Windows Vista operating systems are equipped with a tool called Windows Easy Transfer that is designed to move data from one system to another. With this program you can choose what you want to transfer, rather than the entire system settings and all data files including folders, files, email settings, contacts and address book information, user accounts and personal settings, Internet preferences and favorites, music and photo and video files. And you can select your preferred transfer method; USB cable, a network connection, a USB flash drive, an external hard drive or a cd or dvd burner and back up disks. You can’t use Windows Easy Transfer to move program files or drivers yet, but Microsoft is working on an Easy Transfer Companion program that will be able to soon.
The Easy Transfer utility is very effective to move files, folders and settings between systems. However, it is exclusively designed to transfer files and settings from XP based computers to Vista based computers. Vista based computers include the program and an XP version is available online for download. The XP version requires the XP Service Pack 2 updates. If you have used Windows Easy Transfer to create a SaveData.mig file on your external hard drive, you will not be able to open in on an XP based computer unless you have re-downloaded and reinstalled the Windows Easy Transfer program on your reinstated system.
As well, Easy Transfer cannot move data between different language based computers. There are a lot of calls in tech support forums and on the Microsoft tech support website for Windows to create and release an “unzipper” to deal with data files and settings that are now unintentionally trapped in .mig files that can’t be opened. Windows Easy Transfer is strongly criticized for not adequately explaining or warning users of its limitations and its incompatibilities.
If you used Windows Easy Transfer and are still unable to open the .mig file, in your situation and depending on the importance of the files you have a couple of options. You can take the external hard drive to a Vista based computer and use it to open the files then save them in another, more compatible, removable device that you will then be able to open on your computer. Depending as well on the number of files you need to transfer, you might be able to save them to a USB stick then reinstall them on your reconfigured XP based system.
Kate Dubensky | September 22nd, 2008
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I had windows Vista and now have XP. I downloaded files to USB stick and cannot get them open for several months now. I have tried downloading stuff from the net to open them but have yet to get them open. There are several people that cannot open theres as well. I am very confused and not very good at this type of stuff, Can you please tell me how to open this step by step with my XP PC? If not please send me in the correct direction to open it. Thank you Very Much for your reply.
Hello, here’s some information that should help:
http://filetonic.com/blog/2009/01/22/cannot-access-usb-files/
Thanks! The Filetonic.com Team