Windows 7: external hard drive data onto a new pc, how?

hello, ive recently bought a new dell laptop, i have also got my external hard drive with everything backuped from my old pc. i was wondering how would i go about extracting the files from the external hard drive to the new laptop, i have no idea how to do it :S i dont know if i should restore it or what
HELP PLEASE <3


many thanks people!

What kind of a backup is it? Is it an image backup or file-by-file backup? What backup software did you use or did you just copy selected files to the external drive? That's the kind of info we need to know before we can answer your question.

um, i went into control panel, and then back up, so i suppose it is a windows back up on to an external harddrive.
and then its got everything on there i suppose from the OS C:\ files and everything, the most important things on there are my images and thats what i want to export from the drive onto my laptop.
i dont know how to export them tho? do i have to restore the driver? to get all the pictures? :/
im so confused.

If they are images created by Win 7 backup, you don't want to restore them since they will replace what's on your current drive. Win 7 backup uses VHD files for backup which you can "mount" using a tool like WinMount which will allow you to explore and copy the individual files from the image.

If it's a standard windows backup as opposed to an image then it contains both an image and a file and folder backup. If you navigate to the backup. It should look like the top line on the attachment but with your old pc name. Double click on it and you will be given the opportunity to restore the files.

hey both, thanks for the replys, when i open the back up folders all i can see if zip files.
if i use the window mount thing will i be able to see all the music, photos and words documents?
all i wana be able to do is place eveything like documents, music, and photos on the new pc just dont know how to get it off the back up drive with the compressed zips :/:/

It would be helpful if you could post screenshots so that we can see what is going on. Forum Rules and info- Please Read!

kado thats the screen i have all the time i look on the backup drive, i have a new pc, so i dont want everything from the old to to the new, i just want to select what i want, but i dont know how to see the files and that.
i think it would just be easier to get a data transfer cable :S

Ok. If you get this screen.



When you double click on in you should get this.



And if you select restore my files you should get this.



from which you can select the files and folders to restore.

If you are not getting that please try this tutorial.

Backup - Manually Extract Files from in Vista & Windows 7