Windows Easy Transfer
| A component of Microsoft Windows | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Windows Easy Transfer on Windows 8 | |
| Details | |
| Other names | MigWiz |
| Type | File transfer and backup software |
| Included with | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 |
| Also available for | Windows XP |
| Replaces | Files and Settings Transfer Wizard |
| Related components | |
| User State Migration Tool | |
Windows Easy Transfer is a file transfer and backup program which allows backing up or transferring user files and settings between computers. The aim of this program is to help migrate from an earlier version of Windows to a later one.[1] It is included with Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8, and is available for Windows XP.[2][3] It supports Windows 2000 and later.[1] It succeeded the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard included with Windows XP. It has been deprecated and crippled in Windows 8.1 with no clear successor for migrating from Windows XP or Windows Vista. In addition, the Easy Transfer Cable is no longer supported with Microsoft advocating reliance solely on SkyDrive.
Items transferred
Windows Easy Transfer can transfer:[1]
- Data files and folders including but not limited to photos, music, videos, documents, email messages and contacts
- User accounts and their settings (Not available on Windows 2000)
- Windows and application configuration data stored in files or in Windows Registry (Not available on Windows 2000)
The program does not support transferring applications.[1] For transferring certain supported applications, Microsoft had planned to release Windows Easy Transfer Companion but never released the final version.[4]
Transfer methods
There are several methods that can be used:[5]
- An Easy Transfer Cable, a proprietary USB 2.0 cable
- A computer network
- A CD recorder or DVD recorder and sufficient number of CDs or DVDs (Windows Vista only; discontinued)[1]
- A USB flash drive or an external hard disk drive
In case of the last method, despite its name, users are not restricted to using a USB flash drive or external hard disk drive only. In this method, Windows Easy Transfer archives what user chooses to transfer to a location of user's choice and later asks for those files.[6]
Because Windows Vista has discontinued support for incoming connections over serial port, parallel port and IrDA port, Windows Easy Transfer cannot commence a transfer over such devices; however, it supports Ethernet, wireless or HPNA connectivity.[7]
Windows Easy Transfer does not support transferring from a 64-bit to a 32-bit system.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Description of Windows Easy Transfer for Windows Vista". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ "Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (64 bit) to Windows 7". Download Center. Microsoft. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ "Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (32 bit) to Windows 7". Download Center. Microsoft. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ White, Nick (15 February 2007). "Using Windows Easy Transfer". Windows Vista Team Blog. Microsoft. Windows Easy Transfer Companion (Beta). Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Microsoft (April 18, 2010). "Transferring files and settings: frequently asked questions". Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ "How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer". Microsoft Support. Microsoft. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
- ↑ "The option to use a serial cable connection or an infrared link is unavailable when you create an incoming connection in Windows Vista". Microsoft Support. Support. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2012.