Another computer Q

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:28 pm

Had a fright recently when the computer wouldn't 'wake up' after a period on inactivity. The whirring noises started OK but the monitor woul just blink on and off for a few minutes before restoring. As everything is on it and no back ups :roll: I panicked and bought a new computer.

The old one, is on XP and the new one is running Vista. Is there a way I can transfer the emails and other data to the new one? I've found the .wab files for contacts but need to find them on Vista.There's so many emails I'd like to keep it would be nice if they could be transferred. Also favourites, desktop files, that sort of thing.

BTW, the new one is just the base unit with keyboard & mouse, no monitor and have subsequently found the problem with the old one to be, the bloody monitor :roll:

ValoSunnyGti · Post by **ValoSunnyGti** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:32 pm

You could wack the old hard drive into the new one and run dual boot.

Easy job to do just takes a bit longer to boot it up.

kev@tga · Post by **kev@tga** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:42 pm

you should be able to get a data link cable and transfer the files over through that, stu or ben will know for sure i just bought an external hard drive and transfered all my files on to that then on the new pcs :-D

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:46 pm

Old drive is EIDE, the new one is SATA

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:51 pm

Can you just connect them together with a network cable? Trouble is, I have only one monitor. I'll try to borrow another monitor and give it a go.

Data transfer shouldn't be a problem as I can copy that on my new pen drive. It's all the email stuff I'm concerned about in Outlook Express.

If I imported it into Outlook, does that make a data file that's easy to find and can be copied?

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:01 pm

Just whipped the cover off the new one and it does have an IDE connector.

How about if I set my old HDD to slave and then stick it in the new one, will I be able to access programmes like OE from it. Maybe just give it a try and see.

Job for tomorrow evening.

TonyB · Post by **TonyB** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:26 pm

Gerry,

For outlook express, you will need the .wab (as you have found), and you also need the .dbx files. .dbx files are located here by default: -
C:\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\<something>\Microsoft\Outlook Express
To find go into OE, open Tools > Options > Maintenance tab and press 'Store Folder'

Most other files can be transferred very nicely using the 'file and settings transfer wizard', this is located on your start menu > Programs >Accessories > Systems Tools - Create a transfer file on your 'old PC', transfer it to your new PC, and run the transfer tool again with the 'New PC' option. This is kindly included in windows by Bill, and is a FOC tool made for this exact job

Bit clunky but gets there.

Now then; how to transfer the files?
a) If Network cards in both PC's then you can use a 'Cross Over Cat5 Ethernet cable'
b) Use a big enough external 'USB device'/Media to switch between the two.
c) After running the transfer wizard, saving the backup file on the old harddisk, move the disk to the new PC. This is possible with the correct hard disk priority set in the bios, and you may need to 'Authorise' the new disk in the vista control panel.

HTH

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:42 am

Thanks Tony, that sounds complicated enough to work.

:thumb:

I'll give it a go tonight.

Gerry H · Post by **Gerry H** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:00 am

Struggling a bit with the backing up of old files and settings as there seemed to be too much. Sorted that now but when the the wizard's finished it tells me to manually copy the ntuser.dat file.

Every time I try to copy the file I'm told it's in use by another programme. I've tried by starting in command prompt and using DOS but it still says it's in use. I've also tried as Administrator.

Any suggestions?

TonyB · Post by **TonyB** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 11:11 am

Not much point taking the NTuser.dat, for a home user moving to Vista from XP, IMO Gerry. This contains the user's windows configuration, among a few other things. As XP and Vista are so very different you may as well start a fresh with your customisations.

If you do want to take a copy of this file, use NT Backup, from 'Start>Programs>Accessories>Systems Tools,Backup'. NT Backup uses shadow copy to get round the fact that it is constently in use by Windows.

HTH

Tony