Migrate XP to Windows 7 with Easy Transfer and a USB Drive
If you’re running XP and skipped the Vista update and need a good way to transfer files and settings, today we take a look at using Windows Easy Transfer and an external USB drive to easily complete the task.
Start Windows Easy Transfer
Start with the new Windows 7 machine and go to Start \ Getting Started \ Transfer your files.
Click through the Welcome screen and select “An external hard disk or USB flash drive”.
Next choose “this is my new computer”.
Answer this screen as No.
Select “I need to install it now” to install Windows Easy Share now so you get the latest updated version. At this point you want to make sure the external drive you want to use is plugged into the Windows 7 machine.
Now choose “External hard disk or shared network folder” to copy the Easy Transfer program to it.
After the Easy Transfer file is copied over you will be prompted to head over the old computer.
Configure XP Transfer Process
Now over on the XP machine plug in the external hard drive and launch Easy Transfer.
You’re presented with a progress display while it prepares to run.
A Welcome screen is displayed just like on the Windows 7 machine.
Again choose “An external hard disk or USB flash drive”.
After scanning the user accounts and their settings you’re presented with a general list where you can select what to save.
Clicking on the Advanced link allows a much more detailed way to select individual files and folders, when complete click on Save.
You have the option to password protect the backup.
A successful save is complete and now time to go back and plug the external drive into the new Windows 7 machine.
Restore Settings
On the Windows 7 machine this time click Yes to this question.
Explorer opens and navigate to the location of the backup on the external drive.
Now you can restore the entire backup or you can chose specific files and folders to restore, save your selection and begin the transfer.
When the transfer is complete you can see a report of what transferred or suggestions for additional programs
Not all programs and settings are going to transfer to your new OS but this definitely makes it easier to transfer compatible program settings, your files, folders and important documents.
Also check out: Copy Files and Settings from XP to Windows 7 Over a Network with Windows Easy Transfer
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Why did I get a 100 popups of “Choose a digital Certificate” during the migration file creation process in XP!
That too, there’s no option to choose in the popup… no digital certificates! I could only cancel!
And I had to do this every few seconds throughout the process!
I have seen software for about $25 that claims you can transfer your programs from XP to Windows 7. I sure would like to avoid a complete re-install as I have so many apps — many too from Giveawayoftheday.com — One time install!
I have a MacBook Pro w/ Windows XP on Parallels VM . I will install Windows 7 as another Parallels VM.
Once thats done, how may I transfer my programs and files from the XP to the 7 VM ?
Microsoft has a link (http://www.microsoft.com/downl.....laylang=en) for “Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP”. Installing Easy Transfer on the old machine from there and setting up the data on the portable drive would simplify things if you don’t want to have both computers running at once (i.e. only have one good place to set up or only have one monitor, and you want to pack away the old system and put in the new one). Or is there some reason that wouldn’t work?
Steve, be careful. The Link that you showed will probably download an old version of EasyTransfer.
Its probably better to download EasyTransfer from
http://windows.microsoft.com/e.....y-transfer
Would it make more sense to install your applications on the Win 7 computer prior to attempting the Easy Transfer?
I would think that the user preference settings being transferred would need to know where they belong on the new hard drive.
I used Easy Transfer to move my files from my old XP PC to my new Windows 7 PC with an external hard drive and everything worked perfectly. When I went to log in to my new PC, after logging out, Windows 7 wouldn’t recognize my Password. Had to reinstall Windows 7.
I want to dual boot XP and Windows 7, and want to share the same My Documents files between accounts on both OS.
Will Easy Transfer be useful for me, so should I avoid it?
Never got a “NEED TO INSTALL” popup after the previous “YES plug in flash drive????????????? Already had my DOCUMENTS from XP on a flash drive(18Mb) , so why would I want to go back to the old computer again to do what???
After reading your not very “easy” directions and the following comments, I’ve decided to use the old way – reinstall everything. It may take more time, but it’s very reliable.
Can I delete “windows easy transfer-items from old computer.MIG?
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