If you have Windows XP, File and Settings Transfer Wizard is a great tool to use to restore your computer. This tool can help you transfer files and settings from one computer to another. File and Settings Transfer Wizard is a program that is part of the Windows XP operating system. It can be found in the Programs and Features section of the Control Panel. To use File and Settings Transfer Wizard, you first need to open it. Once it is open, click on the blue button on the left side of the screen. This will take you to the main screen of File and Settings Transfer Wizard. On this main screen, you will need to select which computer you want to restore your computer to. You can select either a local computer or an online computer. If you are restoring your computer from scratch, then choose both options. If you are upgrading your computer, then only choose one option at a time. Once you have selected which computer you want to restore your computer to, click on the blue button on the right side of the screen. This will take you to the next step in File and Settings Transfer Wizard: The wizard will ask for your administrator password. If this password is not provided, then File and Settings Transfer Wizard will not be able to start automatically restoring yourcomputer. Once your administrator password has been provided, File and Settings Transfer Wizard will begin restoring yourcomputer according to its settings. The wizard may take some time for this process to complete; however, it should eventually finish successfully. Once it has finished restoring yourcomputer, click on the green button on the top left corner of the main screen of File andSettingsTransferWizard so that it can close itself out of its current session (if it had been opened).
It is important to use the same version of Migwiz.exe which each machine. If you use different versions the file you create with the wizard will not be recognized. To verify I have the same version, I will use the XP installation disc on both machines to access FAST. You will also want media to save the FAST file. The resulting folder with be similar to USMT2.UNC and the file will be something similar to IMG00001.DAT.
On the old computer click Start Programs Accessories System Tools File and Settings Transfer Wizard
The FAST Wizard opens up. Click Next.
Since we are saving the settings from the old computer make sure “Old computer” is selected and click Next.
If you’re on a network browse to a dedicated share to store the backup. You can also use CD, DVD, or directly connect.
Now we can choose to transfer settings, files, or both. I also check the box “Let me select a custom list of ….” this way I can delete unneeded files and settings. This will make the transfer faster. If you are not sure what you need or don’t just stick with the default settings. Click Next.
Here I can choose what settings and files to keep or delete. When finished click on Next.
The Wizard begins the process of transferring the files and settings to the location I provided earlier. This may take a while depending on the amount of data and the speed of your network.
After the FAST wizard has completed you can just click on the Finish button.
As I mentioned above, I use the same Windows XP installation disc to verify I have the same version of Migwiz.exe on both machines. So simply pop in the XP disc with the computer on and a menu pops up. Choose “Perform additional tasks”.
Next choose “Transfer files and settings”. This will bring up the FAST wizard just as though you were browsing to it.
Later this week I will go over transferring your saved FAST file onto the new machine!
