Hi! Sorry to hear that you have troubles with this, could you please share a screenshot of what you are seeing to better understand the situation
transferring files to new pc, wher do i enter the old pc name on new computer
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(195.2, 93%, 28%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDC%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
dave cockle
80
Reputation points
trying to transfer files from old pc to new pc. windows backup on new pc instructs me to enter the old pc name on new pc. i cannot find out where to enter this name of old pc
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Recovery and backup
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(176, 54%, 27%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDT%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
David Taylor 0 Reputation points2025-11-11T12:41:10.32+00:00 I have the same problem. I thought AI was supposed to solve everything!
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(252.8, 22%, 34%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EFU%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Frank U 0 Reputation points2025-11-16T02:01:43.86+00:00 These instructions from Microsoft are incomplete.
WHERE do you enter the old PC name on the new PC???
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(19.2, 10%, 11%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJF%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jeronimo Fuerte 25,885 Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-10-11T21:45:35.3833333+00:00 -
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(172.8, 61%, 26%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ES%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Shannon 0 Reputation points2025-10-19T10:37:23.6666667+00:00 I'm looking at "Transfer your files and settings to a new Windows PC" article under Microsoft Support -> Backup, restore, and recovery options in Windows -> Set up your new PC using your previous PC -> How it works -> Step 2: Pair the devices
The prompt reads, "In the windows Backup app on your previous PC, you'll see the PC's name that you must enter on the new PC." Below this prompt is a two-frame graphic. The left side depicts a window displaying "Enter this PC's name on the new PC" above a gray box with enclosing the name of the old PC. Got that, no problem. The right side depicts a prompt on the new PC reading "Step 1/2: Enter previous PC's name here" above a drop-down field to enter the new name. How do I find/bring up this depicted window on my new PC? I am signed in to my Microsoft account on both PCs, so that isn't the issue. If I open Windows Backup on the new PC and select the "transfer to a new PC," the window that comes up gives me the prompt assuming this PC is the old one versus the new one (i.e. the left side of the two-frame graphic described above). -
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(281.6, 1%, 37%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ERR%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Rick Robertson 0 Reputation points2025-10-19T23:33:32.2666667+00:00 any luck, Shannon? i am faced with same typical MS runaround here, too
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(19.2, 20%, 11%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDY%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dato' Yong 0 Reputation points2025-10-22T15:34:13.2066667+00:00 I am having the same issue. There is no answer to be found.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(92.8, 28.999999999999996%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Alan0308 0 Reputation points2025-10-25T17:02:04.12+00:00 Same here - EXACTLY as described by Shannon - no field in new PC's Windows Back Up to enter old PC's name. Infuriating, especially as I'm sure there's an easy answer - if only someone would answer!
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(83.2, 18%, 18%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJK%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jeff K 0 Reputation points2025-10-26T01:11:31.6133333+00:00 Exactly the same problem.
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Jeff K 0 Reputation points
2025-10-26T01:52:52.7933333+00:00 Exploring this further, it seems that a prompt should appear during the setup of the new computer, asking if you want to transfer data from the old PC. It is at that point, if you proceed, that the field appears where you can enter the old PC's name.
If you elect not to proceed, the setup process will continue without transfer of data. Once your new computer is finished with the setup process, I see no way to return to the prompt and transfer the data. I would like to know if that is possible.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(22.400000000000002, 12%, 12%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDD%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dennis Dennis 0 Reputation points2025-10-28T17:00:29.77+00:00 Is there an answer to this question?
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(22.400000000000002, 64%, 12%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJ%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jalojalo 0 Reputation points2025-11-01T10:44:08.8366667+00:00 Is anyone going to answer this question? I'd really like to know
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(57.599999999999994, 2%, 15%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EBB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bernie Bottomly 5 Reputation points2025-11-10T00:17:23.1333333+00:00 I have the same issue. The instructions don't say where to enter the old PC name on the new PC and it doesn't pop up automatically. Old PC shows the following...
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(217.60000000000002, 4%, 31%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3ELH%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Les H 0 Reputation points2025-11-15T15:20:20.9166667+00:00 this is why people switch to a mac, windows is more wrapped up in the stupid, ie; collecting ALL of your data equating to dollar signs, and failing to simply make a solid product that works
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Les H 0 Reputation points
2025-11-15T15:22:17.58+00:00 as you can see multiple people have the same issue and no solution has been posted
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(150.4, 39%, 24%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Duley Braza 0 Reputation points2025-11-29T21:07:55.5766667+00:00 I'm having the same problem. Is Microsoft asleep on this? Looks like a bug that's gone a month w/o resolution.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(115.19999999999999, 34%, 21%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EBS%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bill Stout 0 Reputation points2025-12-01T20:43:33.7733333+00:00 Wonderful. Is it because the original post is labeled windows 10?
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(105.60000000000001, 16%, 20%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EOV%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting 0 Reputation points2025-12-03T16:35:39.38+00:00 According to instructions the transfer should work from Windows 10 to Windows 11, so that shouldn't be a problem. The problem is what people have said: there's no place on the new computer (Windows 11) to enter the name of the old computer.
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