[jimmygreen]

Easy Transfer! ??? if ever something was not what it is stated to be this has to be it, and as its part of Vista it really is a pile of junk.

I have a new Dell inspiron 1520 and have removed as instructed the hard drive from my old XP machine, loaded it onto an external HD carrier and connected both together with the associated USB cable.
The Dell recognises the old hard drive, Great!
I start the easy transfer, it buzzes away through all the files for about an hour then shows a list of all the files its transfered and advise that to complete I have to reboot.

OK so far, reboot and I cant find the transfered files anywhere.

Can someone please tell me how to locate the transfered files and once located how I then easily integrate them into my present files, eg, favourites, emails etc.

I have to say that trying to understand the easy transfer advice on the wizard is like another language. It really should be written for idiots. I note that as its sorting through all the files for example, it also seems to be including the files on the new machine.
Im totally lost with this. Ive looked on the net but whilst there is alot of threads about Easy Transfer there isnt anything really which is a true tutorial and certainly not what to look for when transfer is complete. Please someone point me down the right path.

[philthomas]

I'm not sure what instructions you are using, but unless your old system was unbootable, it is not normally necessary to remove the HDD. Instead there are options in the various pieces of software to Export files/data .... and then similar options in Vista to Import them.

What advice were you following and from where ?

[jimmygreen]

yes the old hard drive crashed and I couldnt get it to recover using F8 at all, it just kept asking me to select XP and then "blank screen". So advice end of the year on this forum suggested the use of an external caddy.
As I indicated when I open up the old hard drive, vista and easy transfer are reading it and appear to be transferring all the files.
Under C drive in Vista, I now have an file called "from_old_computer" If I click on that it starts to go through the transfer regime again but this time asking for "keys". At that point, the whole machine just freezes and I have to reboot vista.
Also on Vista under C/ I also now have a file called migwiz and if I click on that it starts the transfer without the need for keys etc.
The migwiz file is around 30Mb in size which suggests somehow it has the files I want.
It is so frustrating and frankly absurd.

[philthomas]

Unfortunately Outlook Express dbx files, from XP, cannot be individually imported into Vista Windows Mail, you can only import dbx files from a folder created by doing a complete OE backup in XP.

You should be able to copy your Favorites from Internet Explorer easily though.

Navigate on the old drive to Documents & Settings/your username/Favourites. If you highlight all the items, right click and select copy, then navigate on the Vista drive to Users/your username/Favourites and right click and paste, that will copy them over.

Whilst looking on the old drive in Documents & Settings, you should be able to access and copy any files from My Documents, which includes My Pictures, My Music etc.

HTH

[jimmygreen]

thanks Phil
One other question. One of the programmes I really want to move across is my family tree programm. I have installed the FT software onto vista but how do I go about moving over the old file to the new machine? Or do I just copy the old programme file over and not bother with installing a new copy?
Thanks

[philthomas]

Depending what Family Tree program you are using, you will have to have a hunt around the old drive for the data file(s).

I use Family Tree Maker, which saves the files with a .ftw extension, so in this case we could just search the drive for .ftw files ... i.e *.ftw ...... or if no luck, look in Program Files and have a hunt for your Family Tree Program, open the folder and search for the file(s) there.

HTH

[jimmygreen]

Thanks Phil, I use the same programme. Sorry for being such a numpty but do I just copy the whole FTW folder and drop it over the newly installed virgin FTW program or what. Pledase xplain in as much detail as you can. I really appreciate it.
Thanks

[philthomas]

No ... not the folder, only the file(s) with extension .ftw

If yo cannot see the extensions of files, go to Control Pane//Folder Options, click on the View tab and scroll to Hide extensions for known file types and untick, then click Apply ..... you should then see the 3 letter extension on all files.

HTH

[jimmygreen]

Phil, I can only see a file with the extension FBC? dated around May 2007.
As Im now using Vista and trying to grapple with its complexities I cant see any way in control panel to seek out folder options etc.
any suggestions?

[philthomas]

In Vista, just go to Control Panel and there's an item called "Folder Options"

Having said that, if you can see the 3 letter extension, on all files. then there is no need.

If you click the Start Button, a box will appear at the bottom "Start Search" .... type in *.ftw and hit Enter. This will search your HDD' for any .ftw (Family Tree Maker data files).
Once located you can then copy & paste them to your desired drive/location.

[jimmygreen]

Phil
Thanks for all your help. Its all been sorted and everything working pretty much as before. One or two little things to resolve but I suspect that is more to do with Vista.

Anyway, thanks once again the help was very appreciated

[philthomas]

You're welcome ..... glad all is resolved

[philthomas]

Another thought :

Once you are happy that you have copied over all the files you need from your old drive, unless you intend refitting it to your old PC, you might like to consider formatting it and using it as a backup drive for all your personal data.

If you need help formatting it, post back again .... it's quite simple honest