Newbie - File Transfer Question

[PT]

I plan to transfer my life from a WinXP Home computer to a Vista Ultimate 64
bit computer. I've already reinstalled several programs (Office, Adobe
Acrobat, QuickBooks, etc.., but no data files or anything else.

I plan to use a "Vista Compatible Easy Transfer USB Cable" and its
associated software.

Q1. What are possible problems, traps, etc..

Q2. Using this software, what ends up on the Vista machine - specifically -
the same folder names and structures?
For example, I presently have a huge folder in MyDocuments named
"Documents". But on the Vista Machine, the folder corresponding to XP's
"MyDocuments" is just plain "Documents". Will Vista allow a subfolder of
the same name to be created?

Q3. Is it safer then, to simply connect the cable and do the transfers
manually?

 

[Gordon]

I plan to transfer my life from a WinXP Home computer to a Vista Ultimate
64 bit computer. I've already reinstalled several programs (Office, Adobe
Acrobat, QuickBooks, etc.., but no data files or anything else.

I plan to use a "Vista Compatible Easy Transfer USB Cable" and its
associated software.

Q1. What are possible problems, traps, etc..

One warning - do NOT, I repeat NOT, use Easy Transfer to transfer your
Outlook data. If you do, you will quite likely suffer either a corrupted
Mail profile, or a corrupted pst file, or both.
Use the methods shown here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA010771141033.aspx

more info here:

http://www.slipstick.com/config/backup.htm
http://www.howto-outlook.com/Howto/backupandrestore.htm

HTH

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, PT.

If you are handy with a screwdriver, it may be easier to open the cases of
both computers and physically connect cables from the new machine to the old
HD temporarily. As soon as Vista's Disk Management recognizes the old HD,
you can use Vista's normal Windows tools to copy or move your old files -
all or selectively - to your new HD. You may need to use your Administrator
powers to give yourself permission to see your old files since you are now a
different "user" from the one who stored those files. (Of course, opening
the case on your new machine might void its warranty. Check first with the
vendor if this is a concern.)

Note that Vista's file organization is different from WinXP's. "Documents &
Settings" does not exist in Vista except as a Junction Point for the use of
poorly-written legacy applications that will insist on seeing that folder
name. In Vista, you probably will want your old My Documents content moved
into C:\Users\PT\Documents - or something similar, depending on your own
User name. This new file structure is not a secret; it's all explained in
Vista's Help and Support file.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2009 1202 in Win7 x64 6801)