Windows 7 : Easy Transfer Files

[spacedad]

hi,
i've finally bought a new machine with win7 64bit,and i'm not sure where to start.
i've just been reading about windows easy transfer,but people seem to give mixed reviews..
http://www.technospot.net/blogs/windows ... -settings/
is this special cable any good?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Easy-Tra ... roduct_top
or can it be done another way.
my problem is i've good hundreds of vst/apps/half-finished songs/samples/hosts/video etc which i'm sure is gonna give me trouble if i manage to copy them across.

what method have other people used to migrate?
i'm going from winXP 32bit to win7 64.

[C00kie]

I'm not sure weather EasyTransfer lets you access an XP machine.

Easiest imho is to plug the old drive into the new machine. Or get a small-ish external drive.

[smd12]

you can use the migrate tool from xp to win7 what's good about the migrate tool it transfers users settings.

here is a link that guides one thru the the migration tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/wind ... -windows-7

[spacedad]

thanks,
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/window ... nsfer.aspx
you just need a special lead and you can install the software on winXP,apparently.
it's just some users seem to had problems with missing files and installing things itself into strange places.

i do have a backup drive,usb,on my winxp machine,but i thought copying vast amounts of folders can be problematic memory-wise?
i know last time i tried copying my samples across to winXP i got trouble.i mean you can't just copy/paste a 60GB folder can you?

anyone else had success or disaster stories when going from XPto 7?

[UltraJv]

To be honest, the best way is simply to fresh install everything. Your song data should be on DVD/CD etc and transfered that way. There was a guy on here who used an XP to 7 transfer program - he spent weeks sorting out the mess after.

[spacedad]

hmm,cheers.that's what i was worried about.
i think installing from scratch is best,but all my songs+samples+vsts are backed up on a usb drive.
does anyone know if you can get away with just plugging it in and copying it all straight across or do i need special copy programs to do large amounts?

[bM3w]

This seems to be what you are looking for:

http://windows7news.com/2010/05/21/para ... ding-easy/

Although I agree that a fresh install is ALWAYS the best to do when you go for a new OS.

[spacedad]

ah,nice find. that looks good.
though i've ordered a easy transfer cable kit,i'm not sure i wanna risk it.
i think i'll try to connect my usb drive and do most of it first,if i can,