Windows 8 Bible

Wrap-Up

Transferring files and settings from an old Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 computer is fairly easy. You can use the USB Easy Transfer cable that came with your new computer or purchase one from any computer retailer. If the old computer isn’t running Windows Vista, 7, or XP, you can’t use the Easy Transfer program and cable. But there are still ways to get files to the new computer, provided that you have sufficient basic skills to locate and copy files. This chapter covered the following material:

• Windows Easy Transfer is the quickest and easiest way to transfer user accounts, folders, files, and settings from an old Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 to your new Windows 8 computer.
• You cannot transfer programs from an old computer to a new one through any means unless the programs are standalone executables. That’s because most programs must be installed — not transferred or copied to the computer.
• Do not install older utility programs (virus scanners, firewalls, file managers, and such) on Windows 8. Such programs are designed to work with a specific version or family of Windows, and may cause problems if installed on Windows 8.
• Windows Easy Transfer, which comes free with Windows 8, provides the quickest and easiest method of transferring user accounts, files, and settings from a Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 computer to a new Windows 8 computer.
• To start Windows Easy Transfer, open the Charms Bar, click Search, type trans, and click Windows ...