Forum Discussion
problems transferring everything
I’ve been working to migrate all files and settings from an old Win 10 pc to a new Win 11 pc. I wanted to use the built-in windows backup tool with One Drive because that seems to be the easiest and most comprehensive way to move files, settings, and everything else. While getting started, trying to follow Microsoft instructions, I accidentally created a second Microsoft account. I want to use that new account going forward because I need to close down the install4you.com domain (I own it) completely. The two accounts are mailto:email address removed for privacy reasons (older account) and mailto:eddie.dobelstein@gmail.com (new account). For the sake of less typing, I’ll refer to those accounts as i4y and gmail.
When I set up my old Win 10 computer, it was common just to use a local account and NOT combine logging into it with logging into a Microsoft account. I set up a local account on that computer based on the i4y email. Now settings/accounts/your info shows “E____ D_______, i4y, Administrator.” At some point, during an update, without understanding what Microsoft was telling me to do, I connected the existing local account to my Microsoft i4y account. I can’t get back to the local account I used originally. I need to change the i4y address to the gmail address so my data will flow correctly from my Win10 pc, through One Drive, to my new Win11 pc. For the OneDrive process to work, both computers must use the same Microsoft account.
I tried using account.live.com/names/manage and logged in as i4y. I tried to add the gmail address (so I could make it primary) and got the message that it already exists-please use another. I’m afraid I’ll have to delete the gmail Microsoft account (& lose the work I've done setting it up) so I can change the primary email on the old computer. I’m also afraid that if I delete the gmail account, the email address won’t be freed up until the waiting period is over for Microsoft to completely delete the account. Maybe the email address won’t be freed up at all.
I know I messed up in several ways. I used to be really good with computers, but I blinked and got too far behind to catch up. (I kinda got old too.) I just need to get everything on my new laptop so I can use it, Thanks for anyone who has the mercy to help.
Eddie
3 Replies
Thanks Sincerer.
My whole problem exists because I need to close out a domain I own. That domain was for my business which is now closed because I retired. I shut down the website but kept the domain & email address because it would take a while to transfer everything to a new permanent email (Gmail).
My understanding of all this has come gradually. If I understand correctly now, before I started setting up my new computer (& accidentally created a second MS account) I could have used my old computer to add an alias (a Gmail account) to my MS account that had been set up using my old email-my domain. Then I could have changed the new email to primary and the old address would become an alias. What I did with the old address from there wouldn't matter.
From there I could have set up my new computer normally using my renamed MS account. I need to get back to the point before I set up a second MS account with the new Gmail address.
At this point, I suppose I could just manually transfer as much as possible to the new computer & reload any apps I wanted. I'd need to manually change all settings to my liking. I think My Documents would remain intact with the same file structure. BUT, there would still be a disconnect between the 2 computers with respect to MS accounts. That may not matter if the old Win10 computer is useless.
My next step may be to call MS support and see if they can override the process. I would cancel the accidental MS account & they would immediately free up the Gmail address so I could recreate it as described above.
I'd appreciate any help anyone can offer. At this point, I won't be able to actually work on a solution until Jan. 5, 2026. I'll continue to read & reply so I'll be ready to go then.
Thanks to all who take time to read this. Triple thanks to those who reply.
Eddie
- You can't directly change the primary alias of a Microsoft account unless you delete or add aliases.
- Adding an existing email address (like gmail) as an alias to an account is only possible if it's not already associated with another Microsoft account.
- Deleting an account (like gmail) takes time and isn't immediate — Microsoft might hold a deletion period.
- Using the same Microsoft account on both PCs is crucial for OneDrive syncing.
You originally set up your Windows 10 PC with a local account (not tied to any Microsoft account).
Later, during an update, the local account became linked to your i4y Microsoft account.
You want to switch from i4y to gmail as your primary Microsoft account to synchronize data via OneDrive.
You’re concerned about deleting the gmail account because it might still be in use or could be deleted by Microsoft.
