Windows Easy Transfer

[sgmidf]

I'm planning to upgrade my X61s from Vista Ultimate 32 to Win 7 64 so it's going to be a clean install. I was wondering if I should use Windows Easy Tranfer to transfer docs, favs etc or just do it manually? One appealing thing would be the transfer of my wireless settings as I travel and it would be nice to not have to re-enter everything. (Is there an easy way to copy those settings to the new computer)?
Thanks

[tpribors]

I'm planning to upgrade my X61s from Vista Ultimate 32 to Win 7 64 so it's going to be a clean install. I was wondering if I should use Windows Easy Tranfer to transfer docs, favs etc or just do it manually? One appealing thing would be the transfer of my wireless settings as I travel and it would be nice to not have to re-enter everything. (Is there an easy way to copy those settings to the new computer)?
Thanks

I tried it on a trial. I felt it carried too much baggage along - you know, those things like old cookies, and other bad things that make the system sluggish (I call them the contributors to Windows Rot). After I tried that I just went to my backup (I use Seagate's Disc Wizard to backup to a USB HDD, which allows you to mount the backup as a partition) and dragged my old desktop folder to my new desktop and then moved files/folders to the main desktop (I took a picture and saved it before backup so I could put icons back where they belonged). Note that even the easy transfer does not preserve icon locations.

[fredstev]

My experience with Windows Easy Transfer was just like tpribors. Lots of baggage and unintentional and inappropriate settings brought over from (in my case) Windows XP Pro into Win 7 home premium.

My normal way of going to a new system is to

a. create full backup using Acronis Trueimage.
b. wipe the hard drive, or allow Windows 7 to do a "custom" install. This will save all your old files and settings in a "windows.old" folder, assuming you have the disk space.
c. Restore all my data files using Acronis, i.e. documents, pictures, music, etc.
d. Reinstall my applications. I've learned that it is prudent to export my address (contact) book if not using web-based Email first. Had the best luck using .csv format.

The next couple of days after updating the operating system, you'll notice features or files missing, I just fetch them from the backup or the windows.old file as needed.

[tpribors]

My experience with Windows Easy Transfer was just like tpribors. Lots of baggage and unintentional and inappropriate settings brought over from (in my case) Windows XP Pro into Win 7 home premium.

My normal way of going to a new system is to

a. create full backup using Acronis Trueimage.
b. wipe the hard drive, or allow Windows 7 to do a "custom" install. This will save all your old files and settings in a "windows.old" folder, assuming you have the disk space.
c. Restore all my data files using Acronis, i.e. documents, pictures, music, etc.
d. Reinstall my applications. I've learned that it is prudent to export my address (contact) book if not using web-based Email first. Had the best luck using .csv format.

The next couple of days after updating the operating system, you'll notice features or files missing, I just fetch them from the backup or the windows.old file as needed.

Yeah, the Seagate tool is a customized version of Acronis (you have to have a Seagate drive installed.)

As far as email goes, I use the full office version of Outlook (now 2007). For ages I have kept email and some other data, e.g., Quicken) on another partition. It's simple and quick to install Office, turn off the network, start up Outlook, configure the account and point it to the data files. Nothing lost except for auto-fill addresses (which restarting is part of killing the old baggage).

Cheers,
Tony

[loyukfai]

You can backup and restore the auto-complete addresses database if you really want that, just saying... : )

[sgmidf]

Is there any reason not to just use Windows Vista backup?

[loyukfai]

If you want more granular control and functions...