Accessing the Windows Easy Transfer from the Start screen is easy

Getting started

rnrnOnce you have your WindowsrnXP and Windows 8 systems on the network, you’re ready to get started. You’llrnbegin by launching Windows Easy Transfer on your Windows 8 system. While therernare several ways that you can launch Windows Easy Transfer, the quickest way isrnto use the [Windows] + Q keystroke to access the Apps Search page and then typernEasy in the text box. When WindowsrnEasy Transfer appears in the search results, as shown in Figure A, just click the icon.

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Windows Easy Transfer allows you to copy everything that you will need on your new computer

Inrna moment, you’ll see the introductory screen on the Windows Easy Transferrnwizard, as shown in Figure B. As yourncan see from the list shown on this screen, Windows Easy Transfer will allowrnyou to copy everything that you will need on your new computer.

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When prompted to choose your transfer method, select the network option

Whenrnyou click Next, you’ll see the screen that prompts you to choose how you wantrnto transfer items to your new computer. You’ll select the network option, asrnshown in Figure C.

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The first step in this phase is to identify the PC on which you are working

The preparation phase

rnrnOnce you select the networkrnas your transfer method, you’re ready to begin the preparation phase, in whichrnyou will choose how and where to copy the Windows Easy Transfer executablernfiles for your Windows XP system. The first screen in this phase of thernoperation prompts you to identify the PC on which you are working. In thisrncase, you’ll select the This is my new PCrnoption, as shown in Figure D.

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Select the Windows XP option to prepare the installation

Nowrnthat you’ve identified your Windows 8 system as the new PC, the wizard willrnprompt you to begin preparations to make the Windows Easy Transfer software availablernfor your Windows XP system. As you can see in Figure E, you’ll now select the My old PC is running Windows XPrnoption.

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I created a new folder in Windows 8's Public folder system for the Windows Easy Transfer executable files

You’llrnnext be prompted to choose where you want to copy the Windows Easy Transfer executablernfiles. As you can see in Figure F,rnyou’ll select the shared network folder option and will then see a browserndialog box. In my example, I chose to create a new folder called WinET in myrnWindows 8 system’s Public\Public Documents folder. When both Windows XP andrnWindows 8 are on the same network, the Public folder system makes it extremelyrneasy to share files on the network.

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The copy operation will take just a few minutes

Oncernyou specify the location, the Windows Easy Transfer executable files will berncopied to that folder, as shown in FigurernG.

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Just leave this screen as it is and physically move to your Windows XP system

Afterrnthe files are copied, you’ll see the screen shown in Figure H, which prompts you run Windows Easy Transfer on your WindowsrnXP system. At this point, just leave this screen as it is and physically movernto your Windows XP system.

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After you navigate the network, use the shortcut to run Windows Easy Transfer in Windows XP

Initializing Windows Easy Transfer in Windows XP

rnrnWhen you are on yourrnWindows XP system, launch My Network Places and navigate to the folder in whichrnyou copied the Windows Easy Transfer files. When you open that folder, you’llrnfind a shortcut titled Windows Easy Transfer that you will use to launch thernprocess, as shown in Figure I.

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When you confirm the operation, Windows Easy transfer will be run on your Windows XP system

Asrnsoon as you launch the shortcut, you’ll be prompted to confirm the run operation.rnWhen you do, Windows Easy Transfer will run as a stand-alone application -rntechnically it isn’t installed in Windows XP. These steps are illustrated in Figure J.

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There will only be one choice

WhenrnWindows Easy Transfer launches, you see the introductory screen and then bernprompted to choose the transfer type. These screens will be identical to thernones shown above in Figures B and C. You’ll then be prompted to identify the PCrnon which you are working. In this case, there is only one option; This is my old PC, as shown in Figure K.

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Establish an exclusive connection

You’llrnthen see a screen that shows you the Windows Easy Transfer key, as shown in Figure L. This randomly generated numberrnsequence consists of six digits separated by a dash. At this point, yourrnWindows XP system goes into a wait state where it will essentially listen onrnthe network for a broadcast containing that key sequence. When it picks up arnbroadcast containing that key, it will respond and a connection will initiated.rnTo continue, take note to the Windows Easy Transfer key number sequence, leavernthis screen as it is, and physically move back to your Windows 8 system.

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You will enter the windows Easy Transfer key on your Windows 8 system

Running the transfer operation in Windows 8

rnrnWhen you return to yourrnWindows 8 system, click Next and you’ll be prompted to enter in the WindowsrnEasy Transfer key, as shown in Figure M.rnOnce you enter the key and click Next, Windows Easy Transfer will broadcast thernkey and wait for a response. When a response is received from your Windows XPrnsystem, Windows Easy Transfer will establish a connection, check for updates,rncheck compatibility, and then check what can be transferred.

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A progress bar will keep you apprised of the scanning operation

Inrna moment, Windows Easy Transfer will begin scanning the user account on yourrnWindows XP system and will display a progress bar, as shown in Figure N. As you can see, in additionrnto scanning your user account, Windows XP’s Shared Documents folder will alsornbe scanned. If there are multiple user accounts on your Windows XP system, theyrntoo will be scanned and you will be given the opportunity to transfer thosernuser accounts and files over to your Windows 8 system.

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Clicking Customize shows you list of folders containing the files that will be transferred

WhenrnWindows Easy Transfer is finished scanning your Windows XP system, you’ll seernthe total amount of space required for all the items that were found andrnselected. If you don’t want to copy everything, you can click the Customizernbutton and you’ll see a breakdown of where all the files came from, as shown inrnFigure O. You can then remove itemsrnfrom the transfer operation by clearing check boxes.

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This Explorer-like window allows you to pick and choose individual files

Asrnyou can see, this list just names the folders containing the files that will berntransferred. If you would like to be more specific, click Advanced and you’llrnsee an Explorer-like window, as shown in FigurernP. Here, you can pick and choose individual files.

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In the Advanced Options dialog box, you can map user accounts or map drives

If you want to exercise even more control over the transferrnprocess, clicking Advanced Options will reveal a two tabbed dialog box thatrnwill allow you to map user accounts and drives, as shown in Figure Q. Mapping user accounts, willrncome in handy if you are migrating multiple accounts from Windows XP system andrnyou want to keep them separate on your Windows 8 system.

rnrnAs you can see, if thernaccounts don’t yet exist on your Windows 8 system, you can use the Create Userrnfrom the drop down list. Mapping drives might come in handy if you have morernthan one drive in your Windows 8 system, for example an SSD for operatingrnsystem files and an SATA drive for your data files.

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A progress bar will keep you apprised of the transfer operation

Whenrnyou are satisfied with your transfer configuration settings, just click thernTransfer button and the transfer process will begin. On your Windows 8 system,rnyou will see a progress bar that will keep you apprised of the operation whilernon your Windows XP system, you’ll see screen that lets you know that therntransfer operation is occurring and reminds you not to use Windows XP duringrnthe transfer. These two screens are shown in Figure R.

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When the transfer is complete, you can investigate the Windows Easy Transfer Reports

Completing the procedure

rnrnWhen the transfer procedurernis complete, you’ll see a message to that effect on your Windows XP system. Onrnyour Windows 8 system you’ll see a similar message as well as a prompt to viewrnthe Windows Easy Transfer Reports. These two screens are shown in Figure S.

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You can access the Windows Easy Transfer Reports are available from the tabs on the dialog box

As you can see, there are two types of Windows easy TransferrnReports – one that shows you what was transferred and one that shows you a listrnof application that were found on you old system along with links that providernyou with details and possible replacements. Figure T shows the Windows Easy Transfer Reports which can bernaccessed from the tabs on the dialog box.

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What’s your take?

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Will you be getting a new Windows 8 computer to replace yourrnold Windows XP computer? If so, do you think that you will use Windows EasyrnTransfer to migrate your files and settings? As always, if you have comments orrninformation to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by thernTechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.

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