First, I can tell you it works...I use it ALL the time for customers moving PCs around.
Second, It doesn't "guess" at anything. It moves the entire user profile, including hidden settings, etc. You can also go into an advanced mode where you can pick and choose what to move.
Windows Easy Transfer is super-simple and does exactly what it's supposed to do with no problems.
I'm sure I could come up with data on my system that I normally back up that Easy transfer wouldn't get. If you do enough end user support, you'll learn that even non-tech savy people tend to store files all over the place.
Given how simple it is to plug in an external drive and copy my data off myself, I still don't get why anyone would need extra software or trust it. You'll find as many people claiming it doesn't work...as those who say it does....so why take that chance?
Windows easy transfer works quite well.....as long as you remember the things it doesn't do.
It doesn't move the apps themselves just the profiles and custom settings.
It doesn't get all apps, but it does get about 90% of common ones.
The way I use it is:
If running xp then download WET from Microsoft download. It is already included in Vista.
Run Win easy transfer (choose old computer) Back up everything (all your profiles).
copy the backup to a safe location.
Install Win7.
Install your apps
Copy your backup onto the new machine.
Run Win7 easy transfer (choose new machine) and restore the backup.
The report at the end will tell you if you missed any apps, just install them and re-run the easy transfer again to get the ones you missed imported.
If you keep its limits in mind it is a very good product.
I have used it to upgrade from XP and from Vista and it worked just fine for both. saves a lot of time doing basic configuration.
I think that's part of the difference in opinions. When I create a new computer, I don't want settings from the old one coming to the new one. A new computer, for me, is just that....new. Windows 7 doesn't need a lot of tweaks of customizations to run the best way. I also simplified my digital life by storing my data in an organized fashion on a data drive, and using WLM 2011 to handle both of my personal e-mail accounts, both of which are IMAP, so nothing needs to be backed up or moved over.
Then just move your profile and not the app profiles. What gets moved is entirely up to you. Me personally, I like to keep my personal profile the same from machine to machine including the same password, user-id, etc, it keeps my home network working better and saves me from having to redo all my shortcuts, bookmarks, etc.
But that is the point isn't it.....We are all free to go about the process in our own way and customize what we want and don't want. By the way....WET does not copy OS tweaks to the new machine so the Windows 7 install IS new and clean.
I do this as well, but the accounts are set up during the install process, so I don't need WET to do so. It would already be complete long before I'd even get to using WET. My shortcuts change for each system, based on the usage of the system. My corporate laptop has software on it that isn't present on my home tower, and vice versa. My test tower at home has all different software/shortcuts on it than my primary home system, even though the user accounts are the same. That's why I see no reason to use some automated wizard, despite how configurable it may be. It is always easier, and much more thorough to just move and backup what's important to me.
As for Favorites, I use Live Mesh to keep them synced across all three systems I use regularly.
but is there a way to force WET to read the settings from a non-booting system, e.g. win-partition that's not currently running? say, your mobo died.
deaconFrost - see your point, but my software environment is so complex that any tool that ports the program settings over is a godsend - even if it doesn't do a flawless job.
anybody use pcMover? it's attempting to do what bill should've done for us - move the apps over as well.
Easier to drag the active User folder to external, or to go even leaner just the active User sub-folders (Documents, Favorites, etc).
You really don't want the hidden AppData reimported as it is a corruption path into your fresh clean install.
To enjoy Win7 in its native feather-light, instantaneous state use lightweight MS Security Essentials AV or Avast 5 with the Windows 7 Firewall turned on and kept updated!
Most invaders will be caught first by the firewall.
See if Firewall is turned on in services.msc.
To try to repair your Firewall, run SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker.
If this fails to restore it, run a Repair Install
Tips for getting a purrfect clean reinstall: re-install windows 7
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