Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.webtechgeek.com

Note: You will see the new WebTechGeek web page format with -
older WTG web page format. I hope you like the new!

Windows XP To Windows Vista Transfer Files, Program Settings & Applications
By Raymond Garcia
WebTechGeek.com

 

How to Transfer Files, Program Settings And Applications From Old Computer in Windows Vista.

If you just bough yourself a new Computer with Windows Vista installed. One of the things you may want to do is move your data files from the old Computer to the new Windows Vista Pc. Copying your user settings and program configurations to the new Vista Computer can be very tiresome.

Fortunately for us Windows Vista provides a tool called Windows Easy Transfer, that will help migrate all your data and program settings from your previous Windows XP/2000 SP2 Computer. The second tool called Windows Easy Transfer Companion will help transfer some applications from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

 

Windows Vista Easy Transfer: Web Tech Support.

You can find Windows Easy Transfer installed with Vista and you can find it under Accessories - System Tools or by searching for "easy" (with out quotes).

You can transfer files and settings using a network share, or transfer files and settings using removable media such as CD/DVD, or an external hard drive. Windows Easy Transfer does not migrate installed applications (see Windows Easy Companion below)

Using Windows Easy Transfer, you can migrate most files and program settings. Below is a table describing the types of data and settings that can be moved.

Data Type	Specifics
Files and Folders	Any files found in My Documents, My Pictures, and Shared Documents folder will be selected to be moved automatically. You can also add other documents that are in other locations.
E-mail messages and Settings	E-mail messages, contacts, account settings, and address books from Outlook Express, Outlook, Windows Mail, and other programs.
Program Settings	Programs that are compatible with Vista will have their settings transferred to the new Computer. In order for this to work the program must already be installed on the Computer running Vista.
User Settings	Desktop settings, color settings, screen savers, fonts, Windows options, printers, etc.
Internet Settings	Favorites, cookies, and Internet Explorer settings.
Pictures, Video, and Music	Music files, playlists, and album. Pictures (gif, jpg, bmp files) and personal videos.

 

 

The following operating systems are supported:

* Windows XP SP2 to Windows Vista
* Windows Vista to Windows Vista
* Windows 2000 SP4 to Windows Vista (Data Transfers Only)

 

Windows Easy Transfer supports transfers via any one of the following methods:

* Network connection
* Removable media (such as a USB flash drive or external hard disk)
* CD or DVD
* USB Easy Transfer Cable (Windows 2000 is not supported)

 

Windows Easy Transfer Companion (Beta)

WETC is a program that can help transfer installed programs from a computer running Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) to a computer running Windows Vista. WETC does not replace Windows Easy Transfer. Instead, it is an independent program that complements Windows Easy Transfer. You can use WETC to transfer many kinds of programs between two computers that are connected by an Easy Transfer Cable or by a network connection.

WETC does not transfer files, settings, or user profiles (use Windows Easy Transfer). The list of applications WETC can transfer and more inforamtion can be found at Microsoft Support site.

 

The following kinds of programs cannot be transfered:

* Operating system components.

* Antivirus programs and operating system monitoring programs. These kinds of programs appear under Will Not Transfer in the program selection list.

* Programs that do not use an installation program. For example, WETC does not detect some plug-in programs. Therefore, these plug-in programs do not appear in the program selection list.

* Programs that are already installed on the destination computer. These programs appear under Will Not Transfer in the program selection list.

 

Windows Easy Transfer Companion can be downloaded at Microsoft download center. Currently is in Beta version.