IT Professionals

Windows 7′s Windows Easy Transfer

Posted by on Aug 3, 2009 | 3 Comments

Many people avoid upgrading to a new operating system because the thought of moving all their settings and files is too difficult or seems like too much work. Microsoft makes it easy for even inexperienced users to upgrade to a newer operating system with the Windows Easy Transfer tool.

The Windows Easy Transfer tool lets you move the following files and settings from one computer to another:

  • Files and folders (everything within the Documents, Pictures and Shared Documents folders)
  • E-mail settings, contacts and messages
  • Program settings
  • User accounts and settings
  • Internet settings and favorites
  • Music
  • Pictures and videos

You can transfer files and settings in one of three ways: using a Windows Easy Transfer File cable, over a network, or to an external drive.

The Windows Easy Transfer tool is not new to Windows 7 as Microsoft first introduced the tool in Windows Vista. If you used the previous version, you will notice some definite enhancements to the tool in Windows 7.

  • The Windows Easy Transfer user interface is much simpler.
  • You can now transfer settings for specific user profiles. This means you can exclude settings for specific user accounts from being transferred.
  • Windows Easy Transfer provides enhanced selectivity, down to the file level.
  • Windows Easy Transfer provides a report at the end of the migration, which details everything that occurred during the transfer.

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  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/it/2009/08/03/windows-7s-windows-easy-transfer/ Rolf

    Well, another jubilant post on something that does not serve its purpose.
    1. It’s buggy, and except for 0xc0000005 it tells you nothing.
    2. It takes hours until it finally fails. Nice.
    3. It will not copy programs — even for those whose settings it is supposed to transfer. If you copy them manually, you run into the following problem:
    4. The windows folder’s contents can not be transferred by migwiz. Any dlls in the windows folder (coming from installed applications) are not registered
    5. The user guide/help is very bad and totally incomplete. Specifically, it is hard to find out how to control what it transfers. E.g.: if I only want to transfer one HD, but have 5, how do I tell it to leave its grubby fingers off?
    I would be interested if anyone has succeeded in a successful transfer, and what it actually transferred.

  • Tom Google

    Microsoft’s “improvements” on GUI end of things has always been a disaster. There needs to be a “previous GUI” version in the new OS.
    I want the FAMILIAR.. I want to be productive right away. That means .. if I had XP, I want to select XP OS GUI with limited functionality. If I had Win2000, give me that GUI.
    I think I am well versed in M$oft and a long time developer but.. it’s like I never saw Windows in my life!
    With all the restricted permissions, even as admin, it took a while for me to get around finding the equivalent of what was very comfortable on my own hard drive using “windows explorer” mode.
    I would find it much easier to switch to linux rather than this convoluted ‘junk’ for a GUI interface.
    As an example, I installed Windows 7 on a separate partition on my 2nd hard drive. I already had 2 drives, with maybe 7 partitions, I wanted to copy some files from an XP partition to the new partition containing Windows 7. Was it easy? Absolutely NOT!!
    Installing drivers – was it easy? Absolutely NOT!! Even with a reboot and selecting “disable driver signature” option. It still was not easy.
    How about good old DOS? At least give me that option. Nope. Couldn’t find it.
    Doing a file transfer wizard? Not even a clue.

    OK.. so this is a rant.. but cheez.. For an RC release, I can’t say much positive at this point.

    This may be the greatest OS since sliced bread but.. I am not warming up to it easily.

  • bruce

    Windows 7 seems to be a disaster(maybe not of the epic proportion of Vista); transfering files has them almost unreadable unless you print them: the driver for the scanner is absolutely atrocious and cumbersome. These pinheads really need to take a step back and fix their problems before they put this junk, as you say, out on the market. I’m surprised they haven’t been sued out of business for fraud and misrepresentation(hey-where are all those ambulence chasing attorneys?)