Thanks for all the suggestions. I won't use "free" software to do this. With "free" software, YOU are the product.
I wasn't looking to image my old PC and port the image to a new one. I'd prefer to take advantage of the OS upgrade (current PC won't update to next Windows version even though it is only 5 years old). But, 5 years is old enough for my primary PC, so it is time to think about a new one.
The current HD is huge and so I was thinking about not copying the data from it but just installing the HD in the new PC after the transfer was done and using it as a local backup instead of the external drive I use now. I'm going to rethink how I handle backups. Currently, I keep them in the application folder in a subfolder named backup but that just means I can't copy a whole directory unless I also want to copy all the old backups. So, I'm going to set up a parallel structure on the new PC so the backups go to a folder in a different path. That way one path has folders with active stuff and the other has similarly named folders with archived stuff. Maybe I'll try to do that before I do the move.
LapLink seems to have come a long way since I first used it 20 years ago. It even does bookmarks which is really convenient. This looks like the winner so far.
ERUNT sounds like a great tool and it is very tempting but I don't use "free".
I've been looking at the various packages for LapLink. What a mess. The boxes do not clearly state what is included, there are four different cable options and also various program options as well as wireless or LAN transfer options and you can't tell whether you are getting a CD or have to download the software. I have no idea if I am ordering what I think I need. At least Amazon offers a full refund. Also, LapLink is a SINGLE use program although they have some volume discounting which could help a small business.
Now, I have to find a new desktop
One interesting feature I found for LapLink is --- Restore old PC image to new Operating System