Hey everyone! I recently built a new PC for my mom and plan on doing a fresh install of Windows to keep things running smoothly. Her old PC is over a decade old and has a ton of files scattered everywhere. I'm worried about losing important user files during this process, especially those hidden away in forgotten folders. Cloning isn't really an option for me since I want to avoid any OS baggage. I'm looking for reliable software or methods to ensure I transfer all her user files without missing any. Any tips or recommendations would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
If you're mostly dealing with documents and pictures, you might want to consider creating a simple script. Just search for file types like .doc, .xls, and .jpg and move them all into one folder. It gets trickier with more varied file types, but for standard user files, it can save you a lot of time!
I usually get a new boot drive and keep the old one as secondary storage. It’s not super straightforward since you’ll need to adjust permissions, but it guarantees that you can pull any necessary files as you need them. Just be careful, as having multiple Windows installations could cause boot issues, though I haven’t personally run into any problems doing that.
For sure, just focus on data files! Most programs usually can’t be transferred easily, so it’s best to assume you’ll only be able to move the user files. Though, if you can, it might be worth copying the whole user folder to catch everything in one go. That way, you won't miss any random documents or photos that might be tucked away in strange folders.
Related Questions
How To Get Your Domain Unblocked From Facebook
How To Find A String In a Directory of Files Using Linux