Windows 7 - Windows Easy Transfer is unable to continue???

In order to prepare my XP computer for an upgrade to Windows 7 I was trying to run Easy Transfer using a big external USB harddrive to store my files.

But after the last selection "This is my old computer" I am immediately getting an alertbox stating
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(X) Windows Easy Transfer is unable to continue. Please reboot the computer and try again.
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I just HAVE rebooted, so what is THAT BS supposed to mean??? Is there some way to get at least an indication WHY this beast is refusing to run?

Michael

Make sure that you are using the most current ver of easy tranfer and that it is for 7. I saved mine on a 2gig flash drive. Give that a try. You do not need a large HD to save, since programs are not transferred.

I had downloaded the program from MS' website just minutes before I started it, so I assume that this IS the latest version. After my append I re-ran it logged in as actual "Administrator" (not just as a normal user that is part of "Administrators" group) and then it worked. Of course that's nowhere mentioned in the help or description...

Alas, 2 GB won't do it in my case. Easy Transfer calculated a size of >138 GB and initially a time of >6 hours for the transfer. So I left it running over night. When I came back the next morning it was only about 1/4 done, the estimated time left showed now >9 hours(?!?) and looking closer the system had crashed such that I had to hard-reset it (i.e. power-off/-on).

I might give it another try again next night but it appears, that the "easy transfer" won't be that easy...

Michael

You probably do not need to save shared( folders)? That is the largestest use of storage space. I really believe if you save less it will work. If you have CD's with pics, no need to save pics.

Since I think that size is the problem, save some things on a finger drive or hd, separately. Such as pics, and documents. You do not need easy transfer for that, its best used for settings, mail, favorites, and cookies.

what about using like ghost or TrueImage ??

they have great features as well for this.

Found a free one that looks pretty great as well called FBackup. Do those run them, put the data on EHD or disc then install on other unit and etc etc...

Works way faster then the transfer or really anything from MS lol..

@richc46: Can one choose *what* to save? I don't recall to have seen that option. It listed what it is going to save and then one can start or abort, but was there an option to choose, what to save? I guess I have to retry this soon...

Michael

Early in the process, you will see what is being saved, with check boxes. You can uncheck them. You can even make further changes by clicking on customize. The first opportunity, for change, you will see your accounts and another called shared. I don't have that much, but it came to about 20 gb. I unchecked shared and had about 2.5 gb. I unchecked pictures, in my account and it came in under 2. I was able to put everything on a flash drive.

Take a look at this tutorial Windows Easy Transfer - Transfer To & From Computers It will explain the procedure.

Best to backup your current HD, then use WET for transferring user settings and some of the files.
Keep the bulk of your personal data files in another partition or in a backup on another physical HD or external HD.

I don't know if you guy's have even tried it yet or tested WET but... it sucks and dont seem to work right in the first place as default part of the OS even...

As i said. i would strongly recommend you use a 3rd party better app for it. ( and use a back up or image system with a external HD or something.. or even to disc.

install it on the other system, store the selected ones and whola

Plus can set it to do scheduled backups after you get it switched over.

That's not the point here! I don't just want to backup or transfer my files and docs - I want (most) windows and as many as possible application settings being migrated to Windows 7. That requires merging registry-fragments, copying subdirs from "<user>\Application Data" and what not. WET may not be perfect, but a simple backup/restore program, let alone a disk imager won't achieve any of that, either! Just backing up and restoring old files might even overwrite new Windows 7 settings and files...

@Dave76 and @richc46: Thanks for the hints. I had missed the Customize option the first time I tried it. I will walk through the list and carefully select, what I want to migrate (and what not...).

Cheers,
Michael