Replies

Joe:

I finally determined how to register and post to a Microsoft support forum. That is by far the most difficult registration process I have ever seen for a forum. You would think I was trying to access some secret Microsoft data!

Anyway, I pointed out the conflict between two Microsoft documents regarding Easy Transfer–whether to transfer the data from the old to the new Computer using Easy Transfer 1st, or to install the programs 1st, and then transfer the data using Easy Transfer.

I received an answer from a Microsoft support engineer, who said the following:

“Install the programs first in the new Computer which you had already in the old Computer. However, make sure that the software which you were using in previous version of Windows are compatible with Windows 7.

Once the programs are installed, then running the Windows Easy Transfer should transfer the settings and files of those programs. This is the best way to use the Windows Easy Transfer. ”

Is this really correct? I’ll find out! (I plan to create an Image backup both before and after I install the programs, in case there is a problem.)

And thanks for all your help on setting up my new Win 7 desktop–which is being built now.

Harry

Jean:

I am sure I am more ‘senior’ than you are!

Thanks for that link to the password. I did not even know that already I had one assigned to me. Apparently that password is necessary to connect other computers running Windows 7 to their homegroup. Since the other computers on my network are XP, this has never been an issue. Will be interesting to see what happens when I add my new Window 7 desktop.

You said: “…go to Users and find out who I am and my name as given to Windows.” Windows has a Full Name (the one you see when you go to Control Panel->Users). Also has a Name (which is what you see when you open Explorer, and view what is listed under C:Users). Which is required for the above password?

Harry

Hello, Harry. You wrote : I am asked for a User Name and Password for my Network.

Do not be hurt by this question, did you go into Control Panel -> Network and then Join ? Jean.

I’m never hurt by questions. I have a network named ‘ABCD’ and the above page shows me as being ‘joined’ to HomeGroup. I tried entering my User Name, or my Network Name, or my Workgroup name, etc. Unless I entered something in Password, I could not proceed.

I don’t plan to set up another password just for this, so will forget about M’soft’s Backup and Restore, and go back to EaseUStodo, which does not ask for a name or password. I was trying to save installing another program when Windows has one built in that would do the job.

Can you leave both fields blank or just the name filled in and save it?

I just tried that tonight. Sadly, leaving either both, or just password blank does not allow you to move forward.

Harry

Zig:

Good suggestion, but that was not it.

‘Hide Protected operating system files’ was already unchecked, and ‘Show hidden files and folders’ was already checked.

Harry

Just thought of a way you might be able to find it though; create a dummy cursor scheme and save it under a unique name like “thesearenotthedroids,” then search and find that folder.

Great suggestion. I just tried it, but unfortunately no such file can be found. So it must not be a file.

Harry

Bruce:

You said: ‘It is now: Is XP Mode — or any virtual XP PC — safe to use?’

Thanks for the heads up. I had not opened the April 3 issue until I got your note. There are some good links in Fred’s article.

Harry

For DOS under Windows 7 (32 or 64) use DOSBox.com application DOSBox
Allows windowed mode and access to DOS files under Windows Explorer.
Caveat: Direct serial port calls are blocked by the operating system. Otherwist the programs will all operate normally.
Dump XP mode and use DOSBox instead.

I have some friends who use/used DOSBox with a DOS financial program that they & I use. There were some program featues that did not work under DOSBox, plus they all complained that it was VERY slow. None of them use it anymore. That is why I did not evaluate it. Perhaps for your applications, these issues do not exist.

Harry

Rui & F.U.N.:

Thanks for the good advice.

I think once I get XP Mode set up on my new computer, and install all the past M’soft Security fixes (for which I need IE), I’ll then delete IE. Then there can be no accidental mistakes. Leaving the Ethernet network connected (but not the wireless) will help if I need to move additional files for these old programs.

Harry

Since it is a VM and you do not need Internet access for that VM, just disable or do not enable network access. Then the only way it is vulnerable is by the same means you have, hands on in person.

I looked at my XP Mode, and currently it has access to both my Ethernet and wireless networks. Are you saying just remove those options? Will I still be able to access the hard drives on the Win 7 computer that XP Mode is installed on?

Internet Explorer is the only browser installed in XP Mode. Can I just change it’s settings or uninstall it in some way, and keep my network access?

Just looking for the best alternative.

Harry

Joe:

Thanks again for all the tips and advice. Hopefully when I get my new computer and use Easy Transfer I’ll get though it fairly painlessly. If not, I know who to contact.

Harry

You need the programs installed with an account which is a member of the adminstrators group.

Joe

Sorry to be so dense on this. Obviously the programs have to be installed before I can use Easy Transfer to transfer the program settings.

So you are saying that the programs should be installed using the dummy account, which must have administrative rights. Is that correct?

Then I would follow step #6 in post #10 to transfer my files and program settings.
Then I would give my ‘HMW’ account administrative rights.
Once everything seemed in order, then I would delete the dummy account.

Is that the correct order of things?

Incidentally, I don’t use any password protection, since I am the only user of these computers.

Harry

Joe:

Thanks for the advice. That is what I will do.

One related question: I assume I would install all my programs on the new computer when the dummy account is active (i.e., before I follow step #6 in post #10)?

Harry

Joe:

WOW! What a rapid response. And thanks for the info on what is in ‘Windows Settings’.

You said:
5.) The user name you see in Windows is just a value associated with an internal code. The internal code will be different from machine to machine. The user name can be the same on any number of machines. It is the internal code which Windows and in this case Easy Transfer uses to match users when you let it work automatically.

Then what do I (or the builder) need to do to make sure on my new Win 7 desktop that Easy Transfer transfers files to the HMW User name, and not another User name like Valued Client? And can I test this on my current Win 7 laptop?

Harry

Joe:

Thanks so much for your recommendation to run some trials 1st. Since I also have a Win 7 PRO (64) laptop, I used it as the ‘new’ computer. I selected a few folders from different portions of my C: drive to test. Here is what I found, as well as a few questions for you relative to #5, #6 and #7:

1. I tested by using a USB drive rather than the other transfer options. This helps assure that no mistake is made in transferring something I did not want.
2. Contrary to some of Microsoft’s statements, it does not seem to matter whether you start with the ‘old’ computer (i.e., XP) or the ‘new’ one (i.e., Win 7). The XP assumes it is the old computer. Win 7 gives you the choice to choose.
3. I found the safest way to start on the ‘Choose what to transfer from this computer’ screen, was to UNCHECK both the User(s) and the Shared Items folders. Then click Custom under a User folder, and either check the primary subfolders you want on the dropdown, or click ‘Advanced’ at the bottom, and go through and select folder by folder. This way assures you do not get items transferred by forgetting to uncheck a folder.
4. Data files stored in any place other than ‘User’ files (i.e., in C: or in Program Files) transfer to the exact same location and subfolder on Win 7 as on the XP. [data in ‘Program Files’ go to ‘Program Files (x86)’.]
5. Files in my ‘Documents and SettingsHMW’ (which is buried in several subfolders) transferred to the Win 7 default ‘UserValued Client’, even though I have a ‘HMW’ user on Win 7, and ‘HMW’ is automatically selected as the ‘User account on the new computer’ on the Advanced Options->Map user accounts screen. Any idea why this happens?
6. If I instead chose ‘Custom Install’ under the ‘User account on the new computer’ dropdown on the ‘Map user accounts’ screen and created a new User, then the files were installed correctly in this new User folder. However, lots of what appeared to be dummy folders (such as Pictures, Video, etc.) were also created, which I had to manually delete. Is there some way I can have only those folders created that I specified in the transfer?
7. Do you know what is included in ‘Windows Settings’ option on the dropdown?
8. I have not tested ‘Program Settings’, and don’t plan to until after I install the programs on Win 7.
9. This did an excellent job of creating a Program report of all the programs it found on my XP. I plan to go through and see what it missed, and also use this to eliminate some no longer used programs, as you suggested.
10. This is going to be a VERY long process. I have lots of files and programs.
11. I may leave not only programs that won’t run on Win 7, but also ones like past editions of tax programs, etc. on my XP. These are programs that do not require access to the internet.
12. I will have my new PC built with the same initial User name (HMW) as I have on my XP. That should make this transfer work so much better. For some reason my Win 7 always defaults to ‘Valued Client’ User name which the builder installed, and I cannot figure out why.
13. I want to repeat a couple of these USB tests when I get my new Windows 7 desktop, before I go through the complete process. Depending on what I find, I will probably use my Network to accomplish the transfer.

Again, thanks so much for your advice and patience.

Harry