Using Easy Transfer

[Tigeromega]

I am going to but a new pc next month and it has a 64G SSD and a 1.5T secondary drive. Should i use easy transfer to back up my data? My current pc has 1 400G HD now. Would it be easier just to back my Music Pictures and Documents folders? I like the easy transfer because it backs up a few other things. I am running Windows 7 64bit now and will upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit. My backup drive is a HP Simplesave 340g portable drive.

 

[essenbe]

Easy transfer will allow you to choose what you transfer (for the most part). However, if it were me I would backup my libraries manually and not do easy transfer. Do a clean Install. With a 64GB SSD you are probably need to use the SSD for the OS and most frequently used programs and put everything else on your other HD. You will usually put your documents, pictures etc. on the larger drive. This can be done using this tutorial. I would recommend just a clean install without easy transfer.

EDIT: Easy transfer may transfer several things that you do not want to transfer. Although it is a pain, on an SSD you want to start off clean. This tutorial will show the best way to get started. However, with a brand new SSD there is no reason to run the 'Clean All' command.

 

[whs]

Easy transfer can be a pain. You never know what act it is going to play on you. Follow the advice of essenbe, then you know exactly what you have done.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I experimented with it and ran into weird behavior--I was asked for a key, of all things. I'd avoid it like the plague. Back up your email, bookmarks, and files and restore them manually.

The only supposed advantage I can see from it, even if it worked perfectly, is that it might save you some configuration time because it is supposed to save your installation settings, but that isn't a major attraction, at least for me. But it's buggy anyway.

 

[essenbe]

It does save your installation settings, but sometimes it can save things really don't want, like tracking cookies and registry fragments from programs you have uninstalled. You still have to reinstall most of your programs. Besides, I always looked at it as a way to start fresh- hopefully like me, you have learned a few things since your last install.