FastMove vs MigrationMerlin

FastMove transfers files, folders, applications, settings, user data, and device drivers between Windows computers. Users can select applications to migrate rather than reinstall them individually, and the software can move accounts, passwords, desktop settings, and other profile data. It also transfers custom files, folders, and browser favorites without cloud uploads or USB copying. Its Sync Folders tool synchronizes and merges folders between PCs locally. FastMove communicates between the source and target computers over a local network and supports Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. It is designed for home users and does not support roaming profiles, Windows NT Domains, or transfers between Windows and Mac. The trial allows unlimited migration of custom files and favorites; moving software, users, drivers, and sync folders requires the full version. One-time plans start at $29.95, paid once for one computer. Each license key covers a source and target PC pair; purchase unlocks the program indefinitely, while expiry affects free updates and email support.

MigrationMerlin is a free Windows tool for moving user state between PCs, aimed at sysadmins and power users. It wraps Microsoft’s User State Migration Tool, including scanstate.exe and loadstate.exe, and provides an arrow-key-driven text interface plus numbered batch wrappers for step-by-step migration. Both source and destination PCs must run Windows 10 or Windows 11, have administrator privileges, and be reachable on the same network with SMB port 445 open. The tool can configure an SMB transfer share on the destination PC, including a firewall rule. IncludeUsers and ExcludeUsers options let users select profiles. ExtraData can include taskbar pins, Wi-Fi profiles, power plans, and items covered by custom migration XML. Migration stores can be encrypted with AES-256, but the README says there is no recovery path if the key is lost. During capture and restore, the tool displays progress, file counts, and throughput. It writes transcript logs to the migration folder’s Logs directory and masks credentials in those logs. The project is MIT-licensed and distributes downloadable ZIP artifacts through rolling GitHub releases.