Imaging/cloning hd from one computer to another (different configurations)

[bluedreamer1079]

Helo guys, I hope you can help. I have laptop A (with broken screen) and want to transfer everything on Laptop B. They are not the same configuration (Hp & Dell). Obviously I can boot and use Laptop A with external monitor to make image file. I would like to move all settings, software and even certificates if possible to Laptop B.
Now, here comes the problem, I have watched a dosen of videos about windows disk cloning but they all seem to use disk drive which has to be phisically inserted into laptop B (which will make me lose warranty on Laptop B).
So I am thinking about using disk image and not cloning.
Will disk image keep all settings and software and run it on another machine? Which program (preferabily free) should I use? (Macrium, Clonezilla..)
I hope the question makes sense

Thank you

[veeg]

Hello

You could take out the laptop HDD and put it in a mini external hdd case via usb and copy what you need..

Here is an example of what i am saying… This is a U.S. web site so maybe you can find something like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Hard-Drive-Accessories/b?ie=UTF8&node=11548952011

[bluedreamer1079]

Thank you for your answer. I have no problem copying files, I can do it with regular external disk but I would like to keep applications and certificates without reinstalling them if possible

[veeg]

Ok well you should be able to still use those app’s and other files with the external drive..

[Bruce]

software gets tied to the OS (program files, registry entries) so cloning one laptop to another shouldn’t be an issue - except - when you do the first boot after the clone, Windows will detect all the new hardware (in your case, HP to Dell) and want to re-activiate itself.
that’s where it may get interesting.

[bluedreamer1079]

Yes, thank you, after some more digging I decided to go with regular new installation since I concluded that all software would need to be activated again anyway…

[PeterOz]

50% chance it would BSOD
Due to different drivers
You made the right choice of a fresh install.
It will get rid of bloatware

[Bruce]

@bluedreamer1079 - shall we close this as solved?

[bluedreamer1079]

Yes, thank you