Comments on: Microsoft removing Windows Easy Transfer in Windows 8.1

By: Michael Owens

Michael Owens — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 16:11:00 +0000

You made a good point, with how Microsoft is pulling features and moving us forward. You are totally right, after i started thinking about what you had said. Windows 8 makes it possible to sync a users work space between multiple computers, that is all built into adding your Microsoft account to the pc and setting up “sync your settings”. This does work on a domain account and should work in a local account as well. I am not fond of the idea of using one drive to sync data across your work spaces or from an older device to a new one, but it will work.

USMT is still available for IT Pros, its a command line version of WET, and has the same functionality in creating the migration store and fairly easy to use. The one thing i dont like when comparing the two, is that we dont get the nice application report when using USMT that is found after using WET.

Anyway, great post and thanks for the info.

By: Mauro

Mauro — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 11:37:00 +0000

In reply to Gary Abrams.

It’s important to put in perspective what settings you’re trying to move over the new PC. Settings such as from applications won’t move over even if you could use Windows Easy Transfer.
You can copy any type of files from your old to your new PC. For settings, such as Chrome, Photoshop, iTunes, etc, etc, etc, these are settings you need to move manually. You will better of getting that Windows 10 PC ready and then moving the files over.

Thanks,
Mauro

By: Gary Abrams

Gary Abrams — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:55:00 +0000

In reply to Mauro. Thank you for your quick response Mauro. I'm totally lost on this. I want to transfer my files , pictures,videos, and settings. Can I copy these on an external drive? If so, what size to buy? Thank you for your help. Gary

By: Mauro

Mauro — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:22:00 +0000

In reply to Gary Abrams.

If you’re only transferring files, it would be best to copy all of your file into an external drive, then upgrade the new PC from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, and then copy the files from the external drive to the new computer. It’s cleaner and easier.

Thanks,
Mauro

By: Gary Abrams

Gary Abrams — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 01:15:00 +0000

Would like to transfer my old h.p. windows 7 files to my new windows 8.1 hp. What if I load the windows 10 freebie onto the 8.1 computer. Would that make it easier to transfer?

By: Mauro

Mauro — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:44:00 +0000

In reply to ES.

Hello,

I haven’t tested this solution, but you might be able to use this tool http://www.migee.com/2011/01/17/mig-recover-and-viewer-utility-alpha/ (this is a third-party software please proceed with caution, use it at your own risk) to open and extra the content from a Windows Easy Transfer file.

Whenever possible, I recommend you to avoid using transferring software, you will be better of backing up your data, and starting on a new computer from scratch. It’s clear, safer, and sometimes faster.

Thanks,
Mauro

By: ES

ES — Sat, 14 Nov 2015 15:16:00 +0000

I’m trying to transfer a WET file from an external harddrive which was created under Windows XP to Windows 8.1 and receive an error message saying hat Windows EasyTransfer can’t transfer files from Windows Vista or Windows XP. I’ve now discovered that there is this free tool called Laplink PC Mover – however, it only works if you still have both Computers. But I don’t have the old laptop anymore or any old Laptop. Is there another possibility to somehow load the WET file created under XP to 8.1?