Transfer Computer Files and Settings with Windows Easy Transfer

Transfer files and settings from Computer using Windows Easy Transfer, a free download from Microsoft!!! Windows Easy Transfer has been released by microsoft to let you move your files and settings to another location, before you install Windows 7. Then, you can use Windows Easy Transfer again to move your files and settings back to your PC after Windows installation is completed. i.e. after you upgrade XP to windows 7 or Vista to Windows 7.

It is not recommended to use File and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP to transfer files and settings from computer, if you are upgrading to windows 7, as you won’t be able to restore your files in Windows 7. Instead, use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings.Though Windows Easy Transfer has been released to facilitate XP or vista upgrade to Windows 7, it can be used to transfer files and settings in any other situation as well.

Windows Easy Transfer creates a single file containing all your files and settings in windows XP or vista. The file size depends on the amount of data you have. Hence it is recommended to use an external hard disk if the files to be transferred is huge, instead of CDs or DVDs.

What Windows Easy Transfer does not do?

Windows Easy Transfer doesn’t let you move your installed programs. You’ll need to manually reinstall your programs, after Windows 7 installation is complete. However, Windows Easy Transfer will provide you with a list of programs that you are currently using with Windows XP.

It is also important to remember that Windows Easy Transfer moves your music and video files, but doesn’t migrate the licenses for content protected by digital rights management (DRM). This means that you’ll need to re-obtain rights to DRM protected files from the online store that provided them after you finish installing Windows 7 and restoring these files to your computer.

Windows Easy Transfer cannot transfer files from a 64-bit version of Windows to a 32-bit version of Windows. If you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, but you plan to install a 32-bit version of Windows 7, you’ll need to copy your files manually to an external location before installing Windows 7, and then move them back after Windows installation is completed.

How to Download and install Windows Easy Transfer?

Download and install Windows Easy Transfer from here. If you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows XP, under For Windows XP, click Download 32-bit. If you’re running a 64-bit version of Windows XP, click Download 64-bit. The same applies to Windows vista.

How to run Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and settings from Computer?

• First connect your external hard disk or other storage device to your computer.
• Next, Click Start –> All Programs, and then click Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 7.
• Click Next.
• Select an external hard disk or USB flash drive to transfer files and settings from Computer
• Click This is my old computer, and then wait while Windows Easy Transfer scans the computer.
• Next, Clear the check boxes next to any user accounts that you don’t want to transfer data from, and then click Next.
• Enter and retype a password, and then write it down and keep it in a safe place.You can also leave the boxes blank, and then click Save.
• Browse to the external hard disk or other storage device where you want to save your Easy Transfer file, and then click Save. Note that you must save the Easy Transfer file to your external hard disk or other storage device, and not to the default location My Computer
• Windows Easy Transfer will begin transferring your files and settings to the external device. It is recommended to not use your computer during this process.
• When you see the message “These files and settings have been saved for your transfer“, click Next.
• Windows Easy Transfer displays the file name and location of the Easy Transfer file you just created. Write down the file name and location so you can easily find it when you’re ready to transfer files to Windows 7. Click Next, and then click Close.
• Ensure that the file is saved to your external hard disk or storage device, and then disconnect the device from your computer.

That is all!!! You have transferred files and settings from computer!!! You can restore the files and settings from external hard disk or any other external device, after installing Windows 7!!! You can also restore these back to your PC running Windows XP or vista using Windows Easy Transfer. Thus you can use it as a software to backup files and settings from Windows XP or vista.

Before transferring files and settings, you can check your XP or vista upgrade capability using Windows 7 Upgrade Installation Advisor.

If you want to know about Windows 7, download free Windows 7 Book from Microsoft.