Solved Can Easy Transfer “clean up” and existing Windows-7 Pro System?

[Mike Lynch]

Can Easy Transfer “clean up” an existing Windows-7 Pro System?

If I do an Easy Transfer from my existing Window-7 Pro System, which has 10 Users (family members), to a clean install of Windows-7 Pro, will it work?
What I am asking is: can Easy Transfer, transfer to the same version of Windows: Windows-7 Pro to Windows-7 Pro?
If so, I would be able to eliminate Users and their Files while also eliminating Program Software.
The Hardware would be the same System, just a new Hard Drive.

 

[gregrocker]

That would be even more of a mess than Easy Transfer with just one User account which can fail and leave data stranded.

It's easier to use the method shown in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to simply drag the active User folders to external, then after install open each and drag its contents to the corresponding folder on left-hand Explorer bar, waiting for bar to expand and confirm destination before releasing the left click.

 

[Mike Lynch]

Bump!

 

[gregrocker]

What do you mean by "If so, I would be able to eliminate Users and their Files while also eliminating Program Software?" You'll have to reinstall programs. If you want the freshest start then you'd also not want to reimport program appdata which is a corruption path.

Instead of bumping the thread because you don't like the answer, why don't you ask questions or state your concerns. This is the top resource on the web for Clean Reinstall so we aren't going to steer you wrong.

 

[Mike Lynch]

I believe Easy Transfer allows the Administrator to select which User Accounts to transfer. This will allow me to exclude Family Members who no longer reside in my home. I believe that Easy Transfer also excludes Non System Software and provides some sort of Manifest as to what Software was found before the Transfer. This would allow me to Re-Install the Software I now choose to use, eliminating what I do not use or perhaps know about. I also believe that Easy Transfer will allow me to select which User Account Data I want to transfer, perhaps eliminating: Music, Video or Photos.

 

[gregrocker]

WET is also unreliable enough that you may lose your data so I'd back it up to external anyway using the much easier Manual method of dragging the User accounts to external.

Let us know how it works for you.

 

[Mike Lynch]

What I am asking is: can Easy Transfer, transfer to the same version of Windows: Windows-7 Pro to Windows-7 Pro?

If it can, I can eliminate "non active Users" and their data.

If it can, I can eliminate "all" Application Software, re-installing just what I choose to at this time.