover?

Thank you,

southieguy

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We use Microsoft Home and Business (not 365) and this is how we manage the transition of Outlook from an old to new PC.

But first, make sure that Hotmail saves your email on its server. In other words, can you log in to the Hotmail site (without opening Outlook) and read your messages? Our email server does.

If so,  here is how we recover Outlook (Home and Business) on a new computer:

• Install Office;
• Find instruction for installing Hotmail on Outlook 365 on the web;
• Setup Hotmail;
• Once you setup Hotmail in Outlook your email should download from the Hotmail site (assuming Hotmail stores your email on its server);
• On the old computer open Outlook and
  • Click File,
  • Click Open & Export,
  • Click Import/Export,
  • Chose Export to a file,
  • Choose Outlook Data File (.pst),
  • Find and then click on calendar or contacts,
  • In the Save exported file as: select and external drive and give the file the correct name (calendar or contacts),
  • Click finish and skip password option,
  • Do the same for the other data file (calendar or contacts),
  • Check to make sure the files are on the external drive.
• Once you have the files on an external drive open Outlook on the new computer and follow the same steps except that you are Importing from another program or file.

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southieguy

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Can I reframe my question, or should I start a new thread?

I am a home user. In getting ready to use PCmover and migrate from my older PC to the new one, my issue has now boiled down to the question: how can I ensure that all my Hotmail/Outlook saved emails wind up on my new PC.

In “chatting” online with PCmover support people, they say “it should work,”

Obviously, that’s not very reassuring to me, since I don’t want to wind up with “orphan” emails that I can no longer access.

The question, then, is: how have PCmover users dealt with moving their Hotmail/Outlook saved emails over to a new PC?

BTW, in doing a search on my old PC, I don’t find any .PST file(s); but I do find an .OST file. I’m not computer savvy enough to know what the difference is, or what I could do with the .OST file to facilitate the Hotmail/Outlook migration.

Thank you,

Dick-Y (southieguy)

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I don’t have Outlook mail program.

• Here is some information that explains the difference between .ost files and .pst files:
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/introduction-to-outlook-data-files-pst-and-ost-222eaf92-a995-45d9-bde2-f331f60e2790
• You are not limited to any one program to copy files including mail files.
• If your goal is to get your Outlook files moved or copied in one piece with the files operable, try reframing the question. “How do I get my Outlook mail transferred to a new computer efficiently without losing mail nor corrupting my files?”

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
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southieguy

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Thank you Geekdom.  Which forum would be the best one to post your helpful, reframed question on?

southieguy

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Most here know something about everything computer. So your question here is fine. And maybe someone here will have an answer or a partial answer to the reframed question.

Some here might also be able to point you in a direction for a complete answer.

Here is a break-down of possible steps:

• Make sure you have a backup of your Outlook stuff as it stands right now (working).
• .pst is not the same as .ost and you may need to do conversion.
• Find what copies and pastes data intact starting with some good old Microsoft DOS commands first.
• Don’t be discouraged. Solutions require sifting, patience, and time.
• Anything that promises quick magical solutions is likely scam — including squirrelly virus-laden software.

A possible solution was described here:
https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/using-pcmover-and-going-to-windows-11/#post-2523400

On permanent hiatus {with backup and coffee}
offline▸ Win10Pro 2004.19041.572 x64 i3-3220 RAM8GB HDD Firefox83.0b3 WindowsDefender
offline▸ Acer TravelMate P215-52 RAM8GB Win11Pro 22H2.22621.1265 x64 i5-10210U SSD Firefox106.0 MicrosoftDefender
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Gookdom:

That solution and other suggestions I’ve seen while searching around on the web all start with “On the old computer open Outlook and Click File.”

I’ve attached a screenshot of my Hotmail/Outlook image and I don’t see “File” to click, nor can I find it anywhere in settings.  So, I can’t go down that suggested path.

southieguy

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geekdom

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That’s the Outlook.com web site in a browser window.

As you mentioned Outlook as part of your Microsoft 365 personal subscription everyone assumed you were using its local Outlook program, which is also what the File menu hints refer to.

If you only use the web version, it will operate the same from a new computer without transferring any email data files.

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southieguy, geekdom

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I recommend against using PC Mover installing your *programs* during the transfer. I might trust it with just your data. My PC Mover transfer used an RJ-45 crossover cable was from a trusty Windows 7 HP workhorse to a Windows 10 VR-capable gaming box. From personal experience, I know that PC Mover corrupted the new box’s sound driver files and there were persistent problems with the sound drivers. A senior Microsoft engineer got on the phone with me during a live remote session and it even flummoxed her. It came down to the problem that HP’s sound drivers wouldn’t play nice with RealTek’s. Around 5 times during 4 years I had to reinstall the new machine’s motherboard sound drivers for a temporary repair. Those small but persistent effects lasted four years until the Windows 10 OS became irreparably corrupted several months ago, and the OS had to be wiped an reinstalled.

Human, who sports only naturally-occurring DNA ~ oneironaut ~ broadcaster

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southieguy

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If you are using the Outlook.com web site in a browser window then follow b’s advice and continue using the Outlook web version and forget the discussion below related to creating .pst files. Also please advise the contributes to this thread.

If you are not using the Outlook.com web site:

• Have you checked to see if HotMail saves copies of your emails on their servers?
  • If so, your email messages are safe and will automatically download when you setup an Outlook account on the new computer
• You will not find .pst files on your computer – you create them when you export your Outlook calendar and contact files to an external device such as a USB Flash Drive.
• To save your Outlook contacts and calendar see the Microsoft instructions on how to Create an Outlook Data File (.pst) to save your information at  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-an-outlook-data-file-pst-to-save-your-information-17a13ca2-df52-48e8-b933-4c84c2aabe7c
• You can use the same approach to save all of your Outlook files (inbox, outbox, etc.) if you want to, but it is my experience that recovering the Outlook exported email files, other than calendar and contacts, from and external drive has the potential of creating duplicates.

You also have the option of using PCmover to move your 8.1 PC system to the new Windows 11 PC. However before doing so, make sure that you have the Windows 11 PC’s recovery media saved on an external drive-in case you run into trouble with PCmover.

If it works – great.

If not – you will need to return the new PC to its as delivered condition. To do that you will need your new PC’s recovery media and instructions on how to use it.

You should be able to download your PC’s recovery media from the computer’s manufacturer’s support web pages.

However, I still recommend not using PCMover.  But if you do, and it works, your problems are solved.

If it doesn’t work you will need to use the recovery media to return the new computer to it’s as delivered condition.

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southieguy

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Thanks to all for not giving up on helping me.

So, testing my understanding, and advizing as requested:  I have used Hotmail for a very long time.  Somewhere along the line Microsoft “upgraded ” Hotmail to run under Outlook.

Obviously, I am not as technically uptodate as my mainframe days, so I believe that means it’s web-based as B said.

Then, a few years back I subscribed to a Microsoft 365 personal subscription  without changing anything on my end relative to my “Hotmail” account.  I do a lot with Excel spreadsheets and wanted to stay current with Excel and Word mostly.

After all your helpful suggestions, what I propose to do is:

backup my current Windows 8.1 PC.

bring up the Windows 11 PC as is from Dell.

remove my Macrium Reflect license key and program from the old PC, and install Macrium on the new PC.

backup the new PC

bring up Hotmail/Outlook on the new PC

If all is well with all my saved emails etc. I will forget about using PCmover and freshly install my “production” programs such as Malwarebytes as I need them.

I believe my Microsoft 365 personal subscription means that that will automatically come over as part of my Microsoft account, so I won’t have to do anything relative to Excel and Word.

Does that make sense?

southieguy

 

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Yes

And you will need to copy your data files from the old PC onto an external disk and the upload them to the new machine.

I do this using Windows Explorer (file manager)

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southieguy

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southieguy wrote:

Does that make sense?

Yes. Given the software you’re using those will be the best strategies. But you should confirm in writing with Microsoft about your strategies for your Microsoft 365 personal subscription.

If you were using a stand-alone client version of Outlook, and not cloud-dependent on Microsoft for your Outlook files and e-mail, there would be one additional step I’d recommend. That step would be the use of BackupOutlook. But I haven’t tested BackupOutlook with ‘cloud’ versions of Outlook, so I won’t vouch for it in that usage scenario. But you could always message its publisher and ask him about it.

Human, who sports only naturally-occurring DNA ~ oneironaut ~ broadcaster

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southieguy

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When I am all done with my migration, God willing, I will post about how things went.

southieguy

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Kathy,

Thank you for all your helpful comments throughout this thread.

I have already done that, and should have mentioned it as part of my migration “plan” above.

The best part of that step is, that while I was getting the Hotmail issue solved with everybody’s help here, I used my wait-time productively to get rid of excess “packrat” data that I had accumulated over the years and no longer needed.

Best,

southieguy

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Another issue has popped up. I had a Microsoft 365 personal subscription. I was unable to open my Word docs, or Excel workbooks.  Because I was (still am) between the old and new PC’s I upgraded to a Family subscription.

When I try to open the files mentioned above, I get the message: “This feature has been disabled by your administrator. Enter a product key instead.
I am a home user, so I don’t get the “your administrator” bit.

Anyway, I have spent the last couple of days trying the results of suggestions made all over the web.

Has anybody else had to deal with this issue?

I would be incredibly blessed if someone can provide a solution to this problem.

Thank you,

southieguy

 

 

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This issue occurs if one of the following registry values is configured as specified:
…
To resolve this issue, follow these steps to modify the registry:
…
(This feature has been disabled by your administrator) error in Microsoft Office

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southieguy

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Last night I lucked out. I realized that I had been too aggressive in adding software designed to make W11 more like W7. I used Revo and uninstalled DoNotSpy-11.  It turns out that enabling one of the settings was what led to the inability to access the Office programs.

After that, I went to my Family Plan and was able to download and install Office, and subsequently open my Word docs and Excel workbooks.

Thank you, B, for trying to help me with your reply.

southieguy

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b

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I’m closing this thread and my other open one. Either through work-arounds or “make Windows 11 better” software I’ve been adding, I have my new PC in a semi-workable-the-way-I-want-it state.

Once I’m satisfied, if it would be helpful, I’ll start a thread called “Lessons Learned.”

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Hello, I am using PCMover to transfer files from a Win 10 Dell desktop to a Win 11 Auusda (sic) laptop, and so far I’ve had two failed rounds due to Starlink not providing enough bandwidth, and a few folders changed to Hidden and ReadOnly. I will get back in touch if I get the obstacle you write about. The whole process so far has taken three days for 951GB of data on a fully functioning Dell.

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Microsoft added a new tool to move to new PC, Windows Backup

https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/microsoft-backup-triggers-help-desk-calls-and-confusion/#on-security

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b

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… and it works very well, as I discovered two weeks ago when I used it to copy apps, files, settings and passwords from an old laptop to a new laptop. Saved a lot of time.

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Alex5723

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