Transfer everything from old computer to new computer with Windows 11
Transfer programs and files to new computer
Transfer files from one computer to another
Research data: Windows and migration statistics
Transfer Microsoft Office to new computer
Restore programs and files from a broken or dead computer
Transfer directly from an old hard drive
Transfer to new computer using a USB hard drive
Corporate Windows 11 migration
User Profile Migration to new PC / new domain
How To Migrate Local Profiles to Azure AD
Migration to Server 2019 / 2016
Transfer everything from old computer to new computer with Windows 11
Transfer programs and files to new computer
Transfer files from one computer to another
Research data: Windows and migration statistics
Transfer Microsoft Office to new computer
Restore programs and files from a broken or dead computer
Transfer directly from an old hard drive
Transfer to new computer using a USB hard drive
Corporate Windows 11 migration
User Profile Migration to new PC / new domain
How To Migrate Local Profiles to Azure AD
Migration to Server 2019 / 2016
Transfer programs and files to new computer
Transfer files from one computer to another
Transfer Microsoft Office to new computer
Restore programs and files from a broken or dead computer
Transfer directly from an old hard drive
Transfer to new computer using a USB hard drive
Move To New PC - Compare Options
Migration Kit Pro - Advanced Transfer
Transfer programs and files to new computer
Transfer files from one computer to another
Transfer Microsoft Office to new computer
Restore programs and files from a broken or dead computer
Transfer directly from an old hard drive
Transfer to new computer using a USB hard drive
Updated January 2026 · 2 minute read
Laptop Screen Broken? How to Get Your Programs and Files Off It
Cracked or dead laptop screen – but everything you own is on that machine? The good news: a broken screen almost never means broken data. Your programs, documents, photos and files are intact; you just can’t see them. Here is how to get everything off, in both scenarios.
Scenario 1: the laptop still works – it just has no screen
- Connect an external monitor (or a TV) to the laptop’s HDMI / USB-C port.
- If the screen doesn’t appear on it automatically, press Windows + P and select “Duplicate” (press it blind if needed: Windows + P, then the Down arrow, then Enter).
- You now have a working display – transfer everything to the new computer as usual with Zinstall WinWin: run it on the laptop, run it on the new computer, press “Go”. Your programs, settings and files move over automatically.
Scenario 2: the laptop won’t display anything – or won’t turn on
Then treat it as a broken-computer recovery – the same play as recovering your programs and files from a broken computer:
- Remove the hard drive (or SSD) from the laptop – on most models it is a few screws away, or a repair shop will do it in minutes.
- Connect it to the new computer with a USB adapter or enclosure (inexpensive, any electronics store).
- Run Zinstall Migration Kit Pro on the new computer and point it at the old drive – it recovers your programs, settings, profiles and all files from the drive onto the new machine. Not just documents – the actual applications, installed and configured.
That’s it – broken screen or not, the new computer will feel just like home.
Ready to get your programs and files off the broken laptop?
Video tutorial – how to recover programs, settings and files from a dead computer
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