Migrating Windows XP or Vista Profile to Windows 7

So you received a new laptop or desktop computer over he holidays and you want to move your old profile to your new computer. There are a number of items to consider before and after moving your profile. Depending on your current OS (operating system), moving your profile can be easy or hard. Fortunately, some great utilities exist that will help you with the process.

The first option is the Windows Easy Transfer Utility. You will need to download a copy from Microsoft http://support.microsoft.com/kb/92863 this page will get you started on the topic. Here is a link to the download page http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer . Microsoft recommends using the Transfer cable, and this is not a bad idea so long as the computers are within 6 feet of one another. If both computers are plugged into the same router, you can do this process over the network. It will of course be faster with the cable. You can find the cable at Amazon or other Electronic stores for about $20.00. The Transfer utility will only migrate the following items:

• Files and Folders

• Email Settings

• Contacts and Messages

• Program settings

• User Account Settings

• Internet Settings and favorites

• Music

• Pictures and Videos

This utility does not migrate any programs and you must be running Windows XP SP2 or greater. If needed you can also use a USB drive, Flash Drive, or an external hard drive to transfer your settings. The catch is that the device used must have enough room for your profile. So for myself when I look at my Windows profile, (open Windows Explorer >Open Documents and Settings> Right click on your profile, and choose properties, this will show you the overall size of the profile) I see that my profile is just over 4 GIGs, so I want to buffer a little extra, which means that I need about 5 GIGs of space to move my profile. My USB thumb drive is 8 GB with 7GB of free space; this will work for moving my profile via my USB Drive. Here is a great video with full instructions on how to move ones profile http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7 Just remember that you will have to reinstall all programs.

Another option is the Windows Easy Transfer Companion. This utility must be run under the admin account. You can use the network option or the USB cable. The utility will analyze your programs and determine if the program can transfer well, with possible limitations or will not be transferred. You would run this utility with the above Transfer Utility. AS this will migrate programs, the other utility was for your profile.

An Enterprise software option is Pcmover by Laplink. Similar to the Transfer Companion, this software will analyze your current software and transfer what it can to your new computer. This software will user your network, USB cable or any other removable media. In order to move the applications you will need the Upgrade assistant.

For those in a work place environment I found that ProfileUnity Pro is the better answer to moving profiles to new computers. This utility will move user profile and applications as well as the following:

Drive Mappings

Printers

This utility will allow the person making the migrations the ability to customize file paths, Office file Locations, perform a full inventory of the system, and allow changes to the registry and a host of other items that are needed at the corporate level.