Easy transfer .. is it?

apollo911

New member
Local time
2:14 AM
Messages
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I am going to do a clean install of W7 Home Premium, replacing Vista HP - my question is.. what is the point of backing up settings?

As I have to re-install my software and much of that will store settings in the registry as well as in folders, surely importing old settings is likely to cause more problems than it's worth?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7, Vista HP, XP Pro
Windows Easy Transfer saves your user account settings, documents, music etc. That's all. After you've done a clean install you still have to load all your programs. Easy transfer does not keep registry settings.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
tw33k
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) SP1
CPU
Intel 3770k 4.6GHz
Motherboard
ASUS Maximus V Formula
Memory
8GB (2x 4GB) Crucial Ballistix
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire 7950 (1060/1600)
Sound Card
On Board Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
27" Acer B273HU (via HDMI)
Screen Resolution
2048 x 1152
Hard Drives
Crucial M4 128GB
2TB WD Black
1TB Samsung F3 SATA
1TB WD Elite External
2TB WD USB 3.0
PSU
Corsair AX750 Gold
Case
Corsair Obsidian 800DW
Cooling
Corsair H100 (2x AP-121/2x UK-3000 push/pull)
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Internet Speed
5mb/s
Other Info
Logitech z-2300 2.1 speakers
Lamptron FC-5 v2
What exactly is stored in User Account settings?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7, Vista HP, XP Pro
Just the files and folders you have under each account
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
tw33k
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) SP1
CPU
Intel 3770k 4.6GHz
Motherboard
ASUS Maximus V Formula
Memory
8GB (2x 4GB) Crucial Ballistix
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire 7950 (1060/1600)
Sound Card
On Board Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
27" Acer B273HU (via HDMI)
Screen Resolution
2048 x 1152
Hard Drives
Crucial M4 128GB
2TB WD Black
1TB Samsung F3 SATA
1TB WD Elite External
2TB WD USB 3.0
PSU
Corsair AX750 Gold
Case
Corsair Obsidian 800DW
Cooling
Corsair H100 (2x AP-121/2x UK-3000 push/pull)
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Internet Speed
5mb/s
Other Info
Logitech z-2300 2.1 speakers
Lamptron FC-5 v2

Attachments

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My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Built them myself, Science Experiments !
OS
Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
CPU
AMD fx8350 4ghz, AMD-32 2400mhz, AMD-64 3200mhz, AMDx64 2.8G
Motherboard
SIS 755, ECS-K8M890M-M (Ult 7600), GigaByte & others
Memory
2gb, 4gb on the Ult 7600, 4gb on Technet RTM, 32gb on FX8350
Graphics Card(s)
Draw my own Graphics, several nVidia cards
Sound Card
on motherboard
Monitor(s) Displays
19" flat scr, 28" I-Inc widescr,22" Emprex Widescr, 23" Acer
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024, 1440 x 900, 1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
6 pata Ide HD's & 2 Sata HD's
added 80gb external on Ult 7600 computer,
numerous extra 1tb, 2TB, 3Tb SATA HD's
A collection of ext HD Docks w/ HDs
PSU
430w, 550w, 600w, 700, 800, etc
Case
All Generic Full Towers
Cooling
Open Air & a few fans, some w/ colored LEDs
Keyboard
Compaq & Dell recycled from GoodWill
Mouse
Made in China Optical Wired Mouse
Internet Speed
Fast Cable InterNet
Antivirus
AVG Free on 24 different Desktops, NO Problems!
Browser
IE 8 is preferred, but use FireFox sometimes
Other Info
Linksys Routers, switches, & Hubs
Too Many USB Flash Drives to count, Biggest is 64GB !
Eight computers in my home network.
Sixteen computers at my business network.
Linked via TeamViewer !
Lots of old used spare computer parts everywhere!
Just the files and folders you have under each account

Yes, they are files and folders, but they are also settings for almost every piece of software you have installed on your system, including your email if you are using Outlook Express or Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail. There is MUCH more there that just "files and folders."
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (Technet)
CPU
3.00 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo E8400
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K/EPU Rev 1.xx
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon X1950 Pro
Sound Card
Built in HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
22" Gateway LCD
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
ST3160023A [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, rev 8.01, ST3500630AS [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 2, rev 3.AAK
ST3500630AS [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 1, rev 3.AAK
Keyboard
Logitech G11
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000
Internet Speed
13.44 Mbps
What exactly is stored in User Account settings?

You definitely want to make this backup. There are tons of things stored there that you may not think of.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (Technet)
CPU
3.00 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo E8400
Motherboard
ASUSTeK Computer INC. P5K/EPU Rev 1.xx
Memory
4GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon X1950 Pro
Sound Card
Built in HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
22" Gateway LCD
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
ST3160023A [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, rev 8.01, ST3500630AS [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 2, rev 3.AAK
ST3500630AS [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 1, rev 3.AAK
Keyboard
Logitech G11
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000
Internet Speed
13.44 Mbps
Yes, they are files and folders, but they are also settings for almost every piece of software you have installed on your system, including your email if you are using Outlook Express or Windows Mail or Windows Live Mail. There is MUCH more there that just "files and folders."

In order to keep things as simple as possible, unless specifically asked by the OP, all he needed to know was that everything in his user account would be saved. People don't require too much information as it confuses some. If they want/need to know more then they'll ask. I've found that less is more to a lot of the people that come here for help
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
tw33k
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64) SP1
CPU
Intel 3770k 4.6GHz
Motherboard
ASUS Maximus V Formula
Memory
8GB (2x 4GB) Crucial Ballistix
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire 7950 (1060/1600)
Sound Card
On Board Realtek HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
27" Acer B273HU (via HDMI)
Screen Resolution
2048 x 1152
Hard Drives
Crucial M4 128GB
2TB WD Black
1TB Samsung F3 SATA
1TB WD Elite External
2TB WD USB 3.0
PSU
Corsair AX750 Gold
Case
Corsair Obsidian 800DW
Cooling
Corsair H100 (2x AP-121/2x UK-3000 push/pull)
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless 5000
Internet Speed
5mb/s
Other Info
Logitech z-2300 2.1 speakers
Lamptron FC-5 v2
I don't bother with Easy Transfer and don't trust it. I fiddled with it a bit when I was running a Windows 7 release candidate and wasn't amused--it wouldn't allow me to restore anything, for whatever reason. It's like imaging--wonderful when it works and horrid when it doesn't. You might hope that it works OK, but if you have relied on it and it doesn't work, you are hosed.

For a clean install, I just back up my bookmarks, email, and data and then manually restore those 3 items after I am done. Never had an issue.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Ignatz Special; 4 speed manual gearbox; factory air conditioning; one of one
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
CPU
Intel Skylake i5-6600K, not overclocked
Motherboard
AsRock Z170M Extreme 4, micro ATX
Memory
8 GB HyperX DDR4-2666 (2 x 4 GB)
Graphics Card(s)
none; graphics are integrated on CPU
Sound Card
onboard: Realtek ALC1150; external: USB Behringer UF0-202
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2340M 23 inch IPS
Screen Resolution
1600 x 900
Hard Drives
System: Crucial MX100 series SSD, 128 GB;
Data: Samsung Spinpoint 103SJ, 1 TB;
Backup: WD Caviar Green WD30EZRX-00D8PB0, 3 TB
PSU
Rosewill SilentNight 500 watt fanless, semi-modular
Case
Antec Solo II
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12S; Noctua F12 intake, Noctua S12A exhaust
Keyboard
Microsoft 200 6JH-00001 USB
Mouse
Dell or Microsoft optical wired; USB
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Pale Moon
Other Info
All fans PWM; speeds at idle: CPU circa 500 rpm; intake circa 600 rpm; exhaust circa 600 rpm; CPU temps 27 idle and 47 C load in a warm room (27 C/81 F) when running Intel Extreme Tuning Utility stress test.
Actually a lot of individual user settings for applications are stored in this little place called Application Data, which resides in each users profile.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows Vista Business / Windows 7 Ultimate
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