Microsoft KB Archive/928634

Knowledge Base

How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer

Article ID: 928634

Article Last Modified on 6/11/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Home Basic Beta
• Windows Vista Home Premium Beta
• Windows Vista Ultimate Beta

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SUMMARY

This article describes how to migrate files and settings from one Microsoft Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer by using Windows Easy Transfer.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows Easy Transfer guides you through migrating files and settings from one Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer. In this scenario, the source computer is the computer from which you migrate files and settings. The destination computer is the computer to which you migrate files and settings.

In Windows Easy Transfer, you can select what you want to migrate. You can also select the migration method that you want to use. What you can migrate includes the following:

• Files and folders
• E-mail settings, such as contacts and messages
• Program settings
• User accounts and settings
• Internet settings and favorites
• Music, pictures, and videos

Prepare for migration to Windows Vista

Make sure that the source computer contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate to the destination computer. You can use one of the following methods to migrate files and settings:

• Use a USB cable that can connect two computers
• Use a network connection
• Use removable media, such as a USB flash drive or an external hard disk
• Use a CD or a DVD
  

In addition, you can use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings for all the users on the single source computer.

Note To migrate files and setting for the users on multiple source computers, migrate individual files and settings, or use the Microsoft Windows User State Migration Tool (USMT).

Use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings

Windows Easy Transfer supports migration from the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4)
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Windows Vista

Prepare for the migration on the destination computer

To start Windows Easy Transfer on the destination computer, follow these steps:

1. Close all active programs.
2. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, click Windows Easy Transfer, and then click Next.
3. Click Start a new transfer.
4. Click This is my new computer.
5. Click No, show me more options.
6. Click the option that is required for the Is Windows Easy Transfer installed on your old computer page prompt.
7. Select the destination media on which you want to store the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard files. You can store the wizard files on a CD, on a DVD, on removable media, or on a network drive.
8. Click Yes, I'll transfer files and settings over the network.
9. Type a path and a folder name in which you want to store the Windows Easy Transfer wizard files, and then click Next.
   

Note The default path is C:\migwiz.

Migrate files and settings from the source computer to the destination computer

Migrate files and settings from the source computer to the destination computer by using one of the following four migration methods.

Method 1: Use a USB cable that can connect two computers to migrate files and settings

1. Install a USB cable that can connect the two computers, and install the drivers for that cable, as appropriate for your situation.
2. Start Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings to the destination computer.

Method 2: Use a network drive to migrate files and settings

1. Locate the removable media or the network drive that contains the Windows Easy Transfer wizard files, and then double-click Migwiz.exe to start Windows Easy Transfer.
2. If you are running any other programs, you will be prompted to close these programs. You can save your work in each program, and then close the programs individually. You can also click Close All in Windows Easy Transfer to close these programs immediately.
3. Click Next.
4. Click Through a network.
5. Click Connect directly via network to start the migration.
   

Note Click Save to network location if you want to store the files and the settings in a file that will be loaded later. If you want to store the files and the settings on a network drive, you will be prompted to provide the path where you want to store the files and the settings.

1. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings (recommended) to migrate all the files and the settings. If you want to determine exactly which files and settings that you want to migrate, click Only my user account, files, and program settings, or click Custom.
2. Review the list that contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate, and then click Start. To add or to remove files or settings from the list, click Customize.
3. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed the migration of files and settings to the destination computer.

Method 3: Use removable media to migrate files and settings

1. Locate the removable media or the network drive that contains the Windows Easy Transfer wizard files, and then double-click Migwiz.exe to start Windows Easy Transfer.
2. If you are running any other programs, you will be prompted to close these programs. You can save your work in each program, and then close the programs individually. You can also click Close All in Windows Easy Transfer to close these programs immediately.
3. Click Next.
4. Determine the appropriate removable transfer media, and then click On a CD or other removable media, such as a flash drive.
5. Click To a network drive to save the files and the settings to a folder that is on the removable drive.
6. In Where do you want to save your files, type the path to a folder on the removable drive, and then click Next.
7. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings (recommended) to migrate all the files and the settings. If you want to determine exactly which files and settings that you want to migrate, click Only my user account, files, and program settings, or click Custom.
8. Review the list that contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate, and then click Start. To add or to remove files or settings from the list, click Customize.
9. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed migrating files and settings.
10. Connect the removable media to the destination computer.
11. Start Windows Easy Transfer, and then click Next.
12. Click Continue a transfer in progress.
13. In Where did you copy your files, click Removable media. If the Removable media option is unavailable, click Network Drive, and then click Next.
14. In Locate your saved files, type the path where you saved the files and the settings. You can also click Browse to locate the files and the settings. Click Next after you have located the files and the settings.
15. Select the user names on the destination computer that match the user names on the source computer. If there is not any user account that is created on the destination computer, you may have to create new accounts. To create an account on the local computer, directly type a user name. To create a profile or a domain user, type a user name in the following format: domain\user.
16. In Choose the drives for files on your new computer, select the destination drive for each source drive.
17. Review the list that contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate, and then click Start. To add or remove files or settings from the list, click Customize.
18. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed migrating files and settings.

Method 4: Use a writable CD or a writable DVD to migrate files and settings

1. Locate the removable media or the network drive that contains the Windows Easy Transfer wizard files, and then double-click Migwiz.exe to start Windows Easy Transfer.
2. If you are running any other programs, you will be prompted to close these programs. You can save your work in each program, and then close the programs individually. You can also click Close All in Windows Easy Transfer to close these programs immediately. Click Next.
3. Click Burn a CD or DVD.
4. In Choose your media box, type the path of the CD or DVD. Click Next.
5. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings (recommended) to migrate all the files and the settings. If you want to determine exactly which files and setting you want to migrate, click Only my user account, files, and program settings, or Custom.
6. Review the list that contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate, and then click Start. To add or remove files or settings from the list, click Customize.
7. Click Next after you complete burning the CD or DVD.
8. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completely moved the files and the settings.
9. Put the CD or DVD in the destination computer.
10. Start Windows Easy Transfer, and then click Next.
11. Click Continue a transfer in progress.
12. In Where did you copy your files, click Read CD or DVD.
13. In Choose your media box, select the CD or DVD drive, locate the files and the settings, and then click Next
14. In Choose the drives for files on your new computer, select the user names on the destination computer that match the user names on the source computer. If there is not any user account that is created on the destination computer, you may have to create new accounts. To create an account on the local computer, directly type a user name. To create a profile or a domain user, type a user name in the following format: domain\user.
15. In Choose the drives for files box on the destination computer, select the destination drive for each source drive.
16. Review the list that contains the files and the settings that you want to migrate, and then click Start. To add or remove files or settings from the list, click Customize.
17. Click Close after Windows Easy Transfer has completed migrating the files and the settings.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to automate your deployment, such as best practices, migration sample scripts, application compatibility, imaging, and remote deployments, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=56488

For more information about how to plan for user state migration, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=56489

Keywords: kbexpertisebeginner kbhowto KB928634

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