Guide to Transferring Data using Windows XP Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

This is a really handy utility which make the whole process of transferring data between your old computer and your new one really simple.  It is also a great way to provide a back-up of your important data files and settings and is highly recommended for this purpose if you are already running Windows XP.  It works in one of two ways, either in an ‘offline mode’ where on your old machine it will create a backup file with all your documents and settings on, this can be written to CDR, USB Memory or across a network to a folder on an another PC. 

Hopefully you have already considered how much data is involved and practicalities involved, if not look Transfer.  It will also work in on-line where the application is run on both computers and across normally a LAN the data is transferred.  Details on using both methods are included here, the safest and most reliable way is to use the off-line mode, there have a couple of reports posted in Forums about occasional problems where both machines are running XP but with different versions of Files and Settings transfer wizard, a sensible and precautionary approach is to ensure all Windows updates are installed before commencing.

You can run tool either from the Windows XP CD or from the target machine and create a floppy or CD, with the relevant program files to load onto to your older pre-Windows XP machine, this will then load the program on your old machine and start the collection process. Given some issues reported with different versions of this tools, the safest way to run it is to create the necessary and build a floppy or CD to put into your old machine (if not XP) or if both machines are running XP then put all relevant Windows updates onto both machines first.

To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on a non XP computer without the Operating System CD, you must create a Wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media.

To create a Wizard disk, use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps:

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

3. When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears, click Next.

4. On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer and click Next.

5. On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I want to create a Wizard Disk in the

following drive: and click Next.  (You only need to create a wizard disc if your old machine is not running Windows XP)

6. Insert the removable media, such as a floppy disk or CD, and click OK.

7. When the disk creation completes and the Now go to your old computer message appears, Do

Not click Next, if you want to the ‘online’ version of Files and setting transfer wizard. If you close down the transfer wizard on your new computer and you are connected via a LAN (we won’t even consider the serial cable method’ as it really slow), then the option of using a home or office network will be ‘grayed out’ on your old computer.

8.  Go to the old computer.

To copy data from the old computer (if not a Windows XP machine)

1. On the old computer, insert the removable Wizard Disk.

2. Click the Start button and click Run.

3. In the Open field on the Run window, type in a:\fastwiz and click OK.

4. On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen, click Next.

5. On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer and click Next.

6. On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you prefer

7 On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Next.

8. After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears Click Finish.

To copy data from the old computer (if a Windows XP machine)

1. Click the Start button.

2. Click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

3. When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears, click Next.

4. On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer and click Next.

5. On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you prefer

6 On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to transfer and click

Next.

8. After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears Click Finish

To transfer data to the new computer:

1.  On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click Next.

2. On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you chose for transferring

your settings and files and click Next. Follow the instructions on the screen.

The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer. When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.

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