Migrating to Windows Vista

To be able to migrate from an earlier version of Windows to Windows Vista, you should have a computer with a supported version of Windows containing all applications, settings and data that will migrate to a new computer that is running Windows Vista.

The migration tools in Vista give you three options on migrating your files and settings: through a network connection, a removable media or a CD or DVD. You will need the Windows Easy Transfer in Windows Vista to migrate all files to the new computer. For multiple computers, you have to use the User State Migration Tool.

Here are the following steps to follow:

1. You first need to prepare for the transfer by opening Windows Easy Transfer on you Windows Vista computer. Click on Start, then All programs, then Accessories, then System tools, then Windows Easy Transfer. Then click on Next.
2. Close all programs that are open by either doing it manually or by clicking Close All in the Windows Easy Transfer to simultaneously close all running programs. Then Click on Next.
3. Click Start New to start preparing Windows Easy Transfer to collect data from existing computers. Then click on This is my New Computer.
4. Choose the destination for the Window Easy Transfer files. Both computers must be able to support the appropriate media, either by CD or DVD or by a network connection. Then click Network Drive.
5. Enter a path and folder name where you will store the files transferred. The default is C:\migwiz. Then click on Next.
6. Start Windows Easy Transfer on the other computer by browsing the network or DVD with the wizard files then double click on migwiz.exe.
7. Close all open programs manually or using Windows Easy Transfer to Close All. Then click on Next.
8. Decide on the transfer method to use, either On a CD or removable media or To a network drive.
9. In Where do you want to save your files, enter in the path to a folder on the removable media. Then Click Next.
10. It is recommended to click on Everything – all user accounts, files, and program settings or you can choose to migrate only my user account files and program settings, or Custom.
11. Study the list of files and settings to be transferred. If there are no problems with it, click on Start to begin the transfer. If you want to change some things, click on Customize to be able to add or remove files or settings.
12. Close the window once files have been completely moved.
13. Move the media to the new computer then launch Windows Easy transfer again. Click on Next.
14. Click on Continue a transfer in progress. In Where did you copy your files, choose either Removable media or Network Drive. Click on Next.
15. When the computer prompts you to Locate your saved files, enter in the path to your saved files or click on Browse and Next when you already have the location.
16. Select user names on the new computer to match the names on the old one. You may have to create new accounts. Type in a user name to make an account on the local computer. Then type in a user name in the format domain\user to make a profile for the domain user.
17. When prompted to Choose the drives for files on your new computer, enter in the destination drive where you want to place each source drive location.
18. Go through the list of files and settings to be transferred then click on Start to begin the transfer. Click on Customize to add or remove files or settings.
19. Finally, click on Close when the transfer is complete