I have 4 instances of bitcoin installed on my desktop and laptop. I want o consolidate them to one  version.

I have a  "virgin" running and will consolidate the other  3 into it

If I have understod it correctly I have 2 choices.

1. Transfer the funds the convential way
2. Create dumpfiles from the donators and import these files to the new fresh instance.

Option 2 seems to be the simple way and also provides me with backup files but I would like get some cons and pros from this forum.
A related question is if the donator wallets are cleared by the dumpwallet command.

Thanks
Ingvar.
From a cold Stockholm/Sweden