Windows 7 forum: Help me move my files and contacts from Win XP to my new Win 7 laptop

Suggest the new Laplink product made for that purpose.

I don't mean to preach but, having lost a lot, I printout my present listing and date it, so that you never lack for what it contains. All of that should be a part of your backup anyhow.

Had the same problem,Automatic updates should have given the option to install Windows Live Essentials,if not then just type it into your search box,and you should see the download screen for this application,you can download all the options if you wish,messenger is part of the installation,and when installed you can set up your windows live email address.nd also use this to sign in to messenger.
And for lots more free downloads go to cnet.Whatever you do,don't get rid of XP,because after you have had W7 for a while you will see that it is far better than W7.

I agree with you about getting him to do the file transfers for me...except he really isn't as smart as he thinks. He is also a little condescending...types too fast and zips over important steps so I'm a little off kilter. I really want to understand this process for my myself and to reach that loft goal I'm studying all the great replies I've gotten here. Amazing how generous people are with their time and knowledge. I have a good idea now of where I'm headed.
Thank you so much for responding.
Kathie

You are right about W7, it's very pretty to look at,but it's like having a Rolls Royce with a VW engine,it's useless.

i think i can speak freely on this..xp is the best operating program ever . the eu union was pissed that they couldn't come up with anything that rivaled xp. so bill gates lost and gave them vista..touche..now windows7 is a downgrade to xp and you all should know that already. hope you never bought a comp with vista becuase it is now a paperweight.

Outlook Express is now called Windows Mail. Windows Live Mail is different.

MReed58

I was told (yes by the son that set up the new system) that I couldn't intall OE on the new computer. Something about different operating systems. Seems he was wrong...imagine! I got along really well with OE and miss it. I know it shows my age, but once I learn once system it's very difficult for me to switch. Thank you so much. I will be investigating this right away.

Hi Kathie - I take the techno-ignorant method to transfer files from my desktop to my laptop. I use a pen drive, copy and transfer the files from one to another.
Time consuming but does have the advantage of having the program stored on the pen drive.

Install Mozilla Thunderbird and use Thunderbird as your mail program.

I've been playing with Live Messenger, and Thunderbird works better.

First, what you want is Windows Live Mail, not Messenger. Messenger is a program primarily centered on instant messaging although it can retrieve mail if you have a windows live account (such as @hotmail.com, etc.)

Install it at http://download.live.com/

When it opens, use the same settings as you would put into outlook express. (for comcast, use the same settings at http://customer.comcast.com/Pages/FAQViewer.aspx?seoid=Configuring-or-setting-up-Outlook-Express-for-email&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

If your server does not require "secure password authentication" like comcast's, use "log on using clear text authentication". Otherwise everything should be exactly the same.

To export contacts in Outlook express, use: http://www.freeemailtutorials.com/outlookExpress/backupOutlookExpress/backupAddressBookContacts.cwd

To import the contact file, use this: http://www.freeemailtutorials.com/windowsLiveMail/addressBooksAndContacts/importContacts.htm

Just click on contacts on the left side and then hit alt to get to the file menu. From there you can import any kind of contact file you should need to. Note that you can do a similar process to transfer your messages into windows live mail.

Hope this helped. Enjoy your new computer!

Migration is the "Gotcha!" of getting a new system.

This is a very complex topic and the answers are different for each category of thing that you want to move.

Moving things like pictures is easy. Just copy the files from the old computer to the new computer. But you have to understand enough about your disk drive organization and how Windows saves files to know where to find them on the old computer and where to put them on the new computer (if you don't ... get help from someone who does; there is no easy way around this). The actual movment is easy, you can use a network (both old and new computers running simultaneously, on the network and sharing files), or any kind of USB storage device (external hard drive, USB flash drive, etc.). To use a flash drive, copy the files from the old computer to the flash drive, take the flash drive to the new computer and copy them from the flash drive to the new computer (again, the real trick is knowing where to copy them from and to). Most photographs are stored as JPEG (.JPG) files. SUGGESTION: Burn your photos to a CD or DVD (sorry, you still have to know where they are), use the CD or DVD to move them to the new computer, but then keep the discs you made as a backup. Do not use "RW" (eraseable) media; use permanent, one-time media.

E-Mail: Personally, I think MS screwed up by not providing a native E-Mail client with Windows 7. One option: Try Thunderbird (free), install it on both the old and new computer. On the old computer, have it import everything from Outlook Express (which will remain installed and which can co-exist with Thunderbird). Then copy the "profile" from Thunderbird on the old computer to Thunderbird on the new computer (there are articles on how to work with Thunderbird profiles at Mozilla.org, the authors of Thunderbird. But it's going to seem complex to non-technical users).

Another solution, better, I think, but not free, is to install full version outlook (not Outlook Express, but Outlook) on both computers, migrate your outlook express stuff into outlook on the XP computer, then copy the ".PST" file (one file which will have everything) onto outlook on the new computer. [This, too, is kind of complex; an "IT Guy" would know how to do it, but it's beyond most users.] However the real problem is that Outlook is expensive, it is part of Office and, unfortunately, it is not part of "Home" edition of office. The least expensive way to get it is to find a copy of the 2003 "Students and Teachers" edition of Office, which does have Outlook in it. But they are hard to find (try E-Bay).

As for your recepies, you will have to [re]install the program you were using on the new computer, then find and move the data files (may be easy, nearly impossible or anything in between).

There are some migration programs, most of which don't even claim to be able to move programs but which can sometimes or often move data between a program that is installed on BOTH computers. In that case, the answer is to install the same program(s) on both computers and let the migration programs move the data. Windows 7 itself comes with a migration program, Windows Easy Transfer. There is a tutorial here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

[Note: this tutorial is for an upgrade, not a migration. That is not what you are doing. But the concept is largely the same. Perform "Step 2" to move your "stuff" from the XP machine to some intermediate "media", and then step 4 to move the "stuff" from the intermediate media to the Windows 7 machine.]

Again, however, it only moves DATA; not programs. So the key is to install all of the relevant programs (that you already have on your XP machine, with the possible exception of Outlook (full version) or Thunderbird) on the Windows 7 machine first, then use this tool to move the data from XP to Windows 7. A ***FEW*** of the commercial programs claim to move programs themselves as well as data, however such claims should be taken with a large grain of salt. [The best such program, Eisenworld's oddly named "Aloha Bob's PC Relocator", was bought by Microsoft and is no longer available.]

I hope that this helps. This is a complex subject and I've only touched the surface of it. You might want to seek professional assistance to get things moved and configured on the Win7 machine as they were on the XP machine (it IS possible).

Click on Start button.
Click on Run...
Run window will open. It may have "cmd" already typed.
If not then just type "cmd" and click "OK" button.
DOS window will display. If it is not at "C:" prompt then
Type in "c:" then press Enter.
Type in "CD c:\" then press Enter. (This is to ensure that you are at root directory.
Then type "dir /s >> myFiles.txt" and then press Enter.
The list of all the directories and files they contain will be generated and stored in the file named above as "myFiles.txt" no you can use any editor(Word etc) to open this file.

You may replace the file name "myFiles.txt" with any valid name of your choosing.

Good luck.

Forgive me for being numb today! I'm not a real teckie.
Install Firefox and Thunderbird on both computers and have them import the MicroSoft data.? How is this done? Please stet by step.
Thanks
BC

One way that works for me: I took the old hd out of the old 'puter, bought a hard drive dock from Aluratek, stuck the old hd into that dock and plugged the dock into the new 'puter. Now I can treat the old hd just like any external drive. You can get the dock from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/2-5IN-3-5IN-External-Docking-Enclosure/dp/B001BLWPUU/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_3