How to import user settings?

[djaneb]

Hello

I managed to copy the whole Documents and Settings folder for my user
to an external drive before my hard drive failed.

I have reinstalled WinXP on a new hard drive - I know how to import
the email and how to copy over favourites etc but I was wondering if
there was any way of just importing all the settings from there into
my new installation so that I don't have to do so much customising.

Any help would be appreciated.

djaneb

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hello

I managed to copy the whole Documents and Settings folder for my user
to an external drive before my hard drive failed.

I have reinstalled WinXP on a new hard drive - I know how to import
the email and how to copy over favourites etc but I was wondering if
there was any way of just importing all the settings from there into
my new installation so that I don't have to do so much customising.

Any help would be appreciated.

djaneb

How did you copy the Documents and Settings folder? While
logged on as yourself? If so then you would have missed certain
system files. They are hidden and they are locked while you are
logged on as yourself. Unless your old disk is still accessible,
you can't get them back.

 

[Azagtoth]

Dude just open the external drive and copy the My documents folder and
favorites folder into your current
c:\documents and settings\user profile directory.

If your not sure what that is, open MY Computer and in the address bar
type in

%userprofile%

Cookies and Application data are useless. If you used outlook, your
gonna need some help to get the PST file, It is buried in Applications,
Microsoft, Outlook or something.

Cheers on the backup. Was a good move.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Dude just open the external drive and copy the My documents folder and
favorites folder into your current
c:\documents and settings\user profile directory.

If your not sure what that is, open MY Computer and in the address bar
type in

%userprofile%

Cookies and Application data are useless. If you used outlook, your
gonna need some help to get the PST file, It is buried in Applications,
Microsoft, Outlook or something.

Cheers on the backup. Was a good move.

Are you replying to me or to the original poster?

The OP's aim is to "import user settings" (see his Subject line).
Copying "My Documents", as you recommend, will restore his
documents but it will not import any settings.

What makes you think the OP has a .PST file? These files are
specific to Outlook, and the the user might use Outlook Express
or Hotmail!

 

[Guest]

There is the file and setting transfer wizard fo that purpose:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx

 

[djaneb]

How did you copy the Documents and Settings folder?

I booted via usb drive then copied whole folder over - hidden files
were visible. By this time was unable to boot to drive - drive was
making wild clicking sounds. Didn't make clicking sounds as much when
not boot drive and got docs and settings over.

djaneb

 

[Guest]

Oops. I missed the point.

There is the file and setting transfer wizard fo that purpose:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I booted via usb drive then copied whole folder over - hidden files
were visible. By this time was unable to boot to drive - drive was
making wild clicking sounds. Didn't make clicking sounds as much when
not boot drive and got docs and settings over.

djaneb

This sounds much better. You can now try this:
- Reboot the machine.
- Log on as administrator.
- Copy the hidden files from the USB disk to your hard disk,
e.g. from U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.* to
U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.*
They contain your various settings.
- For advice on how to restore your EMail files, post in the
appropriate newsgroup (Outlook? Outlook Expres?)

 

[djaneb]

Are you replying to me or to the original poster?

The OP's aim is to "import user settings" (see his Subject line).
Copying "My Documents", as you recommend, will restore his
documents but it will not import any settings.

What makes you think the OP has a .PST file? These files are
specific to Outlook, and the the user might use Outlook Express
or Hotmail!

Yes indeedy. I am OK with where to find OE stuff and individual bits
and pieces within the file structure of Docs and Settings. It was more
the actual automatic import of settings I was after. But maybe not
possible this way. Many thanks.

 

[djaneb]

There is the file and setting transfer wizard fo that purpose:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset...

Thank you - I had a look here but this assumes being able to boot to
other installation, I think. I don't think I can do that any more - on
rare occasions where old hdd boots it fails fairly quickly after.

I have all data, though. It is just the convenience of not having to
set up so many preferences.

Many thanks

 

[djaneb]

There is the file and setting transfer wizard fo that purpose:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset...

Thank you - I had a look here but this assumes being able to boot to
other installation, I think. I don't think I can do that any more - on
rare occasions where old hdd boots it fails fairly quickly after.

I have all data, though. It is just the convenience of not having to
set up so many preferences.

Many thanks

 

[djaneb]

This sounds much better. You can now try this:
- Reboot the machine.
- Log on as administrator.
- Copy the hidden files from the USB disk to your hard disk,
e.g. from U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.* to
U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.*
They contain your various settings.
- For advice on how to restore your EMail files, post in the
appropriate newsgroup (Outlook? Outlook Expres?)

Thank you. This has got the basic settings over and saved time. I am
fine with importing email and docs. I really appreciate your help.

djaneb

 

[djaneb]

This sounds much better. You can now try this:
- Reboot the machine.
- Log on as administrator.
- Copy the hidden files from the USB disk to your hard disk,
e.g. from U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.* to
U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.*
They contain your various settings.
- For advice on how to restore your EMail files, post in the
appropriate newsgroup (Outlook? Outlook Expres?)

Thank you. This has got the basic settings over and saved time. I am
fine with importing email and docs. I really appreciate your help.

djaneb

 

[djaneb]

This sounds much better. You can now try this:
- Reboot the machine.
- Log on as administrator.
- Copy the hidden files from the USB disk to your hard disk,
e.g. from U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.* to
U:\documents and settings\djaneb\nt*.*
They contain your various settings.
- For advice on how to restore your EMail files, post in the
appropriate newsgroup (Outlook? Outlook Expres?)

Thank you. This has got the basic settings over and saved time. I am
fine with importing email and docs. I really appreciate your help.

djaneb