Can I just copy and paste everything C:\Users\username over to a new PC?

[riahc3]

Hello

I was wondering if it was possible to copy and paste everything inside C:\Users\username to a new PC with that same username. Would there be any problems?

Thank you

 

[TheELF]

Copy only the content of username to be sure that you don't mess up windows.
There won't be any problems per se but that does not mean that all programs,that use this data, will work correctly with it.

 

[JackMDS]

Nah, it would do any real Good.

 

[RampantAndroid]

I'd say copy over everything other than appdata (which is a hidden filder.)

 

[StinkyPinky]

I copy over desktop, docs, pictures, one drive etc when I do it. I prefer it over the migration wizard which sucks. I don't do Appdata or any hidden folders though.

 

[inachu]

THe SECUSER ID assigned to the ID FOLDER of the person logging in is not the same as the user name folder you are copying it from:
Proof in point is in the HK local machine\software\windows NT\profile list

Under profile list will show the old path on the old pc but even replicating it onto the new pc would still not work. You can use the built in function to transfer files but a quick way would be to just create a c: \backup folder and places the contents of c: \users into the \backup folder instead.

 

[JackMDS]

I tried this few times for older (age) friends who have relatively pure Vania simple installations and they Got into typical ignorant troubles. with their main system and No backup.

It always resulted with Unpleasant mess.

May be it can partialy work with real basic install. I can Not see this type of copy working with any real pro level Installation.

 

[Ketchup]

I copy over desktop, docs, pictures, one drive etc when I do it. I prefer it over the migration wizard which sucks. I don't do Appdata or any hidden folders though.

This is what you want to do. You don't want all the (probably useless)App Data and temp folders from the previous install.

 

[MustISO]

I always use either the user migration tool or Windows easy transfer. Never had an issue.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I always use either the user migration tool or Windows easy transfer. Never had an issue.

Except, MS crippled the Windows Easy Transfer tool, now you can't use it to transfer between Windows 8.1 systems, only from prior OS to Windows 8.1.

In Windows 7, you could transfer to another Windows 7 machine.

 

[takeru]

..

 

[compman25]

This is how MS says to do it when you have a corrupted profile, so it should work to move a good profile to a new computer just the same. Just realize some of the directions assume you're doing this on one pc, not two:

To copy files to the new user profile

After you create the profile, you can copy the files from the existing profile. You must have at least three user accounts on the computer to complete these steps, including the new account you just created.

Log on as a user other than the new user you just created or the user that you want to copy files from.

Open the My Documents folder by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Computer. Double-click the hard disk drive that Windows is installed on (it's usually your C: drive), double-click Users, double-click the folder with the name of your account, and then double-click My Documents.

Click the Tools menu, and then click Folder Options.

If you don't see the Tools menu, press Alt.

Click the View tab, and then click Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

Clear the Hide protected operating system files check box, click Yes to confirm, and then click OK.

Locate the C:\Users\Old_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and Old_Username is the name of the profile you want to copy files from.

Select all of the files and folders in this folder, except the following files:

Ntuser.dat

Ntuser.dat.log

Ntuser.ini

Click the Edit menu, and then click Copy.

If you don't see the Edit menu, press Alt.

Locate the C:\Users\New_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and New_Username is the name of the new user profile you created.

Click the Edit menu, and then click Paste.

If you don't see the Edit menu, press Alt.

Log off, and then log back on as the new user.

If you have e‑mail messages in an e‑mail program, you must import your e‑mail messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the old profile