Opinion: Can a cloud backup move my programs and data to a new PC?

Microsoft OneDrive settings allow for automatic backup of individual folders. — Jim Rossman/TNS

This week a reader writes, “I am ready to purchase a new laptop. If I start using a cloud storage service, will I be able to access and download all of my programs and data into the new laptop as opposed to having someone at the dealer do this for me?”

The quick answer is “probably not.”