8 Free Alternatives to PCmover for Transferring Data and Programs to a New Computer

About PCMover Express

PCmover, also referred to as PCmover Express, facilitates the free transfer of files, settings, and user profiles to a new computer. This service is provided by Microsoft and Laplink following the discontinuation of Windows Easy Transfer.

As the need for transferring data and applications from one PC to another has grown, Laplink's PCmover has emerged as a leading migration tool.

Here is the detailed information about the software:

Advantages:

• Transfer files, data, and settings
• Supports user profile migration
• Works with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP

Disadvantages:

• No app support
• No image transfer
• Not free ($29.95)

Yet, it still has some disadvantages that make many users tend to seek for PCMover alternatives. If you're looking for free software that can replace PCMover Express, keep reading and you'll find the best solutions.

Part 1: 6 Free PCMover Express Alternatives

These six recommended programs will help you transfer your files, applications, settings, and more for free and with ease between computers.

1 Tool Todo PCTrans Free

Todo PCTrans is a free PC migration tool that transfers data, applications, and accounts from one computer to another in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP.

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

Advantages:

• Free
• Supported on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019.
• Supports free file transfer (up to 500 MB)
• Supports transferring apps between PCs for free (2 apps)
• Supports transferring apps to the local disk (2 apps)

Cons: To benefit from unlimited transfers, users need to upgrade to the Todo PCTrans Pro tool.

This is a video tutorial on how to use the Todo PCTrans tool to transfer files, applications, and settings between different computers:

"Windows Easy Transfer"

Windows Easy Transfer is a service provided by Microsoft that helps users of Windows XP copy their files, photos, music, e-mail, and settings to a computer running Windows 7.

Advantages:

• Free • Supports file transfer • Supports profile transfer • Supports Windows 7/XP (32-bit only) • Offers three transfer modes – Easy Transfer Cable, Portable Media, and Network

Disadvantages:

• Does not support transferring applications • Not compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8 or Windows Server.

"Clone App 3"

Clone App is designed specifically to freely backup and restore built-in Windows apps, third-party software, and programs related to your day-to-day work and life on a new computer. It even supports transferring licenses to the target machine.

Download link: https://www.builtbybel.com/ca

Advantages:

• Free
• SUPPORTS Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista
• Clones apps and app data

Drawback: Does not support file transfers.

"Zinstall WinWin" can be literally translated into Chinese as "Victory Installation". However, in a specific context, it likely refers to a software or service named "Zinstall WinWin". This software is typically used for migrating and backing up Windows systems. The term "WinWin" might imply that it is a solution beneficial to both users and developers. If a more detailed translation or explanation is needed, please provide additional context.

Zinstall WinWin transfers everything from your old PC to the new one: programs, documents, music, photos, favorites, emails, accounts, settings – and of course all your files.

Download link: https://www.zinstall.com/products/zinstall-winwin

Advantages:

• Supports Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP operating systems
• Supports program migration
• Supports settings migration
• Supports configuration file migration
• Supports file migration

Disadvantages:

• This is more like a disk cloning process between PCs.
• It's not entirely free.

"ForensiT TransWiz" translates to "ForensiT Migration Wizard" in Chinese. This could be the name of a computer forensics or data migration software.

With Transwiz, you can easily transfer your personal data and settings to a new PC. It lets you back up and restore user profiles, convert Windows 7 profiles to Windows 10, and back up other folder locations.

Advantages:

• Free
• Supported on Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP
• Data transfer of configuration files – personal data and settings

Disadvantages:

• No file transfer support
• No app transfer support

6th: Backup and cloning software – Todo Backup Tool

With Todo Backup, you can transfer personal files and account settings to a new computer with its System Transfer feature. You can also use this tool to clone your entire hard drive data to the target new computer for transferring data between computers.

Download link: https://www.tools.com/backup-software/tb-free.html

Advantages:

• Free
• SUPPORTS Windows 10/8/7/Vista/XP
• Data transfer via file backup supported
• Settings, accounts, and apps transfer via system transfer supported

Downside: You can't directly transfer an application from a non-system drive to another PC.

Part 2: Two Manual Ways to Replace PCmover and Transfer Data

If you want to transfer your data to another computer without using software or third-party tools, manually copying your files or moving the old computer's data hard drive to the new computer might be your best bet.

You can transfer your files to another computer in one of the following ways:

Method 1: Copy the File Manually to Another Computer

To do so, you'll need an empty external hard drive or USB flash drive, which you'll connect to the source computer.

Step 1. Copy the entire folder or directory from the source computer to the external hard drive or USB drive.

Step 2: Disconnect the external drive from the source computer and attach it to the target computer.

Step 3: Copy and move your files from the USB drive or external hard drive to another computer.

Method 2: Install the data drive as a secondary drive in the new computer

Transferring data by installing an old hard drive into a new computer is a cumbersome way to go.

Exercise caution when following this advice.

Step 1: Locate the data drive on the source computer, then shut down the computer.

Step two: Open up the case of the old computer, remove the hard drive, and unplug the cables.

Step 3: Install the data drive as a second drive in the new computer.

Step 4: When you start up the new computer, the old hard drive should appear in File Explorer.

Then you can mount the old drive on the new computer and access your data again.

In short

This article offers six software alternatives and two manual methods to replace PCmover for transferring data, settings, and software between computers.

For the best free app transfer tool between two PCs, Todo PCtrans is the top pick for all versions of Windows and Windows Server.

Please provide the English content you want translated, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.