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    Get external hard drive ready for file transfer to vista

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by bigdara, Sep 18, 2007.

  1. bigdara

    bigdara Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi all,
    My old laptop, running xp, is about to die and I have bought, but am still waiting for, a new vista laptop. I'd like to back up all I can (files, settings, programs (if possible)) to my external hard drive. Thus, should my current pc die I'm ready to transfer all my data from the external to the new vista running pc.
    How can I be sure to get all I need on the external and then be sure that vista will be able to import it.
    Thanks a lot.
    Dara
     
    bigdara, Sep 18, 2007
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  2. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    You probably won't be able to back up programs.

    To back up files, just track down your important files and copy them (maintain your preferred directory structure if you like).

    To back up settings, just use the "export" function on the programs that need to have settings backed up and either export to your external or copy the exported file over.

    To import those settings on Vista, just use the "import" function on the same programs (or their analogues) in Vista, and just copy your files where they need to go.
     
    Eleison, Sep 18, 2007
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