Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

[Guest]

I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling me that the
file specified for transfer does not contain any information. I can clearly
see that it does but it's all .dat so I can't read it. Can anybody help?
Thanks

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

1. After you have installed XP and your programs, open the
Files & Settings Transfer Wizard and select "New Computer".
2. Select "I don't need the Wizard Disk......"
3. Browse to your CD Drive and insert the CD containing the
"USMT2.UNC" file.
4. Your Files and Settings will begin installing on the new drive.

Note:

The .DAT file within the USMT2.UNC folder should be named IMG00001.DAT
There should also be a file named "status". If you have these two files within
the USMT2.UNC folder, you should only browse to the "USMT2.UNC" folder
when using the wizard.

==> Make sure your IMG00001 file is properly named: IMG00001.DAT

You need to browse to the location of the "USMT2.UNC" folder. Do not browse
to or select the IMG00001.DAT file, only the USMT2.UNC folder itself.

For example, my location is: C:\Old Computer Files\Transfers\USMT2.UNC


HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&Product=winxp

List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Dealing with corrupt Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T) image
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling me that the
| file specified for transfer does not contain any information. I can clearly
| see that it does but it's all .dat so I can't read it. Can anybody help?
| Thanks

 

[Guest]

I have done everything you said to no avail. I do indeed have the
IMG00001.dat, IMG00002.dat and the status files in the USMT2.UNC folder. I
try to retrieve the USMT2.UNC folder from my second hard drive and it keeps
telling me that the file contains no stored information. Any more ideas?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Yes. Delete the "IMG00002.dat" file.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have done everything you said to no avail. I do indeed have the
| IMG00001.dat, IMG00002.dat and the status files in the USMT2.UNC folder. I
| try to retrieve the USMT2.UNC folder from my second hard drive and it keeps
| telling me that the file contains no stored information. Any more ideas?
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > 1. After you have installed XP and your programs, open the
| > Files & Settings Transfer Wizard and select "New Computer".
| > 2. Select "I don't need the Wizard Disk......"
| > 3. Browse to your CD Drive and insert the CD containing the
| > "USMT2.UNC" file.
| > 4. Your Files and Settings will begin installing on the new drive.
| >
| > Note:
| >
| > The .DAT file within the USMT2.UNC folder should be named IMG00001.DAT
| > There should also be a file named "status". If you have these two files within
| > the USMT2.UNC folder, you should only browse to the "USMT2.UNC" folder
| > when using the wizard.
| >
| > ==> Make sure your IMG00001 file is properly named: IMG00001.DAT
| >
| > You need to browse to the location of the "USMT2.UNC" folder. Do not browse
| > to or select the IMG00001.DAT file, only the USMT2.UNC folder itself.
| >
| > For example, my location is: C:\Old Computer Files\Transfers\USMT2.UNC
| >
| >
| > HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&Product=winxp
| >
| > List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
| > the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903
| >
| > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm
| >
| > Dealing with corrupt Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T) image
| > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP Shell/User
| > Microsoft Community Newsgroups
| >
| > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "shelleyanne" wrote:
| >
| > | I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling me that the
| > | file specified for transfer does not contain any information. I can clearly
| > | see that it does but it's all .dat so I can't read it. Can anybody help?
| > | Thanks
| >

 

[Guest]

I deleted the file and it still says that the file contains no stored
information. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Yes. Delete the "IMG00002.dat" file.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have done everything you said to no avail. I do indeed have the
| IMG00001.dat, IMG00002.dat and the status files in the USMT2.UNC folder. I
| try to retrieve the USMT2.UNC folder from my second hard drive and it keeps
| telling me that the file contains no stored information. Any more ideas?
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > 1. After you have installed XP and your programs, open the
| > Files & Settings Transfer Wizard and select "New Computer".
| > 2. Select "I don't need the Wizard Disk......"
| > 3. Browse to your CD Drive and insert the CD containing the
| > "USMT2.UNC" file.
| > 4. Your Files and Settings will begin installing on the new drive.
| >
| > Note:
| >
| > The .DAT file within the USMT2.UNC folder should be named IMG00001.DAT
| > There should also be a file named "status". If you have these two files within
| > the USMT2.UNC folder, you should only browse to the "USMT2.UNC" folder
| > when using the wizard.
| >
| > ==> Make sure your IMG00001 file is properly named: IMG00001.DAT
| >
| > You need to browse to the location of the "USMT2.UNC" folder. Do not browse
| > to or select the IMG00001.DAT file, only the USMT2.UNC folder itself.
| >
| > For example, my location is: C:\Old Computer Files\Transfers\USMT2.UNC
| >
| >
| > HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&Product=winxp
| >
| > List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
| > the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903
| >
| > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm
| >
| > Dealing with corrupt Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T) image
| > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP Shell/User
| > Microsoft Community Newsgroups
| >
| > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "shelleyanne" wrote:
| >
| > | I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling me that the
| > | file specified for transfer does not contain any information. I can clearly
| > | see that it does but it's all .dat so I can't read it. Can anybody help?
| > | Thanks
| >

 

[Guy]

Carey,

I am having the same problem. I met all the conditions you specified,
and no success. I saved the files to different drives in the same
computer and also tried network drives. On the same computer, the
system simply could not find the file (see previous post). On a
network drive, I gave me some other BS answer.

I set up the new drive, and tried the wizard before and after
upgrading to SP2 with the same failure results. I had already set up
user accounts on the new drive.

Note: To date I have accessed the wizard through the Programs menu.
The next thing I will try is to run the wizard from the XP CD itself.


Any insights would be great. There must be some "secret" not covered
in the documentation, possibly to do with SP2, but this feature is
looking like the Old Microsoft -- Big Promises, No Delivery. Does
this program really work or is just a "check in the mail?"

TIA

 

[Guy]

Carey,

I am having the same problem. I met all the conditions you specified,
and no success. I saved the files to different drives in the same
computer and also tried network drives. On the same computer, the
system simply could not find the file (see previous post). On a
network drive, I gave me some other BS answer.

I set up the new drive, and tried the wizard before and after
upgrading to SP2 with the same failure results. I had already set up
user accounts on the new drive.

Note: To date I have accessed the wizard through the Programs menu.
The next thing I will try is to run the wizard from the XP CD itself.


Any insights would be great. There must be some "secret" not covered
in the documentation, possibly to do with SP2, but this feature is
looking like the Old Microsoft -- Big Promises, No Delivery. Does
this program really work or is just a "check in the mail?"

TIA

 

[Guest]

I tried it with and without the XP cd. Nothing is working. Same problem both
ways. Shelley

 

[Guy]

It's looking more and more like a Colossal Waste Of Time. I wil
manually install my programs. Too bad -- I could have saved about
hours; on the positive side, at least I will have a clean registry

 

[Guest]

I can't get my word and email stuff back. I don't think I ever will at this
rate. I thought I was protecting my stuff. At least that's what windows
said would happen. This files and settings transfer wizard is a joke. I
wouldn't recommend anyone use it.

 

[Guest]

I'm in the same boat and I can't get my files back. My advice, NEVER user a
Microsoft product to backup you machine. I've had issues with backup files in
the past, now this.

The end result for me, my wife is madder than _ _ _ _ at me for losing her
files. The price I've paid for this is way too high. And Microsoft wonders
where the people come from who bash them so regularly.

My rule one from now on is NEVER trust a Microsoft Wizard or automated
process to perserve something I have to preserve.

And Carey Frisch I've gone through all the steps over and over again to no
avail. The rv2opq tool referred to at http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm
indicates the img00001.dat files are corrupt, the header file is damaged. The
fastconv tool has no more luck than the wizard has. And I've launched the
wizard from both XP with full updates and the XP CD rom. Unfortunately I
can't go back and re-run the wizard since the whole process here was a
reformat of the original hard drive.

Oh and I have more than one of these files, I ran this for all five of my
families user profiles and all 5 are corrupt.

Someone made reference of being able to open the .dat file and could see
their files in it. All I get is encrypted garbage, is there a tool I'm
missing out there that I can use to save what I can? WinZip 10 won't open
them neither will the XP compression utility.

~Mark <very angry smiley with smoke coming out of ears> <anyones looking for
me I'm in the doghouse out back for the next week or two> <After that you can
find me by the bright orange t-shirt that says idiot who trusted Microsoft
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.>

 

[Plato]

The end result for me, my wife is madder than _ _ _ _ at me for losing her
files. The price I've paid for this is way too high. And Microsoft wonders
where the people come from who bash them so regularly.

This is NOT a Microsoft problem. This is a pc user problem. Microsoft it
NOT responsible for your failure to backup important data.

All you had to due is burn important data to a CD, or just copy to
another hard drive.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I'm in the same boat and I can't get my files back. My advice, NEVER user
a
Microsoft product to backup you machine. I've had issues with backup files
in
the past, now this.

The end result for me, my wife is madder than _ _ _ _ at me for losing her
files. The price I've paid for this is way too high. And Microsoft wonders
where the people come from who bash them so regularly.

My rule one from now on is NEVER trust a Microsoft Wizard or automated
process to perserve something I have to preserve.

And Carey Frisch I've gone through all the steps over and over again to no
avail. The rv2opq tool referred to at http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm
indicates the img00001.dat files are corrupt, the header file is damaged.
The
fastconv tool has no more luck than the wizard has. And I've launched the
wizard from both XP with full updates and the XP CD rom. Unfortunately I
can't go back and re-run the wizard since the whole process here was a
reformat of the original hard drive.

Oh and I have more than one of these files, I ran this for all five of my
families user profiles and all 5 are corrupt.

Someone made reference of being able to open the .dat file and could see
their files in it. All I get is encrypted garbage, is there a tool I'm
missing out there that I can use to save what I can? WinZip 10 won't open
them neither will the XP compression utility.

~Mark <very angry smiley with smoke coming out of ears> <anyones looking
for
me I'm in the doghouse out back for the next week or two> <After that you
can
find me by the bright orange t-shirt that says idiot who trusted Microsoft
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.>

Did you install the optional Windows Update KB896344 on the target computer
or the source computer? If it was not on the source but is on the target it
may be the cause of your problem. If this is the case then uninstall it from
the target or install it on the source and try the transfer again.

Kerry

 

[Guest]

Your right I should have copied all of the settings and files manually before
running the wizard. But then why run the wizard at that point? Pretty much
makes the wizard a moot point.

~Mark

 

[Guest]

All of my updates are current. I have them installed automatically. I will
try to uninstall it though just in case it somehow wasn't on the original
computer. That could be possible if it came out after January. That is when
I did the transfer wizard and have been fighting with it ever since.

 

[Guest]

Hi Shelleyanne,

Also had the same problem with the files and transfer wizard and found the
following worked for me.

"Copy the directory C:\windows\system32\usmt" from the OLD computer and
replace the same directory on the NEW computer. Suggest you copy to usmt
directory on the new machine to a safe place first in case you need to
restore it later.

The usmt directory contains the executable files for the Files & Transfer
Wizard.
My OLD computer had fully updated files and a number of the files in the
usmt directory had more recent dates than the usmt directory on the NEW
computer.

I also copied the USMT2 directory to the desktop of the NEW computer and
used that as the source for the restore.

Hopes this helps

 

[Guest]

Ok, I just used the wizard to back up my settings. Then reformated. When I
booted back into windows, I got this same error. I went to the windows
update site and re-installed all the undates that I had the first time.
During this I noticed a patch in the Software, Optional talking about this
settings and file transfer wizard and 32 vs 64 bit systems. After installing
this update, like I had on my old setup, I was ABLE TO GET ME SETTINGS
TRANSFERED.

You just need to point it to the directory where the folder USMT2.UNC is.
Don't point it at the folder, just to the directory where that folder is
located. So for me it was F:\USMT2.UNC..... So I pointed it to the F:\
and it worked just fine. Hope this helps.

Also, microsoft gurus. You might look into this K#### patch which talks
about this and find out why it seems to make a difference. I kept seeing you
guys telling people how to run the wizard, even when everyone was saying they
were. Its all cause of that patch. Trust me, all I did was update all the
patches and I was able to do it.

I deleted the file and it still says that the file contains no stored
information. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Yes. Delete the "IMG00002.dat" file.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have done everything you said to no avail. I do indeed have the
| IMG00001.dat, IMG00002.dat and the status files in the USMT2.UNC folder. I
| try to retrieve the USMT2.UNC folder from my second hard drive and it keeps
| telling me that the file contains no stored information. Any more ideas?
|
| "Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:
|
| > 1. After you have installed XP and your programs, open the
| > Files & Settings Transfer Wizard and select "New Computer".
| > 2. Select "I don't need the Wizard Disk......"
| > 3. Browse to your CD Drive and insert the CD containing the
| > "USMT2.UNC" file.
| > 4. Your Files and Settings will begin installing on the new drive.
| >
| > Note:
| >
| > The .DAT file within the USMT2.UNC folder should be named IMG00001.DAT
| > There should also be a file named "status". If you have these two files within
| > the USMT2.UNC folder, you should only browse to the "USMT2.UNC" folder
| > when using the wizard.
| >
| > ==> Make sure your IMG00001 file is properly named: IMG00001.DAT
| >
| > You need to browse to the location of the "USMT2.UNC" folder. Do not browse
| > to or select the IMG00001.DAT file, only the USMT2.UNC folder itself.
| >
| > For example, my location is: C:\Old Computer Files\Transfers\USMT2.UNC
| >
| >
| > HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&Product=winxp
| >
| > List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
| > the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903
| >
| > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
| > http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm
| >
| > Dealing with corrupt Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T) image
| > http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP Shell/User
| > Microsoft Community Newsgroups
| >
| > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
| >
| > "shelleyanne" wrote:
| >
| > | I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling me that the
| > | file specified for transfer does not contain any information. I can clearly
| > | see that it does but it's all .dat so I can't read it. Can anybody help?
| > | Thanks
| >

 

[Kerry Brown]

Ok, I just used the wizard to back up my settings. Then reformated.
When I booted back into windows, I got this same error. I went to
the windows update site and re-installed all the undates that I had
the first time. During this I noticed a patch in the Software,
Optional talking about this settings and file transfer wizard and 32
vs 64 bit systems. After installing this update, like I had on my
old setup, I was ABLE TO GET ME SETTINGS TRANSFERED.

You just need to point it to the directory where the folder USMT2.UNC
is. Don't point it at the folder, just to the directory where that
folder is located. So for me it was F:\USMT2.UNC..... So I pointed
it to the F:\
and it worked just fine. Hope this helps.

Also, microsoft gurus. You might look into this K#### patch which
talks about this and find out why it seems to make a difference. I
kept seeing you guys telling people how to run the wizard, even when
everyone was saying they were. Its all cause of that patch. Trust
me, all I did was update all the patches and I was able to do it.

If the save settings and files was done without the patch then the restore
must also be done without the path and vice versa. In other words the patch
levels of the two computers has to match.

Kerry

I deleted the file and it still says that the file contains no stored
information. Any other ideas? Thanks.

Yes. Delete the "IMG00002.dat" file.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

I have done everything you said to no avail. I do indeed have the
IMG00001.dat, IMG00002.dat and the status files in the USMT2.UNC
folder. I try to retrieve the USMT2.UNC folder from my second
hard drive and it keeps telling me that the file contains no
stored information. Any more ideas?

:

1. After you have installed XP and your programs, open the
Files & Settings Transfer Wizard and select "New Computer".
2. Select "I don't need the Wizard Disk......"
3. Browse to your CD Drive and insert the CD containing the
"USMT2.UNC" file.
4. Your Files and Settings will begin installing on the new drive.

Note:

The .DAT file within the USMT2.UNC folder should be named
IMG00001.DAT
There should also be a file named "status". If you have these
two files within the USMT2.UNC folder, you should only browse to
the "USMT2.UNC" folder
when using the wizard.

==> Make sure your IMG00001 file is properly named: IMG00001.DAT

You need to browse to the location of the "USMT2.UNC" folder. Do
not browse to or select the IMG00001.DAT file, only the USMT2.UNC
folder itself.

For example, my location is: C:\Old Computer
Files\Transfers\USMT2.UNC


HOW TO: Use Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293118&Product=winxp

List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903

Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

Dealing with corrupt Files and Settings Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T)
image http://windowsxp.mvps.org/fast.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups

----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

I cannot get my files and settings transfered. It keeps telling
me that the file specified for transfer does not contain any
information. I can clearly see that it does but it's all .dat
so I can't read it. Can anybody help? Thanks

 

[Guest]

I am having a similar problem, but in my case there maybe some hardware
issues complicating things so...

OLD MACHINE:
WIN98, 3 1/2 floppy, NO CDROM, Local Network

NEW MACHINE:
WINXP H, DVD/CD writer, NO FLOPPY, Local Network

Being unable to create a wizard disk (wizard doesn't see the DVD/CD-R) I
used a mapped CD drive to run the wizard from an XP install disk (SP1)

I ran the wizard on the old machine, and it created a transfer file on the
network server.

I then ran the wizard on the new machine. It ran seemingly o.k. for about
1/2 an hour, then finished, telling me to log of to finish the process. When
I logged on no changes to the desktop or files.

I tryed a number of variations on this theme, with no better results. I then
called tech support (HP/Compaq) where we tried a couple other variations with
no luck.

If I were only porting the one machine, I'd have done it by hand by now. but
I have another one to do also and THAT user is the boss who is not going to
like it if his new machine doesn't look and work extremely like his old
machine. (I'm tempted to create an image of the disk with DiskImage and wipe
out the XP version on the new machine, and install it as a 98 box. Maybe
after that I could upgrade it to XP....)

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated.

*Begin soapbox*
Myself, I'm just waiting for Linux to become a more viable desktop box. I'm
tired of paying and paying and paying and paying for OPERATING SYSTEM
software which is half-baked! I've personally spent at least $2K on MS OS's
and been disappointed every time. I've spent at least $1M on MS OS's and
software for clients, and wished that I had a better alternative (i.e. one
acceptable to the management.)

RE: backup using F&S Xfr--I would not use a MS product for backups. I've had
too much trouble with Backup and the XP system 'restore' (which usually
won't!)

MS doesn't test their products enough before shipping (why I'm always the
last on the block to upgrade-I like some feedback first!) They also
(admittedly they are not alone) need to change the way they write manuals.
All manuals seem to be written as reminders to someone who already at one
point 'knew' what the manual is saying. There need to be manuals written so
that anignorant (not stupid, just unfamiliar with the product!) can easily
find, understand, and use the information. All to often, manuals cover (in
depth!) the simplest everyday information, but the stuff which is used rarely
is covered by a 'one-liner' which is of little use to the person who seldom
uses the feature. This is *EXACTLY* the opposite of what is needed!

*end soapbox*

 

[Guest]

OK - I read the whole thread on the Wizard and I have a different challenge.
I am setting up a new computer and wanted to transfer outlook, favorites etc.
from the old PC. User guide says - No Problem, use the transfer wizard,
sounds great. Problem is the new computer came with a DVD+RW which is drive
"E". Drive "E" is not in the wizrds pull down menu - only a bunch of
removable drives F thru H which I don't even have ???? I created a trest
file in WORD and saved it to a CD using "Somic" which came with the new PC
and that worked fine. Why doesn't "Wizard" know that I have an "E" drive???