Migrating to a new computer using Windows Easy Transfer

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You have just purchased a new computer because your old computer has a version of Windows that is no longer supported and you want a faster computer. You have files and settings on your old computer that you desperately want to retain. How can you get the files and settings from your old computer over to your new computer without having to do it manually?

The first thing you need to check is the version of Windows on your computers. Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista all share a common operating system. Therefore, it is easier to upgrade or migrate your files from an earlier version. You can migrate your files and settings to Windows Vista if you have one of these versions of Windows:

1. Windows 2000 Professional SP4
2. Windows XP SP2
3. Vista

• You will need one of the following:

1. Network connection
2. Removable media, such as, external hard drive or USB flash drive
3. CD or DVD

• Before you do anything, do a complete system backup. This includes user-related settings, operating system components, program configuration settings, and user data. If you have a problem during the transfer of data, you might need to restore your system. One way to do this is to use the Windows Backup Utility.

Windows has two tools to make the transfer easier:

1. WET. Windows Easy Transfer can be used if you have one computer or a small number of computers.
2. USMT V3.0. User State Migration Transfer if you have many computers to migrate.

This article focuses on the WET Windows Easy Transfer process.

1. Open Windows Easy Transfer on on your new Vista computer.  
2. Click Start
3. Clicks All Program
4. Click Accessories
5. Click System Tools
6. Click Windows Easy Transfer
7. Click Next.  You will be prompted to close any open programs.
8. Click Start New.  This will begin the process of gathering data from your old computer.
9. Click This is my new computer.
10. Select the destination for the Windows Easy Transfer files.  Your options are the network drive, removable media, or CD or DVD.  Note:  Both computers must support the destination you select.
11. Select the the destination for the transfer files.  The default is C:\migwiz.
12. Go to the old computer and start the Windows Easy Transfer by going to the media where you have the Wizard and clicking on migwiz.exe.  You will be prompted to close any programs you have open.  Click on the transfer method you want to use to transfer the saved files.  Then follow the instructions below, depending on the method you decide to choose:

Network Transfer

1. Click Connect directly via network or Save to network location if you want to save your files to load later.
2. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings (recommended).  You also have the choice of clicking Only my user account files, and program settings, or Custom.
3. Review the list to be transferred, then click Start to begin the transfer.  Click Custom if you want to adjust the selection.
4. Click Close when the Easy Transfer has finished migrating the files and settings.

Removable Media

1. Click On a CD or other removable media, such as a flash drive.
2. In Where do you want to save your files, type the path to a folder on the removable drive, and then click Next.
3. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings(recommended). You also have the choice of clicking Only my user account files, and program settings, or Custom. 
4. Review the list to be transferred, then click Start to begin the transfer. Click Custom if you want to adjust the selection.
5. Click Close when the Easy Transfer has finished migrating the files and settings.
6. Connect the removable media to the new computer and open the Windows Easy Transfer.  Click Next.
7. Click Continue a transfer in progress. In Where did you copy your files, click Removable media. Click Next. In Locate your saved files, type the path to your saved files or click Browse. Click Next once you have located the files.
8. Choose user names that match your old computer user names.
9. In Choose the drives for files on your new computer, choose the drives where you want the transferred files from your old computer to go.
10. Review and click Start to begin the transfer.
11. Click Close when the files have completed the transfer.

Writable CD or DVD

1. Click Burn a CD or DVD.
2. In Choose Your Media, type the path to the writable CD or DVD. Click Next.
3. Click Everything - all user accounts, files, and program settings(recommended). You also have the choice of clicking Only my user account files, and program settings, or Custom. 
4. Review the list to be transferred, then click Start to begin the transfer. Click Custom if you want to adjust the selection.
5. Click Next when the CD or DVD burn process has completed.
6. Click Close when the Easy Transfer has finished migrating the files and settings.
7. Move the CD or DVD to the new computer and open Windows Easy Transfer.  Click Next.
8. Click Continue a transfer in progress.
9. In Where did you copy your files, click Read CD or DVD.  In Choose your media, click the drive where your CD or DVD is located and click Next.
10. Choose user names that match your old computer user names.
11. In Choose the drives for files on your new computer,
12. Review and click Start to begin the transfer.
13. Click Close when the files have completed the transfer.

Windows Vista Migration Step-by-Step

Windows Easy Transfer Companion

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