In October, I kicked a can down the road, but I’m staring at the end of the road with no further ability to kick it. So I need some advice.
My main laptop is an HP Envy 17 purchased in 2018. Here are the specs:
- Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.99 GHz
- Installed RAM 12.0 GB (11.8 GB usable)
- Storage:
- C: 238 GB SSD SK hynix BC501 HFM256GDJTNG-8310A,
- D: 932 GB HDD HGST HTS721010A9E630
- Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (2 GB), Intel(R) UHD Graphics 620 (128 MB)
I’m currently running Windows 10 in Extended Support. I have my documents directory pointing to my D: drive. I absolutely DO NOT want Windows Backup or OneDrive. I don’t want to store my files in the cloud, and I already have a strong backup scheme through Acronis (my D: drive is backed up to the Acronis Cloud daily; I backup to offline USB drives weekly). I have replaced my battery once due to swelling. My current system is suitably fast, and I have loads of software I like. My current system has a CD-ROM (which new systems don’t have), and I have 3 USB-A and 1 USB-C ports (most systems don’t have that many ports these days). I don’t know the health of my current C: drive (SSDs have a fixed lifetime).
Here’s the question: I’m going to have to move to Windows 11. Should I…
- Upgrade my current system to Windows 11, and then replace my hard drive with a 1 TB SSD. I’d probably get our laptop repair shop to add the new drive. I’m nervous about doing the upgrade — I might get them to do that as well. This is an example of the “devil you know” route, but I’m also upgrading a system that is 7 years old.
- Purchase a new Windows 11 system. This is a more laborious and expensive route, as I would then want to update a bunch of software as well (WordPerfect, PaintShopPro, Roxio) to current versions, and some software might be unavailable. Things probably will break (including some software I depend upon). I’d no longer have an internal CD-ROM, and I’d have fewer ports. The upside is that the hardware would be new and would likely last longer.
The biggest fear in upgrading is Windows Backup. I’ve been told that Windows 11 turns this on by default. I made that mistake once: Windows Backup then changes your %DOCUMENTS% path to a hidden OneDrive directory on your C: drive, which it then mirrors to the cloud. This is bad if you have a small C: drive, and if you do things wrong, you lose files when you turn it off. Luckily, I had a full backup from that day. I want my files locally, on a separate data drive from my C: drive. Supposedly, you can turn off OneDrive, and Windows Backup. I’d like to avoid that mess. I have no idea of the upgrade process tries to turn it on. I’m sure a new setup would turn it on; I’d have to turn it off and change the DOCUMENTS path before loading files and more programs.
So, great Internet brain: Should I upgrade or get a new system?
I use the Windows Backup all the time (also known as known folder move in the corporate PC world). In fact the work PCs I manage all automatically do it to people’s work OneDrive. That way you can lose the machine but not the data. I know people hate the whole Microsoft account login and all that but if you are already paying for 365 to me it’s a no brainer.
When I set up a new PC, I just sign into my Windows account and sign into OneDrive, and voila all my files are “there”.
But if you’re scared of it, I would suggest new laptop + external drive, and just copy files. That way your existing system is untouched and you have way to back out.
Feel free to email if you have questions, I love reading your blog and have done so for years even though I don’t like in California.
I am saved from this by my current desktop not supporting Windows 11.
I am therefore planning to buy a Linux desktop, and deal with things however I need to.