Microsoft Easy Transfer (from one hard drive to another)

I am looking to "upgrade" my Vista Beta to the full on Vista release. I
realize that I can't "upgrade" because the beta was Ultimate and I'm going
to run VistaBiz.

I thought maybe this plan would work:
1. Install VistaBiz on a new hard drive
2. Attach Vista Beta drive as secondary drive or in my external enclosure
3. Use Microsoft Easy Transfer to get the data and setting off of the drive
with beta onto my new installation of VistaBiz.

The instructions that I've found only really talk about moving from one
machine to another. Is there a way to get the utility to transfer from a
hard drive that is in the same machine???

Alternatively, I *could* get another hard drive and do the 2 step process of
transferring TO a portable hard drive and then FROM that same drive. Seems
like it might take a REALLY long time though.

Also, is the format that this utility uses readable and thus can be
considered a 'backup' of sorts or is it only useful in the transfer process?

Thanks,

Jeff

"Jeff Daly" <jeff_daly (@) hotmail (dot) com> wrote
>I am looking to "upgrade" my Vista Beta to the full on Vista release. I
>realize that I can't "upgrade" because the beta was Ultimate and I'm going
>to run VistaBiz.
>
> I thought maybe this plan would work:
> 1. Install VistaBiz on a new hard drive
> 2. Attach Vista Beta drive as secondary drive or in my external enclosure
> 3. Use Microsoft Easy Transfer to get the data and setting off of the
> drive with beta onto my new installation of VistaBiz.

No this won't work. The installation of Vista you want to move from has to
be running.

> The instructions that I've found only really talk about moving from one
> machine to another. Is there a way to get the utility to transfer from a
> hard drive that is in the same machine???

No.

> Alternatively, I *could* get another hard drive and do the 2 step process
> of transferring TO a portable hard drive and then FROM that same drive.
> Seems like it might take a REALLY long time though.

Yes this is one way to do it. From the current installation run WET to
transfer the data and settings to CD/DVD or an external hard drive. Install
the Vista Business version, then use WET to bring in the data.

Note I would not rely solely on WET. I would have a secondary backup of the
data on the old installation. I have read posts were the person used WET
then had problems bringing the data in.

Personally I would never make a change like this without imaging the first
system to an external drive using something like Acronis True Image.

> Also, is the format that this utility uses readable and thus can be
> considered a 'backup' of sorts or is it only useful in the transfer
> process?

I don't know what format it's in or if files can be recovered from it
outside of the WET environment.

How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one
Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634/en-us

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

Thanks Rock...I think I'm just going to backup the data and start from
scratch. =( Laborious, but probably worth it.

"Rock" <Rock@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:%23ed5PjYdHHA.4172@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Jeff Daly" <jeff_daly (@) hotmail (dot) com> wrote
>>I am looking to "upgrade" my Vista Beta to the full on Vista release. I
>>realize that I can't "upgrade" because the beta was Ultimate and I'm going
>>to run VistaBiz.
>>
>> I thought maybe this plan would work:
>> 1. Install VistaBiz on a new hard drive
>> 2. Attach Vista Beta drive as secondary drive or in my external
>> enclosure
>> 3. Use Microsoft Easy Transfer to get the data and setting off of the
>> drive with beta onto my new installation of VistaBiz.
>
> No this won't work. The installation of Vista you want to move from has
> to be running.
>
>> The instructions that I've found only really talk about moving from one
>> machine to another. Is there a way to get the utility to transfer from a
>> hard drive that is in the same machine???
>
> No.
>
>> Alternatively, I *could* get another hard drive and do the 2 step process
>> of transferring TO a portable hard drive and then FROM that same drive.
>> Seems like it might take a REALLY long time though.
>
> Yes this is one way to do it. From the current installation run WET to
> transfer the data and settings to CD/DVD or an external hard drive.
> Install the Vista Business version, then use WET to bring in the data.
>
> Note I would not rely solely on WET. I would have a secondary backup of
> the data on the old installation. I have read posts were the person used
> WET then had problems bringing the data in.
>
> Personally I would never make a change like this without imaging the first
> system to an external drive using something like Acronis True Image.
>
>> Also, is the format that this utility uses readable and thus can be
>> considered a 'backup' of sorts or is it only useful in the transfer
>> process?
>
> I don't know what format it's in or if files can be recovered from it
> outside of the WET environment.
>
> How to use Windows Easy Transfer to migrate files and settings from one
> Windows-based computer to another Windows Vista-based computer
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634/en-us
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

You're welcome.
--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]