TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Toshiba used to make really excellent high end laptops.

BebuLamar

The Dell laptop I got have blue screen of death daily brand new when I got it. I put up with it for a couple of years. I had to replace the battery twice. Also it was managed by the IT dept. So I got so sick with it I got my boss to buy me the Lenovo that I manage myself. I can't plug it in the network at work but I wouldn't care.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

That's why I was so distraught.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"The LR files and the Backup Catalog are maintained on a 4TB external drive. Any information, links, etc. will surly be appreciated.."

I just did a transfer to a new computer. Is you primary Lightroom Classic catalog on the external? If so, this should be easy.

First install the standard Creative Cloud app on your new computer. Then use it to install your subscription programs. Then plug in the external. Be sure the external drive letter name is the same. If not, change it using Windows tools. Open LRC and open the catalog.

The best instructions I've found for moving LR to a new computer are at the Lightroom Queen site.

There can always be a hidden software cost. All my "old" software downloaded and installed except my 2013 versions of Word and Excel. I struggled for ways to install them but ultimately Microsoft got $60 through Costco for an office suite that has everything including ClipChamp and a terabyte of OneDrive. I guess a year from now they will get another $60.

Start to finish, it took me about a week or two to fully equip my new computer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, about the same timeframe for me, to get everything aligned the way I like it.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

It can be a painful/time consuming process, but if you buy a machine such as the one the OP spec’d and that can be upgraded, you only need to do it every decade or so.

Judy795

I just bought a new Lenovo P14 laptop (basically for travel and light editing). I had all my editing programs on an older dying laptop. ( I also have an old HP desk top for my primary editing which continues to do a good job.) I copied all the files I needed from the 2018 laptop onto an external drive, mostly some Word documents.

I had problems with installing Adobe Creative Cloud. It would start and not continue to download. After much research on line I determined I was missing some critical Microsoft Visual C ++ files that should have been installed by Lenovo. I contacted Lenovo and Support emailed me the missing files, which installed easily and then Adobe was no problem.

I also found that Windows 11 did not talk to my very old Brother printer. After a day of tweaking it, it will print, not necessary in the format I want.

I wanted to install and use the Old Windows Photo Viewer program. I installed it but some of the options in the edit section, such as resize, are absent. I guess I need to use the newer Windows program. LR, PS, Topaz, and Nik all downloaded ok.

Finally, Windows 11 does not like my MicroSoft Word 2007 program, which serves me very well on my older HP. I had the program disk with the proper code, but it did not work properly. I have a trial program of Word 22 now, but when I go to edit an old report, for example, on my external drive, it often changes the language to Cryllic. At first I thought the Russians got in through some programs I downloaded. It was crazy.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

I must have missed that memo and so did the computer I built which can boot either windows Linux or the chrome os all on the same machine.
I've been toying with the idea of adding the android operating system but I don't suppose I should since according to you I can't have more than one operating system on the same machine.

photoman43

I am a windows user. When I get a new computer, I reinstall all of the software programs as the new computer may have unique drivers and other such things that may require a reinstall instead of copying form the old computer.

I do copy from one computer to the other my image files, word docs, pdfs, etc.

I do not use Lightroom or Adobe products so you will need to get expert advice on how to correctly move your catalogue. I would google Tim Grey Learning or Victoria Bampton The Lightroom Queen or other LR experts to make sure you do it correctly.

lnl Loc: SWFL

When I upgraded my Lenovo, the computer shop cloned the c: drive to the new one and I had no problems.
In addition to Lightroom Queen, I have found Anthony Morganti and Darlene Hildebrandt (Digial Photo Mentor) helpful with moving Lightroom catalogs.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Most likely they cloned the data, not the OS. New machines (unless you build them) typically have an OEM copy of the OS installed. Unless the new machine is an exact duplicate of the old machine, simply swapping of cloning the entire C: drive, including OS either fails or has bugs. Plus, even if it does work, you lose one of the big advantages of upgrading to a new machine - cleaning out all the junk from your old machine that accumulates over the life of a computer, with negative impacts.

photoman43

Excellent point and advice.

dashzero

I would back up your user profile with ProfWiz on your current computer

Then you can set up your new computer. Install your programs.

Then use ProfWiz on the new computer to setup the user with all the settings and data from your old computer.

An alternative is to create a temporary profile on the new computer just to set it up and install programs.

Then use TransWiz to backup your profile on the old computer and transfer it to the new computer.

I use this often for my clients. So I don’t have to redo all the little setting etc.

https://forum.forensit.com/difference-between-profwiz-and-transwiz_topic1984.html