Computer Replacement Procedure

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  My old Dell Optiplex GX280, is starting to die.  Everything will be going along find and all of the sudden the screen will go blank and a white cursur will be blinking in the upper left corner?  I think something is failing.  I learned my lesson last month, about only having one backup, so I've created backups using Acronis True Image and Macrium Reflect to a separate hard drive.   When I get my new PC,  what would be the least painful method of putting my files on that new hard drive?  Since both PC's will be running Windows 10, would it be as easy as removing the hard drive from the old PC and installing it on the new PC?

 Second related question, since my current PC is running Norton Identify Safe from the local vault, will I still be able to keep using the local vault, on that new PC, even though I've upgraded to Norton Security ver 22.7.1.32?

 Getting ready...

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Read this thread for the Local vault and save a copy of IDDStor2.dat so you can restore it to your new system if needed. The procedure is to save 3 files but the IDDStor2.dat is the only one required as Norton will recreate the other two. You can copy all 3 if you wish.

http://community.norton.com/en/forums/retaining-your-local-vault

I would not try your old drive in your new system unless you have no other choice. It could be the problem. If your new system comes with Windows 10 installed I would run updates to be sure it is current and then install your programs and then transfer you data files. This is a good opportunity to have a clean install of your system.

Jim cool  

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PC-c

 so I've created backups using Acronis True Image and Macrium Reflect to a separate hard drive. When I get my new PC,  what would be the least painful method of putting my files on that new hard drive? 

Did you make backups or images of the hard drive?

Backups may only be data files etc of that kind and not the whole system.

So at this point I would ask does the new PC have the version of Windows you want to use and does it have the applications you want to use already installed / you have the media to reinstall these applications and utilities?

If so then you should be able to restore backups to the new hardware after reinstalling the software applications and utilities that they relate to.

But if you made images of the total old hard drive then you have two possible stumbling blocks when you have images of the whole drive with Windows, applications and data files etc and try to restore them to the new PC:

1 --  If your original PC is a proprietary brand that come with an OEM version of Windows as most do (and your old one is a Dell so this applies) then Windows activation can be tied to the motherboard of the original PC and so when you restore the image to the had drive that comes on the new PC the Windows will not accept the previous activation KEY and validate it.

2 -- If it's a totally new PC with a different motherboard and other hardware then the image that is restored is not going to have drivers etc that match the new hardware and it may not boot up.

Does that help to clarify what you need to know more about?

Second related question, since my current PC is running Norton Identify Safe from the local vault, will I still be able to keep using the local vault, on that new PC, even though I've upgraded to Norton Security ver 22.7.1.32?

This is an area on which I'm not competent so wait for some specific advice on this which will, I think but am not sure, will be along the lines of having to reinstall the last version of a Norton that did support the local vault and then upgrade again from there.

Although if you are restoring an image and not having to reinstall software including Norton then I think you should be OK .... but don't assume anything until one of the others confirms it.