Migrating XP Account From One HD to Win7 on Another HD

[Warhaven]

Forgive me. I normally work with Macs, so this is a rather new experience for me. Here's the issue:

1. Old P4 computer with WinXP died (CPU and PSU died). It is completely non-functional.
2. Made a new PC with all new components and new HDD with fresh Win 7 installation.
3. Plugged in old PC HDD into new PC as a secondary drive.

How on earth do I transfer the account and applications from the old PC's HDD to the new one at this stage? I'm at a complete loss. The Windows Easy Transfer requires the old PC to be functional and concurrently running in one way or the other. All I have is the old HDD it self and the new computer.

On OS X, I'd simply run Migration Assistant, select the other HDD, and migrate. Ezpz. I had hoped it'd be this simple for Windows.

 

[Mark Phelps]

What most will tell you here is that basically, you can't -- transfer applications, that is. The Windows Easy Transfer only migrates files and settings, not applications.

Also, while LapLink DOES make a product that claims to be able to migrate applications from XP to Win7, like the other products, it requires the source PC to be up and running.

Microsoft, in contrast, does NOT provide an upgrade path from XP to Win7. So, even if the old PC was working, you couldn't upgrade the XP install to Windows 7.

Sorry, but apart from the files and settings, you'll have to install the applications all from scratch.

 

[Warhaven]

What most will tell you here is that basically, you can't -- transfer applications, that is. The Windows Easy Transfer only migrates files and settings, not applications.

Frustrating. Intensely so. Microsoft has really dropped the ball when it comes to purchasing a new PC and transferring your stuff to the new PC. This is something that should painfully simple to do (for the user). Not hours and hours of scouring the internet, and ultimately, finding out you can't.

Also, while LapLink DOES make a product that claims to be able to migrate applications from XP to Win7, like the other products, it requires the source PC to be up and running.

Windows Easy Transfer also makes the assumption that the source disk is running on a functional PC. There's no option to transfer your accounts and settings from an orphaned disk.

Microsoft, in contrast, does NOT provide an upgrade path from XP to Win7. So, even if the old PC was working, you couldn't upgrade the XP install to Windows 7.

Sorry, but apart from the files and settings, you'll have to install the applications all from scratch.

I was unable to find a way to even transfer files and settings from an orphaned disk via a Microsoft solution. There's no option to do so in Windows Easy Transfer. As stated above, it assumes your source disk is on a functioning computer.

Thank you for replying, though. I'll keep looking.

 

[gregrocker]

Just drag your files from their XP folders into the corresponding Win7 folders on the Explorer bar on the left side of the window. For example, in XP Documents click Organize, then Select All, then drag the group to the Documents folder on the bar, but don't release the click until the bar expands to show sub-folders so you make sure you drop them in the correct folder.

Exclude Pictures, Music and Downloads if they reside in XP Documents so they can be accessed later to copy their individual contents to corresponding Win7 folders.

I do this a lot and it takes just a few minutes even for the largest upgrades. Take your time and concentrate on accuracy - speed comes with experience.

You really don't want to import settings into a fresh new install as they are a corruption path from the old OS. A clean fresh start is best.

 

[Warhaven]

Just drag your files from their XP folders into the corresponding Win7 folders on the Explorer bar on the left side of the window. For example, in XP Documents click Organize, then Select All, then drag the group to the Documents folder on the bar, but don't release the click until the bar expands to show sub-folders so you make sure you drop them in the correct folder.

Exclude Pictures, Music and Downloads if they reside in XP Documents so they can be accessed later to copy their individual contents to corresponding Win7 folders.

I do this a lot and it takes just a few minutes even for the largest upgrades. Take your time and concentrate on accuracy - speed comes with experience.

You really don't want to import settings into a fresh new install as they are a corruption path from the old OS. A clean fresh start is best.

I ended up just copying everything. Windows 7, surprisingly, moved everything automatically to their corresponding folders. The songs in XP's /Documents and Settings/My Documents/My Music/ were automatically moved to the correct folder when I copied it over.

He didn't have many of his original discs, which is why I wanted to migrate the applications over. However, I discovered a program called Magic Jellybean which nabbed all the serial numbers. So I was able to re-download many of them.

However, if anyone is interested, I did figure out how to migrate a user account from an orphaned disc to a new install of Windows. Wasn't easy, took forever, but it worked:

1. Download/install VirtualBox
2. Download/install either WinImage or MS's Disk2vhd.
3. Install Windows Easy Transfer onto orphaned Win XP disk (done via WET on the new computer).
4. Create .vhd of HD using WinImage or Disk2vhd.
5. Insert a Win XP disc, and load the .vhd into VirtualBox. Boot off the Win XP disk in the virtual machine and do the Windows repair option on the .vhd. This'll load the appropriate drivers for the VM and allow you to boot into the Win XP.
6. Make sure you have your RETAIL serial number handy, especially if the Win XP disc is still using the OEM volume serial number. For me, the OEM volume serial number immediately became invalid in the VM, and WGA (Windows Genuine Advantage) would not let me log in. I had to call MS and get it sorted out. Might not be the case for everyone.

After that, you essentially have your Win XP disc in a functioning computer (VM) again, so you can follow the Windows Easy Transfer steps as per normal.

Not so easy.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Some say Magic Jelly Bean is intrusive, this one is 'safer' and it can be run from a USB stick, it is an excellent app that does not have to be installed to the OS at all.


SIW - System Information for Windows