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Just bought a new computer with Windows Vista preinstalled? One question pops up immediately: How to get all your settings, files, E-Mail accounts (etc.) from your “old” machine to your new one? Windows-EasyTransfer is the application you need...
You will find “Windows-EasyTransfer” right in the start menu under “All Programs/Accessoires/System tools”. But before we get started, let’s take a look at what files are actually transferred:
- User accounts: Every user account that you have created can be moved to Windows Vista including the guest account and all user specific files such as My Files, favorites and desktop elements.
- System and application settings: Almost your entire Windows configuration (for example resolution, time, date, region, language, hardware configuration, performance settings, security configurations) can be migrated from Windows XP to Windows Vista.
- Specific files: If you wish you can include your own files (e.g. music, documents)!
However, “User accounts” and “System and application settings” may only be transferred using Windows XP. If your old machine is running Windows 2000 you are only allowed to move specific files to your Vista computer! The following steps guide you through the Windows-EasyTransfer process fairly easy...
"Windows-EasyTransfer" guide
Windows Vista EasyTransfer allows you to use a wide variety of methods to transfer your files: Such as burning CD/DVDs, migrating over your network, using external data storage or the EasyTransfer cable. In this guide, we’ll choose the most common method of burning CDs/DVDs since not every user has a home network set up or wants to buy (the fairly expensive) EasyTransfer cable. Ok, here we go:
- After you have started “Windows-EasyTransfer”, just click on “Start a new transfer”. Select “My new computer” since you want to transfer all settings and files to the Vista machine you are using right now! If you do not own the EasyTransfer cable just click on “No, show me more options”.
- If your old machine is running Windows XP you’ll skip the option “Yes, I installed it” and instead click on “No, I need to install it now”. You are now free to select how you want to install “Windows-EasyTransfer” on your Windows XP machine. We plug in a USB stick and select “USB Flash drive” in our example. After selecting the proper drive letter you click on “Next” and the transfer of the small client application will start.
- Select “No, I need to use a CD, DVD, or other removable media”. Boot up your Windows XP machine now and plug in the USB Flash drive.
- Select “Start Windows-EasyTransfer” from the autorun dialog that should pop up immediatelly. If not, just use Windows Explorer to go to the “MigWiz” folder on your USB stick. Double-click on “migwiz.exe” and the wizard should start!
- Since you still want to use DVD you just need to select the third option “Use a CD, DVD or other removable media” at the EasyTransfer welcome screen! Select “CD or DVD” and the drive you want to use. Optionally you might want to create a password for these files! We recommend to go with the “Advanced options” in the next step.
- Here you can easily select which user accounts, settings, configuration data or files you want to migrate to your new computer. Click on “Next” and wait until the wizard collects all the data and burns it on a CD. If this is done, just insert the DVD(s) in your Vista machine and double-click on “IMG00001” to start the transfer.
The EasyTransfer cable
Some cable manufacturer (e.g. Belkin) are offering a special “EasyTransfer” cable. This is a modified USB cable that lets you transfer data between to machines very fast. This is a lot easier than using CDs/DVDs or your network but such a cable will cost you at least 30$. However, you might want to use the integrated software to sync files between two machines as well!
I hope this little guide helped you move from your old Windows XP to your new Windows Vista!
Your Sandro Villinger
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