Laplink

The biggest difference is application transfer. Laplink PCmover Professional is designed to move applications along with files, settings, and user profiles, while PCmover Express focuses on files, settings, and profiles and does not transfer installed applications. SoftwareCW currently lists both PCmover Professional 11 and PCmover Express 11 as Windows products. Choose Professional when preserving installed applications is important; choose Express when you mainly need to move personal data and Windows settings to another PC.

Laplink PCmover Professional can transfer selected applications, user accounts, files, and settings from an old Windows PC to a new one. It is intended to reduce the amount of manual reinstalling and reconfiguration during a migration. Some software still needs to be reactivated afterward, and not every program should be transferred. Before starting, review the applications you depend on and confirm that they are compatible with the destination version of Windows.

Yes. Laplink Software’s migration instructions require the PCmover application to be installed on both the old and new PCs for a direct transfer. The computers can then communicate via a supported connection method, such as a network or a compatible transfer cable, depending on the product and setup. Both systems should have stable power and network access, and Laplink requires internet connectivity for parts of the setup and validation process. Follow the same PCmover edition and version on both machines.

Laplink PCmover 11 supports migrations involving Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11, according to Laplink’s current requirements. That makes it useful when moving from an older Windows PC to a newer system, but the destination must still support the applications you plan to move. PCmover can transfer an application that later proves incompatible with the new Windows version, so check critical program requirements before relying on the migration.

Some may. Laplink notes that applications protected by digital rights management, hardware-based licensing, or publisher activation systems may require reactivation after transfer. A migration does not change the software publisher’s license terms. Before moving licensed business or creative software, keep product keys and account credentials available, deactivate the old installation when the publisher requires it, and confirm that the license allows use on the destination computer.

Laplink advises that antivirus and anti-spyware programs, as well as hardware-specific drivers, are not transferred like normal applications. Those components interact deeply with Windows and the destination computer’s hardware, so they should generally be installed fresh using current versions from the publisher or device manufacturer. Before migrating, note your security subscriptions, printer drivers, graphics drivers, audio interface drivers, and other hardware utilities so you can reinstall the supported versions on the new PC afterward.

Windows S mode restricts the installation of traditional desktop applications, so the standard downloaded PCmover installer may not work until the system is switched out of S mode. Laplink also provides guidance for Store-based PCmover availability in S-mode scenarios. Because leaving Windows S mode is normally a one-way change, check the current Laplink software and Microsoft's instructions for your specific PC before changing the operating system configuration solely for migration.

First, choose the right edition based on whether you need application transfer or only files and settings. Then verify the Windows versions on both computers, internet access, available disk space, connection method, and the compatibility of important applications on the destination PC. SoftwareCW lists Laplink PCmover Professional 11 and Express 11 as one-time purchases with one-computer licensing. Review the exact product terms for the migration you plan so you know how many transfers or computers the license covers.