# Computer advice (How to prepare for switching to a new Windows laptop) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** computer-hardware\ **Created:** [February 28, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899 "2025-02-28T02:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/21 "2025-07-09T20:34:15Z")
My last laptop lasted nearly 10 years. Not bad. It was a Dell Inspiron 13. I bought an HP Victus 15" gaming laptop, which is probably way more than I needed. I’m not into gaming. At my age (64), I’m hoping this might be the last laptop I ever buy. That’s probably wishful thinking. I hope this one lasts 20 years! ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/22 "2025-07-09T21:39:09Z")
I hope it lasts 25 years - and still is the last one you buy ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/23 "2025-07-10T23:10:33Z")
Or actually - maybe it’s better to be more straightforward and wish you a very long life with all the convenience from your electronics that you would wish. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/24 "2025-07-10T23:35:31Z")
I bought a new HP laptop a few months ago to replace my aging HP laptop. The transfer of data/programs was pretty painless. It does most all of it for you automatically. All my bookmarks, Word docs, apps, photos, etc. transferred intact, as did my LastPass info. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/25 "2025-07-11T05:27:29Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > maybe it’s better to be more straightforward and wish you a very long life with… Thank you sir, and to you as well. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/26 "2025-07-11T20:07:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I bought a new HP laptop a few months ago to replace my aging HP laptop. The transfer of data/programs was pretty painless. It does most all of it for you automatically. More detail, please, WRT “automatically.” I don’t remember how I did this the last time…ages ago. Is there something in “settings” for this purpose? How did the transfer happen? Over wifi, or with cables? It wasn’t just like putting the bull in the pen with the cow and letting nature take over, was it? 🐄 🐂 🤭 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/27 "2025-07-11T23:04:39Z")
Pretty painless. When I booted up the new laptop, it recognized the old one and my iMac and asked if I wanted to transfer data, etc. You have control over what you want transferred. Or at least that’s my recollection. It’s been a number of months, after all. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899/28 "2025-07-14T02:44:58Z")
So it is kind of like putting the 🐂 in with the 🐄 and letting nature take its course. Cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-advice-how-to-prepare-for-switching-to-a-new-windows-laptop/1014899.md?page=1)