Q&A Monday: Move Files to New Computer

Question:

Hi,

I have an XP SP3 setup that I’ve tweaked to perfection (for me at least) and would like to maintain those files and settings when I get a new PC.

Both machines have ASUS motherboards, the old with Intel Core 2 Duo E8400, the new with Intel i5. I have done some research into sysprep but it seems able to be used in a number of ways. For example, to deploy many copies of the same configuration. I just don’t know whether it can be used to migrate a single setup to a new hardware environment.

I suppose my question is:

What’s the easiest way to migrate the setup I have now, to the new machine?

Answer:

The quickest (and easiest in my opinion) is using the File and Settings Transfer Wizard. It’s done in two parts, one on the current PC and the other on the newer PC:

Step 1: Get the files and the settings from the old computer
On the old computer, click Start, then All Programs, then to Accessories, finally to System Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

In the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard dialog box, click Next, and then click Old Computer.

Click Next, and then select a transfer method, such as Floppy drive or other removable media.

Click Next, and then click the option that corresponds to the items that you want to transfer. For example, you can click Settings only, Files only, or Both files and settings.

Click Next two times, and then wait as the “Files and Settings Transfer Wizard” processes the items to transfer.

Click Finish.

Step 2: Transfer the files and the settings to the new computer
On the new computer, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

In the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard dialog box, click Next, and then click New Computer.

Click Next, and then click I don’t need the Wizard Disk. I have already collected my files and settings from my old computer.

Click Next, and then select a transfer method, such as Floppy drive or other removable media.

Note You must select the same transfer method that you selected on the old computer.

Click Next, and then wait as the “Files and Settings Transfer Wizard” processes the items to transfer.

Click Finish.

I’ve used this method many time with great sucess. I mostly used SysPrep if I plan to image the old machine and redeloy that image on the new system. This isn’t out of the question, but you would need to have an imaging software (like Symantec Ghost). Let me know if this helps.

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If  you have any questions that you want Jim to answer, from business servers to home computers, drop him a line at me@jimguckin.com, and he’ll try to answer your question.  Check back every Monday for a new Question and Answer session, and check back Wednesday and Friday for other technical insights.

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