transfer users from old Hdd to new Hdd

matty_hunt

Hi. Could someone please advise...
I want to take the info from an old pc and put it on a new one. The old pc had four user accounts on it. I do not want to clone the old hard drive as it is xp. Do I simple go to 'Users' on the C drive and copy this file to the new hard drive with its new OS, to get all personal files (docs, photos etc) and preferences and then just reinstall any programs I still want?
Many thanks

closed

if that's where your data is, yes.

Idiophreak

On XP, all of this stuff will probably be under "documents and setting", under windows 7 etc it will be under "users".

To be honest, I'm not 100% sure if you could just take the whole lot, or whether this will cause any issues...but you can certainly copy the contents of the desktop / my documents / downloads folders and copy them into the new, corresponding directory on the new box...

matty_hunt

closed wrote: »

if that's where your data is, yes.

is that where Windows puts it all by default? Data has never been deliberately directed anywhere other than where windows sends personal stuff.
Thanks

closed

as mentioned above, it's probably under documents and settings on xp, but could be anywhere

you could install this, and have a look

http://www.voidtools.com/

or look using windows explorer

matty_hunt

Thanks guys for the replies. Will get on it this weekend.
Cheers

closed

you won't be able to copy preferences by this method.

Idiophreak

closed wrote: »

you won't be able to copy preferences by this method.

indeed...and you'll have to be careful with internet favourites, outlook mailboxes, etc etc etc

Toxteth_OGrady

Seem to vaguely remember......you may be able to do this on XP with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard but I think you'd have to log in as each account to do it.

macman

Use Windows Easy Transfer?

-TangleFoot-

1. Windows Easy Transfer (instructions for Windows 8 users here)
2. Use TeraCopy to back-up all user directories* manually, just in case.

*Usually C:\Documents and Settings