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What's the best method for backing up and restoring a system without the full OS

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A few weeks ago, I purchased a new laptop computer. I've installed all my apps and transferred data from an old failing computer. It has also been upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (this was a free upgrade). 

Now I've run into a problem and have been working with the manufacturer's tech support. They are telling me to send it in for repair and will issue an RMA. I am also within the vendor's 30-day return period. So I can either wait for the repair, which may take 30-60 days. Or return to my vendor and get a new replacement within 10 days. The second option seems more appealing to me.

However, if I decide to replace my laptop with a new one, the new laptop will come with Windows 10. Is there a way to backup the original laptop and restore the replacement laptop with Windows 11? Or, will I need to just backup the apps and data and then upgrade the replacement to Windows 11 before I restore?

 

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Gregg, welcome to these public User Forums.

For your scenario, I would recommend installing ACPHO or ATI 2021 (whichever app you have) and creating the 'Simple' version of WinPE rescue media on the current laptop along with also installing then creating the Acronis Universal Restore media.

Make a full disk backup of the laptop before it is returned / replaced - with the backup stored on an external USB drive.

This should then allow you to boot either the repaired returned laptop from the rescue media, or else boot the replacement laptop from the same, and then recover your working Win 11 disk backup to it.

The AUR media may not be needed if you are given a 'like for like' laptop replacement.  The one main caveat is that you should ensure that the returned / replacement laptop has been booted into Windows (10 or 11) and activated with Microsoft before doing the disk restore, then there should be no activation issues for Windows after the restore.

KB 59877: Acronis True Image: how to distinguish between UEFI and Legacy BIOS boot modes of Acronis Bootable Media

KB 69472: Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office: how to create bootable media

KB 65520: Acronis True Image 2021: how to back up files or disks

KB 65468: Acronis True Image 2021: how to back up entire computer

KB 69427: Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office: How to restore your computer with WinPE-based or WinRE-based media

See KB 69330: Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office: Restoring to dissimilar hardware with Acronis Universal Restore and in particular review Steps 4 and 5 of this document.