Moving from W10 to W11 using external hard drive

It sounds like File History on your new laptop is currently set to back up your new files instead of restoring your previous backup from the external drive. Here's a simple way to switch it so you can get your old files back:

First, disable File History temporarily on your new laptop to prevent it from starting a new backup. You can do this by going to Settings > Update & Security > Backup and turning off File History. Then, open the restore interface by clicking the Start button, typing "Restore your files with File History", and selecting the matching option. This should open the File History restore window and automatically detect the backup on your external drive.

Once you're in the restore interface, navigate through the folder structure to find the files you want to recover, then click Restore to copy them back to their original locations on your laptop.

If you prefer a more manual approach, you can also use File Explorer to navigate to the backup folder on your external drive and copy the files to your desired location. For more details, you can check out the official Microsoft guidance on restoring files with File History here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bac...

Could you let me know if these steps help or if you encounter any issues along the way? I'm here to help further if needed.

Thanks, Femi. However, because I tinkered with the File History settings on the new laptop a few days ago, it's now trying to back up the files from the new laptop onto the external hard drive. I've turned off File History to stop that, but can't find how to point it FROM the hard drive TO the new laptop.

'Select drive' only offers the hard drives, presumably to send files to.

'Advanced settings' seems to be simply about timing of backups and length of retention.

I think this may be the last link in the chain, Femi.

Hi there again,

Since you've backed up your files using File History to an external hard drive, here's how you can restore them on your new Windows 11 laptop:

Connect Your External Hard Drive:

Make sure your external drive is connected and recognized by your computer.

Open File History Restore:

Click the Start button, type “File History” in the search box, and select “Restore your files with File History.” This will open the File History restore window.

Browse and Restore Your Files:

In the File History window, navigate through the folders on your backup drive to locate the files you want. When you find them, click the green Restore button to restore the files to their original location. If you want to restore them elsewhere, right-click the file and choose “Restore to” and select the desired folder.

Could you let me know if these steps work for you or if you need any further guidance on a specific part of the process? I'm here to help.

Hello, Femi. Thanks so much.

As you suggest, I've taken no action yet.

I made the backup via Settings >Files Backup>Backup using File History > More options

I pointed the Backup to my hard drive ( Add Drive, from memory) and then clicked Back up now.

I should mention that I prefer not to save my data on the Cloud.

Hi there, I'm Femi, an Independent Advisor, and I'll be happy to help you move your data and settings from Windows 10 to your new Windows 11 laptop.

I understand this can be confusing, especially when the backup tool is labeled Windows 7. Don't worry, the tool still works on Windows 11. Here is an approach you might try:

Use the Built-in Backup and Restore (Windows 7) Tool:

Even though it’s called “Windows 7,” this utility is still supported in Windows 11.

Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Click Restore my files and follow the prompts to locate your backup on the external hard drive and restore your files.

For more detailed guidance, check out Microsoft's official documentation on Backup and Restore here :

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bac...

Before proceeding, could you let me know if your backup was created using the Windows Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool? That will help ensure we choose the best method for you.

I hope this helps, and please let me know if you need any further assistance.