I don’t know about you but I have owned a variety of computers. Just counting computers in my home, off of the top of my head I’d say I’ve owned at least ten computers. Add in the various office computers and there’s easily another half dozen or so. Each new computer brings with it a promise of more power and enhanced features. However, it also brings with it a major hassle of having to transfer data and recreating favorite settings like bookmarks, e-mail address books, Internet settings, and more.
Fortunately, newer computers such as those equipped with Windows Vista have a built-in tool to make the transferring of files and settings much easier: the Windows Easy Transfer tool. This tool is best used between Windows XP and Windows Vista or Windows Vista and Windows Vista. While you can transfer files from Windows 2000 to Vista, you can’t transfer system and program settings.
Windows Easy Transfer makes it relatively painless to transfer most of your data from one computer to another including:
- Files and folders
- Program data
- Program settings
- User accounts
- Windows settings
- Internet settings
- E-mail settings, contact lists, and messages
- Photos
- Music
- Videos
Windows Easy Transfer comes preinstalled on Vista computers so if you are switching from a Windows Vista computer to a new computer running Vista, both computers are already set up with the necessary software. If you are transferring files from Windows XP or Windows 2000, then you will need to download the Easy Transfer software from Microsoft.com before you get started.
In addition to the required software on each machine, you will need a way to move the files and settings from one computer to the next. This can be done by instructing the software to burn the data to CD or DVD, using an external hard drive, or across an existing network. The CD/DVD option isn’t the best one as you will likely have far more data than a CD or DVD can handle which will require multiple discs. An external hard drive or network connection will work well.
If none of those options are possible, you can buy a special “easy transfer” cable for about $30 to $50. This cable connects to each computer’s USB port and creates a direct link between the two PCs. The easy transfer cable is designed to move data from one PC to the next at a rate of about 20GB per hour.
The Windows Easy Transfer tool really is easy to use. It offers a fast, easy way to migrate your data and favorite settings from one computer to the next.
View the whole series of System Tools Articles:
System Tools: Backup and Restore
System Tools: System Information
System Tools: Windows Easy Transfer
Celeste Stewart | July 30th, 2008
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