Over the last few months I have upgraded a number of Windows Vista computers to Windows 7, and more recently a few people have asked me for help upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7.

Now there is no clean upgrade path from XP to 7 – there is only a clean installation, which on the whole is putting people off, as they don’t know what to do about their files and their settings.

This is where the Windows Easy Transfer tool comes into play – and believe me it is so easy to use and it has saved me a lot of time on those people’s XP machines!

So I decided to put an article together, and here it is – enjoy.

If you are moving from Windows XP or Vista, you most probably want to take your data and your settings with you. It is quite rare for someone to upgrade to a different version of Windows and not want something they had before, even if it is only their Internet Explorer Favourites.

Microsoft provide an application to help the backup and restore of your data if you are using the clean install method. This application is called Windows Easy Transfer and is used to transfer a number of different files and settings from computers running Windows 2000, Windows XP and even Windows Vista.

The types of files and settings include:

· User Accounts

· Files and folders

· Email messages, settings, and contacts

· Photos, music, and videos

· Windows settings

· Program data files and settings

· Internet favourites

You can buy the Easy Transfer Cable, as shown in Figure 3-1, from your local computer shop which contains a special USB cable for connecting your old computer to your new computer, if you are planning on building or buying a new one. It also comes with all the software you need to perform the transfer.

Exporting the Files and Settings

Another option is to download Windows Easy Transfer for XP (if you are using Windows XP) and use that to backup your software. Windows Vista already has a version of Windows Easy Transfer installed so you don’t need to worry about getting software for your Vista installation.

If you are running Windows Vista you can jump to step 4. The remainder of the steps are for the Vista version, although they will work fine for the XP version.

1. Download Windows Easy Transfer for XP from: http://www.microsoft.com:80/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2B6F1631-973A-45C7-A4EC-4928FA173266&displaylang=en.

2. Double-click the file you just downloaded and choose Run when prompted.

3. Follow the steps to install the software on your computer.

4. Launch the software by clicking on Windows Easy Transfer from the Start menu. This will display the Welcome screen.

If you can’t find it in the Start menu, just type Windows Easy Transfer in the search box and then click on Windows Easy Transfer from the displayed results.

5. Click Next (you may be asked to close any programs that are currently running and may conflict with the transfer process).

6. You will then be asked if you want to start a new transfer or continue with an existing one. Choose Start a new transfer.

7. You will then be asked which computer you are using – the one you want to transfer to or the one you want to transfer from. Choose My old computer.

8. You are then presented with three options for how you want to transfer the files and settings:

· Use an Easy Transfer Cable

· Transfer directly, using a network connection

· Use a CD, DVD, or other removable media

For this example, I am going to select Use a CD, DVD, or other removable media.