Move windows 8 to another drive. Subtleties of data transfer that Windows help is silent about. Figure: Selecting data transfer method
Transfer Tool Windows data Supports multiple methods for transferring files and settings.
Windows Easy Transfer allows you to transfer information to a computer running Windows control 8, from other computers running one of the following operating systems:
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Service Pack 3 (SP3)
Note.Windows Easy Transfer does not allow you to transfer files from 64-bit to 32-bit Windows. Instead, you need to transfer files manually using external devices data storage. To determine which version of Windows is installed on your computer, see the support document Which version of Windows is installed on my computer, 32-bit or 64-bit.
Step 1: Determine the best method for transferring information
When transferring files between computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, choose a method that is supported by both computers. Windows Data Transfer supports the following transfer methods:
Net. Both computers must be connected to a common wired or wireless network. In addition, both computers must have access to shared files and folders.
Using flash USB storage device or external hard disk. To use a USB flash drive, each computer must have an available USB port. If an external hard drive is used, it must be compatible with both computers.
Data cable. You will need a special USB cable, designed to work in Windows environment 8 and compatible with Windows Easy Transfer. Additionally, every computer must have an accessible USB port. If your computer was shipped without a data cable, you can order one online or purchase one from an electronics store. The data transfer cable is supported on computers running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Note.You cannot use a standard USB cable to transfer files and settings from one computer to another.
To determine which method to use, evaluate the amount of information being transferred. If all the information of all computer users, or all account files, is transferred, then this requires a data transfer cable, an external hard drive, or network access. If you only need to transfer files or folders, a USB flash drive is sufficient.
Step 2: Open Windows Easy Transfer on your new Windows 8.1 PC
To run Windows Easy Transfer, follow these steps: on a new computer running Windows 8. You must be logged in with an administrator account.
Note.Before you follow these steps, disconnect both computers from the Internet and temporarily block any running firewalls.
In the window Select how you want to transfer items to new computer select a method for transferring elements.
Data cable. A special, separately purchased USB cable for transferring files from one computer to another. You cannot use a regular USB cable to transfer files using Windows Easy Transfer.
Net. Transfer files over the network.
External hard USB disk or flash drive. Use storage space on an external hard drive or USB flash drive.
Rice. : Selecting the data transfer method
In the window Should I install Windows Easy Transfer on my old computer? Choose whether to install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer.
If your old computer is running Windows XP or Windows Vista, select My old computer runs under Windows XP or Windows Vista. Continue to the next step.
If you already have Windows Easy Transfer installed on your old computer, click It is already installed on your old computer. Skip this section and go to .
If your old computer is running Windows 8 or Windows 7, select Old computer running Windows 7 or 8. Skip this section and go to Collecting files and settings on your old computer.
Rice. : Select one of the operating system options for Windows Easy Transfer
Follow the onscreen instructions for the method you are using.
Browse to the folder on your external hard drive, network, or USB flash drive where you will save the files you are transferring using Windows Easy Transfer, and then click OK.
Rice. : View the folder to transfer files
Windows Easy Transfer will copy the files and display a progress bar on the screen.
Once Windows Easy Transfer has completed copying your files, a window will open with instructions on how to install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer.
Note.
Rice. : Install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer
If used external drive or USB flash drive, remove it from the slot on the computer.
From the Start screen, enter carry to open the Search charm, then select from the list of search results Windows Easy Transfer.
Rice. : Select Windows Easy Transfer
On the Welcome screen, click Next.
Rice. : Windows Easy Transfer welcome screen
Rice. : Determine which computer is being used
On the screen Choose how to install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer select locations to save transfer tool files Windows files for installation on an old computer. If you are using an external hard drive or USB flash drive, connect the external hard drive or USB flash drive to your new computer, then select the option you want.
Rice. : Select a method to install Windows Easy Transfer
Step 3: Install Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer (Windows XP and Vista only)
If your old computer has Windows 8 or Windows 7, skip this section and go to Collecting files and settings on your old computer.
Complete these steps on an old computer to install Windows Easy Transfer from an external hard drive, network drive, or USB drive.
If you are using a USB storage device or external drive, connect it to your computer.
IN Windows Explorer Browse to an external hard drive, network drive, or USB storage device.
Double click the external hard drive, network drive or USB storage device.
Once the installation is complete, proceed to the next step.
Step 4. Collecting files and settings from the old computer
Once you've completed installing Windows Easy Transfer on your old computer (optional if your old computer is running Windows 8 or 7), follow these steps: on an old computer to collect files and settings to transfer to a new computer.
Step 5: Transfer files and settings to the new computer
Follow these steps to transfer files and settings to your Windows 8.1 computer.
Connect the data cable to both computers.
Connect a USB flash drive or external hard drive to your new computer.
From the new computer, go to network folder, in which the transferred file was saved.
Do one of the following, depending on your file transfer method and settings:
The Data Migration Tool is a simple tool, but knowing a few of the intricacies of how it works will save you from bitter disappointment. My tips will help you save and restore your data, avoiding all the pitfalls.
To avoid problems, you need to ask yourself four simple questions:
- what needs to be transferred
- will all this be saved?
- how to transfer something that is not saved automatically
- Is it possible to restore everything to new system
And then you will not have questions that Herzen and Chernyshevsky asked in their time. However, I will also try to answer them.
Today on the program
A note about Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Unfortunately, in Windows 8.1 The data transfer tool does not have the ability to save files and settings. It can only restore them. This is probably due to the OneDrive integration in operating system, as well as a wide range of synchronized parameters. Unfortunately, cloud synchronization does not allow you to transfer rows custom settings and program parameters.
IN Windows 10 There is no means of data transfer at all. Alternative - console utility USMT, part of ADK. It is quite simple, and the issue can be solved by studying a couple of its parameters.
What data is saved automatically
Microsoft has provided automatic saving all your settings and data, as well as files stored in your profile.
Standard libraries. If these libraries include folders located outside the system partition, they are also saved.
All user environment settings, including Explorer options, folder view, desktop, taskbar, and Start menu, including all icons pinned to them.
In addition, under the “Windows Settings” item, the following data from the AppData folder is included in the migration file:
- stored passwords managed by Credential Manager
- network connection settings
- all personal data from Internet Explorer(including log, passwords, cookies, etc.), as well as RSS feeds
- options Windows Media Player, mail and speech recognition
- saved themes
This list is not obvious from GUI when saving the migration file, but you can check my statements with some ingenuity. For particularly inquisitive readers, I invite you to tell us in the comments how to do this :)
Files and documents not included in standard libraries, namely:
- all other libraries with their contents
- desktop, downloads and contacts
- folders you created in the profile root
- Internet Explorer favorites
Along with general data from the %public% folder, all folders located at the root of all internal drives are automatically saved. The exceptions are:
- Windows and Program Files
- backups in the WindowsImageBackup folder
- hidden and system folders
So, the list of saved data looks impressive, and you don’t have to worry that all your settings will be transferred. But there is one important point, ignorance of which can blur the impression of this wonderful remedy.
How to transfer program settings
I have seen several complaints on the forum that the data migration tool “does not transfer everything.” If you dig a little deeper, it turns out that program parameters are lost.
All in your hands
Meanwhile, the program report, which is displayed after all settings are restored, reports that the transfer was successful.
In this case we are dealing with two sides of the coin. On the one hand, Data Transfer Tool does save program settings, but only those stored in the user registry key (HKCU). If the program stores your preferences in the registry, they will be transferred.
On the other hand, many truly necessary parameters remain behind the scenes. That's why you need to include program settings in the migration file yourself that you want to transfer.
AppData folder
At the root of your profile there is a folder AppData intended for storing program data. For example, Opera browser is installed in Program Files, but your profile is stored in the AppData\Roaming\Opera folder. A Google Chrome is installed entirely in AppData\Local\Google.
The situation is aggravated by the fact that after clicking the link Additionally, you may not see the AppData folder in Data Transfer Explorer.
If this happens, turn on show hidden files and folders in Explorer and click the link again.
As you can see in the picture below, the folders Roaming And Local marked with a blue flag. It means that only some subfolders are selected inside. You can verify for yourself that in fact only virtual storage and IE parameters are selected.
I have highlighted the folders of several of my programs in yellow. Moreover, if you do not know the exact location of the data you need, it makes sense to save program folders from both locations - Local and Roaming.
Why hasn't Microsoft made it standard to transfer program settings? Most likely, due to considerations of the size of the migration file.
My AppData folder takes up more than 2 GB, although there are not many programs installed. But I have seen applications that single-handedly eat up more than a gigabyte of disk space!
By the way, this problem does not arise when reinstalling a system over an existing one, since the entire profile is copied. And I think that the Roaming folder should be included in the migration file by default.
Program Files folder
Old or poorly configured programs can store data in their own folders. If such a program is installed in the Program Files folder, then when UAC is enabled, data is redirected to virtual storage. And it is saved automatically, as I said above.
If you have User Account Control disabled, the volume self made When migrating data, it just increased.
Working in Windows 7 “like in XP”, i.e. under administrator and with UAC disabled, you allow programs to write settings to their folder (for example, to an INI file). You will need to transfer data from such programs manually.
In what cases does the data transfer tool not help?
There are a couple more pitfalls, knowledge of which will save you from disappointment.
You will not be able to transfer files and data from:
- 64-bit Windows to 32-bit
- one language version to another
And if the first point is more or less obvious and is even described in the certificate, then the second one comes as a surprise. Moreover, an error when running a migration file in a different language version of Windows does not at all suggest regional problems. It sounds like this: The file does not contain data available for transfer.
Extracting data from a migration file using the migrecover utility
Let's say your migration file is located at D:\MySettings.MIG
- Download the utility migrecover for Windows 7 / USMT 4.0 or Windows Vista / USMT 3.0
- Unzip the archive to your desktop.
- At the command line, run set mr=%userprofile%\desktop\migrecover %mr%\migrecover.exe D:\MySettings.MIG %mr%\recovered
If the file was not damaged, you will find your data in the folder recovered.
Armed with this information, you can easily save all the necessary files and settings, and then restore them on the new system. If you have any questions about the material presented, ask them in the comments. If you know any other subtleties of how the data transfer tool works, please report them and I will add to the article.
On all or almost all resources on which I saw this question asked, the answer was almost unchanged: “impossible.” Actually this is not true.
For reference:
the file Swapfile.sys is located in the root of the boot (system) windows partition and has the attribute “hidden”, which is why it is not noticeable to the naked eye. It has a size of 256MB. Its appearance is directly related to the so-called metro applications introduced in Windows 8.0.
Due to technical reasons, MS was unable to use one pagefile.sys file for both classic and new type of applications and remembered the good old name, familiar to all elders from the times when windows required megabytes of memory, not gigabytes (yes, yes , such a time was).
Unlike the page file, in windows interface There are no tools provided to control the location of the reincarnated container.
The reasons for moving the swapfile.sys file are almost the same as for its relative pagefile.sys:
- the presence of a faster partition than the one where the system is currently installed
- attempt to maximize free space on system disk e
- centralized storage of all waste material on a separate section
How to do it? Easy, yesinstructions in English . For those who are not strong in angelic, I will try to briefly explain the essence of the actions.
Stage I : You need to disable the paging file on ALL windows partitions.
Do not forget to confirm each action in this window by clicking the Set button for each disk where we disable FP. The checkbox “Automatically select paging file size” should be unchecked.
Stage II : as an administrator, launch the command line and execute the command
mklink c:\\swapfile.sys k:\\swapfile.sys
where k: is the letter of the destination partition where the file will be located. The point is that we replace the original with a link to it - physically it will be located on the specified disk, but the system will be sure that the location of the file is unchanged. The link will be located on the system disk and will not take up disk space.
For reference:
The easiest way to find the command line in the desired form is by pressing the Win+X key combination, select “Command Prompt (Administrator)” from the menu, and confirm the action if necessary.
Stage III : enable the swap file, placing it anywhere.
Regardless of the location of the pagefile.sys swap file, the swapfile.sys file will be created where we told it to be - in our case on drive K:
At one time I did a similar operation myself, for the transfer I used the capabilities of the Total Commander plugin - ntfslink, from the PE environment. It works both ways.
In this article we will talk about the procedure for migrating settings and user data from a system running Windows 7 to a new computer running Windows 8. And although the article is written on Windows 8 Consumer Preview, there is every reason to believe that after the final release of Windows 8 the data transfer procedure There will be no changes from Windows 7 to Windows 8.
Let's start by launching the Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows 7 by typing in the search engine Windows window Easy Transfer. Windows Easy Transfer is a native Windows 7 utility that allows you to transfer files, system settings and user settings from one computer to another. It is a simple wizard that allows you to select the files and settings that need to be transferred and transfer the specified data to another PC. The entire procedure for transferring information from Windows 7 to Windows 8 can be divided into two stages: in the first stage, downloading and saving Windows settings 7 on external media; in the second stage, the saved settings are imported to a computer with Windows 8.
We save files and settings on an external hard drive
After starting the Transfer Wizard, click Next and select a method to transfer data to another PC. The first two methods assume a connection between two PCs, but we want to first save the transferred data to an external drive, and then connect this disk to a new computer. Therefore, select the option: An external hard disk or USB flash drive (External hard drive or USB flash drive).
Next, you will see a list of all the profiles and shares stored on this computer that need to be migrated. By default, standard directories are selected, and if you want to specify additional folders and files, you must click the Customize and Advanced button.
In the simple file browser window that appears, you need to select additional directories (or entire disks) that need to be migrated.
The Window 7 Easy Transfer wizard saves all settings and data as a file with the MIG extension. In addition, on this file You can set a password to protect it from third parties. By clicking the Save button, the wizard will ask you to select the external drive to which you want to save the data. Please note that the external drive must be formatted in file system NTFS, because The FAT-32 file system can store files up to 4GB in size (and in most cases the archive will be larger than this value).
Once the directory has been specified, the data and settings will begin to be copied into the migration file. This process usually takes a long time, depending on the size of the data being copied and the access speed of the internal and external drives.
After the copying procedure is completed, you can extract HDD and connect it to a computer running Windows 8.
Transferring settings and data to a new PC running Windows 8
After we have saved the settings and information from the old computer using the Data Transfer Wizard, it is time to deploy them to the new one. As in previous versions Windows OS, Windows 8 has a utility for transferring data from one PC to another, it is called Easy File Transfer. Using it, we will expand all the information from the archived MIG file to its original location on the computer disk.
Open a search engine Windows menu Search and enter easy transfer in the search bar and select Apps.
In the Data Transfer Wizard window, select An external hard disk or USB flash drive.
Then we indicate that this is a new computer (This is my new computer).
Click the Transfer button, after which the transfer of information and user settings (including accounts, themes, etc.) will begin.
After the process of restoring files and data on the new PC is completed, you will be able to view a list of files transferred during the migration process, as well as a list of applications that need to be installed.
By clicking the See what was transferred button, we will open the work report Windows utilities Easy Transfer, displaying a list of accounts, documents, and system/software settings that have been transferred.
On the Program report tab you will be able to see a list of applications that were previously installed on the old PC and which will need to be additionally installed on the new one.
Many people have probably wondered how to transfer Windows OS to a computer from another computer whose hardware is radically different from the hardware of the old computer.
An example is given for Windows migration 8, and the same thing can be done with others Windows versions starting from Windows 7.
And so, we will transfer using a utility from Microsoft called sysprep.
This utility allows you to create a customized Windows image along with installed programs, which can then be deployed on another computer, preferably with a similar architecture, but very often I had to deploy such an image on a computer with completely different components and everything went well. Yes, and in our situation, although motherboards were different manufacturers, but the processors were both from INTEL.
After the system is successfully deployed on another machine, you will only need to enter the activation key (that is, as during a normal system installation), otherwise Windows 8 will install, but will only work for 30 days. If activation fails, activate Windows 8 by phone, see the link to our article above.
Extensive information about sysprep utility is on the official Microsoft website, of course.
Let's launch command line on behalf of administrator
and enter the command:
A window opens in which you can see the limit on the number of Windows transfers to other computers. In our case, 1000.
Then enter the command
C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe
In the window that appears with parameters, set everything as in the screenshot and click OK.
- Transferring the system to OOBE mode - the operating system transfer mode is activated the next time the system starts.
- Preparation for use - all data that should not be copied along with the image (security identifiers (SIDs), activation information, etc. will be removed from the system, but the installed software should transfer without problems.
Windows 8 takes a few minutes to prepare for transfer to my friend's computer. The computer turns off. Let's dismantle from mine system unit hard drive and put it in its rightful place in my friend’s system unit. We disconnect my friend’s computer from the Internet (why is written below). We connect the cables and turn on his computer, everything is ready for transfer.
And so, if you now back up the prepared one like this Windows image 8 in the Acronis True Image program or the Paragon program and save this image on DVDs or a portable USB hard drive, then you can successfully deploy this image to other computers, you can do without Acronis programs, use the Dism or ImageX tools built into the operating system, (the only thing you will need to do after installation is enter the system license key, or Windows will only work for 30 days and will ask for activation (everything is fair).
We turn on the computer; boot priority from the hard drive should be set in the BIOS. Immediately after switching on, the devices are prepared.
You can activate Windows 8 after installation, click Next.
We accept the license agreement. Computer name.
Attention here friends! Microsoft itself advises that in order to avoid a conflict when transferring a system in this place, be sure to disconnect your computer from the Internet, and assign a new name to your computer, and also create a new user. Then, during the transfer, you will retain the old profile with all installed programs and some settings. If you remember, when new installation Windows 8 we named our computer Makar-PK,
and created account Makar-77
select a different name now, such as Fedot-PK. As a result, after migrating Windows 8, you will have two user profiles. The old Makar-77 profile with all programs and the Fedot-77 profile will be saved - it turns out to be temporary and is only needed to transfer Windows 8. Click Next.
Use standard settings.
Select Sign in without a Microsoft account (if you previously signed in to your Windows 8 at Email, then you cannot enter it here, again, to avoid a conflict when transferring the system, and so that your old Makar-77 profile is not overwritten).
Create a new user, that is, an additional local account different from the one that already exists in this system. For example, before transferring Windows 8, you logged in to the system under the Makar-77 account, now in this window create a Username Fedot-77, then assign a password with confirmation and a hint. Ready.
Well, it's finally happening Windows boot 8. Naturally, the system is not activated until the Internet is connected, if you do not know how to activate if you have a license key, read our article “How to activate Windows 8.”
We logged into the Fedot-77 account we had just created,
there is not a single program here, an empty desktop, that is, a clean profile,
but I installed the programs and they didn’t go anywhere. Select the Makar-77 account
and we find ourselves in the configured operating system, where almost all the programs I installed run.
Go to computer properties. We see all the information about the “new” components of the system unit.
