About device migration with the backup agent

Overview

The backup agent device migration process (also called adoption or replacement) allows you to easily migrate backup data after you:

• Replace a device with a new one (due to theft, loss, or upgrade)
• Replace a device's main hard drive
• Reinstall a device's operating system
• Completely uninstall and reinstall the backup agent

Backup add-on only
This article only applies to the backup agent. As a reminder, we are discontinuing support for the Incydr backup add-on, effective January 1, 2027. See our FAQ for more details.

Instructions for specific migrations

Migrating a device means copying data from a backup for one device onto another device. That data includes:

• User data files
• Backup agent settings, license, and identity data
• Windows only: System user settings (USMT data)

The following directs you to instructions for specific tasks and environments.

Migrate user data and backup agent settings
(Windows, Mac, or Linux)

Follow one of the links below for instructions about migrating.
(To migrate USMT data, do not follow these links. Instead, see the next section.)

• Using the backup agent
• Using the Incydr console
• From one operating system to another

Migrate USMT data, user data, and backup agent settings (Windows devices only)

To migrate Windows USMT data, as well as user and backup agent data, follow the instructions at both of the links below:

1. At the Incydr console, configure back up of USMT data.
2. In the backup agent, migrate backup data and apply USMT user settings.

An alternative to item 2 above does not rely on users operating the agent migration wizard. Instead, the admin logs on to each device and runs USMT loadstate commands manually. See Migrate Windows user profiles.

USMT support
Our Technical Support Engineers are available to assist you with backing up Windows user settings. But USMT our Technical Support Engineers cannot provide detailed assistance with USMT-specific tasks, such as deploying USMT to devices, creating the necessary .XML files, or selecting ScanState and LoadState options. For assistance with USMT, consult Microsoft's documentation.

External resources

• User State Migration Tool (USMT) Technical Reference
  View the USMT 10 documentation.
• USMT Requirements
  USMT 10.0 works with Windows 8 and Windows 10.
• What Does USMT Migrate?
  It migrates system settings, application settings, user profiles, and user data.
• USMT XML Reference
  Configure USMT behavior.
• User State Migration Tool (USMT) Command-line Syntax
  See the command line options for writing and processing USMT data.
• Download the Windows ADK
  The Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit provides the USMT files.

Related topics

• Replace your device
• Replace the correct device
• Replace a device with a different operating system or file system
• Download files from an external drive to a new device or drive
• Migrate Windows user profiles and data