Vista files and settings transfer stuff up - be careful!

[Clunk]

So, this week, I split my RAID up, which had an XP 32 partition and a Vista x64 partition.

As I was splitting it up, I backed up everything up and then I remembered about the files and settings transfer thing, so though I would give it a go.

I couldn't remember the name of the program, so I typed "files and settings" into the search box in Vista and it brought up "files and settings transfer wizard"....I could have sworn it was called something else on vista, but nothing else came up, so I opened it and ran it, saved my files and settings and then got on with dismantling the RAID setup.

So, a couple of days pass, and I decide to run the "files and setting transfer wizard" on my Vista x86 laptop.

I typed "files and settings" into the vista search again and nothing came up at all. I tried "files & settings", "files and settings wizard" etc, etc, and nothing.

I had a quick Google and couldn't find any mention of "files and settings transfer wizard" in Vista, but lots of mention of "Windows Easy Transfer wizard", which with hindsight, was the name I was trying to remember earlier.

So, I ran the "Windows Easy Transfer wizard" - and followed the step by step instructions and ended up at the same point each time where it was telling me to install the Windows Easy Transfer wizard" on the old PC -

So, as I can't go back and install "Windows Easy Transfer wizard" on the old PC because it was on a now disbanded RAID setup, I'm pretty stuffed.

It appears as if originally, the Vista x64 search had searched the XP 32 partition and found the XP transfer wizard thing, and let it run under Vista, something which I find a little bit odd, especially as it looked and behaved just like as if it was part of Vista.

No harm done, because I have a full Acronis backup (assuming it works ).

Anyway - the moral of the story is that if you have a dual boot XP/Vista x64 setup, to make sure that you don't use the wrong program to transfer your files

[godsdog]

It's people like you who climb Ben Nevis in your underpants and flip-flops in winter.

[Clunk]

A thong for Europe.

[godsdog]

drive imaging allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll the way.

[Clunk]

I have the acronis image still, but I just wanted to transfer a few bits and bobs to the laptop - The image isn't going to work on the laptop anyway.

Ah well

[godsdog]

Actually, thinking about it, I've had FAST type things fail on me before now, where large chunks of stuff went missing.

[MOFO-64]

I got burned with "backup" apps a few years back and now do all backups manually on either secondary hard drives or dvd-rw.

Never personally used the files and transfer wizard (whatever it's called) in either Xp or Vista...just aswell knowin' my luck

[godsdog]

To be fair the files and settings transfer wizards are pretty good on the whole in xp / vista, i've only ever had 3 or 4 partial failures in xp (only used the vista one 3 times and that was straight forward enough).

[Clunk]

Well, in this instance, it is half my fault for not remembering the name of the program and half microsoft's fault for allowing the XP version to run from another partition while in Vista.

I've also remembered that the Vista easy transfer thing doesn't back up emails, or at least it didn't do, last time I tried it.

Luckily, I exported them before I started

[godsdog]

did you manage to keep lucy clarkson's addy? I think you should give her another chance, she seemed nice