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RSS feedsTo transfer all network connections from one Windows 2000/XP system to another, you need to copy just one file. This is called RASPHONE.PBK and is stored in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Connections\Pbk.
A word of warning: copying this file to the directory with the same name on the target computer will overwrite all existing network connections. To activate the new network connections, it's necessary to restart Windows.
As RASPHONE.PBK does not, for security reasons, hold any user names or passwords they will have to be entered again.
Under Windows 95 to Me, transferring network connections is even easier: just drag the icon for each connection to be transferred from the Network Connections window to the desktop.
Windows generates a DUN file for each icon, and these can be copied to backup media and dragged from there into the Network Connections window on the target PC, which must also be running Windows 95/98 or Me.
Passwords and usernames also go missing using this method and will have to be re-entered.
With versions of Windows up to Me, network connections can be dragged to the desktop and copied from there to the target system.
Saving Office Shortcut Bars
The Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint (from version 2000) components of Office save modified or new Shortcut Bars in their respective working areas, which are physically located in the files EXCEL.XLB, OUTCMD.DAT (Outlook) and PPT.PCB (PowerPoint).
You can transfer your own Shortcut Bar configuration to another computer running Office just by copying these files. To do this, you need to know the correct destination folders, which vary according to the version of Windows in use and the existence of user profiles.
As the applications themselves give no clues as to the files' locations, the best way to find them is to use Windows' own search function. Word, however, stores its tool bars in the global document template NORMAL.DOT. The next tip describes how to save this file.
Templates and dictionaries
Document templates allow laboriously worked out content and design elements to be transferred easily and quickly to new Word documents and Excel worksheets.
This useful feature can be quickly transferred by copying the contents of the User Templates folder from the source computer to the target computer.
The location of the files can be found in Word by selecting Tools/Options and the File Locations tab. If you have customised correction dictionaries in Office, then note the path for where they are stored and transfer them to the target PC.
Taking Outlook data along
Unlike its little brother, Outlook Express, Outlook keeps all its data - emails, appointments, contact addresses - in a single file, the personal folder file.
This file is called OUTLOOK.PST and can be found (under Windows 2000 and XP) in the C:\Documents and Settings\[Username]\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder. In earlier versions of Windows, the path is C:\ Windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook.
If the same user name and version of Outlook are in use on both computers, the data can be transferred by copying the PST file to the corresponding directory on the target PC.
If this isn't the case, you'll have to use Outlook's File/Import/Export function to export the data from the source PC and import it into the new system. Choose the option to import data from Outlook (.PST files) and then locate the PST file to import using the Browse button.
Outlook account settings
The Outlook personal folder file contains almost all of the personal information manager's data, apart from the account settings. These have to be specifically exported then re-imported. However, this only works up to Outlook 2000.
To export, choose Tools/Accounts and pick the Email tab. Select each account in turn and save it as an internet account file (.IAF) to backup media using the Export button.
To transfer the saved files to the target system, use the import button in the same dialog as the one from which you saved the settings.
You can use a trick to transfer files to Outlook XP and 2003: firstly, import the .IAF files to Outlook Express using Tools/Accounts/Email/Import and then transfer those settings to Outlook.
Choose Outlook's own File/Import/Export command from the menus, activate the Internet Mail Account settings option and select Microsoft Outlook Express as the import source.
Office settings
With the Save My Settings Wizard (in the Microsoft Office Tools Start Menu section), Office XP and 2003 users have an easy method of transferring all their Office settings from one computer to another at one go.
The Wizard creates a snapshot of the Registry settings and dependent files for the current Office user configuration and writes this data to a profile settings file with the extension .OPS.
Transferring the settings to the target computer is carried out by reading the OPS file with the help of the Save My Settings Wizard, choosing the 'Restore previously saved settings to this machine' option.
In contrast to its Windows counterpart, the Office Wizard is restricted to settings only. You have to transfer application data - for example document templates or Outlook personal folder files - yourself.
Software tools
Transferring settings and configuration data with the built-in tools means a lot of searching. Using specialist freeware, shareware or commercial software makes the job easier and offers more flexibility.
In order to save your settings and configuration data you will have to carry out at least some procedures by hand, according to the version of Windows you are using. Using special freeware or commercial software, on the other hand, often requires just a few mouse clicks.
In addition to this, some programs allow you to transfer whole applications without having to do a completely fresh installation.
Microsoft's User State Migration tool
The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a free utility produced by Microsoft that supports migration to Windows 2000 and XP.
Although it is a command-line utility without a graphical user interface, the USMT offers the same functionality as XP's Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
However, the USMT is aimed exclusively at administrators who want to transfer certain settings to multiple network computers as quickly as possible. The utility can only be run from a client PC that is linked to a domain controller on a Windows Server network.
The USMT can be downloaded from microsoft.com here. Windows XP users can find the program in the ValueAdd folder of their Windows installation CD.
Transfer MyPC
Transfer MyPC is a program for migrating configuration data. In contrast to the Windows XP Files and settings Wizard, it doesn't just support the change to XP, but to any version of Windows later than Windows 95 (OSR 2).
It also transfers playlists, image and media files, and Office templates as well as configuration data from non-Microsoft applications.
The program offers an uncluttered user interface (Figure 7) within which individual settings can be turned on and off. File transfer can only be carried out using a direct cable connection between the old and new PCs.
The cable is included, and the package costs £40 for a single migration licence. Additional migration licences cost £13.30 each.
Contact: www.orlogix.com
PC Relocator Professional 4.6
PC Relocator Pro is one of the few migration utilities that will transfer complete applications as well as Windows settings and configuration data from the old to the new PC.
Transfer can be carried out using a network, direct cable connection (USB, parallel or network crossover cable) or removable media. At £546, it's aimed primarily at professional network administrators.
However, in our tests, it did not migrate a complete Office 2003 installation correctly between two identical Windows XP systems. Even after contact with the manufacturer, the Office applications wouldn't run on the target system.
However, less complex applications, including Photo Impact, Quicktime and Power DVD, transferred smoothly.
Contact: www.eisenworld.com
StepUp 2.03
The shareware program StepUp transfers Windows settings and configuration files from certain programs. After registering (£16) it can also transfer entire applications, which in many cases makes time-consuming new installations unnecessary.
However, it does not support nearly as many programs as PC Relocator. Migration can be from any version of Windows later than 95 but only to Windows 2000 and XP. Data transfer is via a network or direct cable connection (USB, parallel, crossover) only.
Contact: www.cellarstone.com/stepup.htm
ABF Outlook Backup 2.1
ABF Outlook Backup is one of many tools that can be used to save Microsoft Outlook (all versions) settings and files and recreate them on the same, or another, PC.
As well as the complete contents of the personal folder file OUTLOOK.PST, the tool saves the complete configuration data, templates, scripts and more. Registration costs £16.
Contact: www.abf-soft.com
See also:
All Software Applications
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