Transferring stuff from one computer to another

I just got a new laptop and I'm wanting to transfer (preferably everything) from my old one to the new one. The old one is running Lubuntu 18.04 64 bit and the new one is running the exact same. I really want to avoid taking the laptops apart to get the drives out and then copying them so would anyone know a good free (as in price) drive copier that I could use?

2 Answers
2

If the laptops are in the same network, you can use rsync to copy files via ssh.

rsync

ssh

From the new laptop you can run something like this if the username is the same on both computers.

rsync -av -e ssh user@old_laptop:/home/user /home


hostname

This will copy the whole user's home directory to your new laptop.

If you issue the same command again, it will only copy changes.

Note: This command will not copy and global settings made outside your home, e.g. in /etc. Also some programs might write to /var. You can of course change the command to include/use these directories. You will then need to run using sudo.

/etc

/var

sudo

If you have different user name, use this:

rsync -av -e ssh old_user@old_laptop:/home/old_user/ /home/new_user


This will copy the contents of the user directory to your new laptop (note the trailing / behind old_user).

/

old_user

--delete

-z

Your old laptop needs openssh-server installed.

openssh-server

home

/etc

If the computers are similar enough, a cloned copy of the drive in the old computer will work in the new computer. Things to consider are graphics chip/card and wifi chip/card. Most things are probably working with built-in linux drivers.

I would take the the drive in the old computer out of the computer and put it into the new computer and test if/how it works. But that's me. I understand that you want another solution, and I suggest that you use Clonezilla to

Clonezilla web site

use dd to back up transfer hard driver image

Fastest way to copy HDD

CloneZilla: HDD Cloning - Dual Boot (Windows + Linux)

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