Is there a downside to transfering settings, accounts, etc. when switching OS's?

[Muse]

I'm installing an SSD on this XP laptop and installing Win7 32 bit, a clean install. Is there a downside to running MS's Easy Transfer to save and then restore settings, accounts etc.?

 

[HOSED]

I would only hesitate to use it because the directory structure is different when comparing the 2 OS's. That being said as long as you have a backup of the clean Win 7 install I would try it.
This link may be worth looking at also. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...to-win-7/79f2befc-9a67-4e4b-9083-aba94ea05d6e
We used the tool built into XP when we upgraded 200+ machines at work (from win 98) and had very few issues.

 

[Muse]

I would only hesitate to use it because the directory structure is different when comparing the 2 OS's. That being said as long as you have a backup of the clean Win 7 install I would try it.
This link may be worth looking at also. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...to-win-7/79f2befc-9a67-4e4b-9083-aba94ea05d6e
We used the tool built into XP when we upgraded 200+ machines at work (from win 98) and had very few issues.

Thank you. I just quick-read that thread. The last post (extensive) was obviously knowledgeable. I already ran Easy Transfer on this machine (still XP running on HD), saving the file to an external USB HD. I presume I won't have difficulties restoring from that. After all, both OS's are 32 bit, what can go wrong? That said I think it's prudent to image the clean install of Win7 as you suggest. I don't think my Ghost 2003 will do it, it seems to usually/often/? have problems saving to an external USB HD (doesn't see it when picking a save location, but sees it fine when picking a save-from location, don't ask me why!). I may just have to install Acronis True Image (the external HD is Western Digital) and use that, it will be my first use of it, so...

 

[HOSED]

Glad to help, http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/ I have been using this SW for a few years with no issues. But Acronis would be my choice if it was also free ... Over at NBR forum (notebookreview.com) it (Acronis) seems to be the most recommended backup/restore SW.
If you go with Paragon, there is an option to create a bootable USB drive so the program can run without windows (It runs from a limited Linux Distro and fits on a 128 MB flash drive) . BUT you must install the program first in windows --- then Tools- recovery media builder... Once you are in Paragon via the flash drive the wizards make backup and restore very easy to do.
Hope this helps

 

[Muse]

Thanks again... the Acronis True Image is free for me because I have a WD drive in the works (the USB drive). I printed out the manual (big!) long ago, haven't used it yet, but how hard can it be to backup a single drive (albeit SSD -->HD)? If I'm having trouble will look at the Paragon....

 

[ViRGE]

I'm installing an SSD on this XP laptop and installing Win7 32 bit, a clean install. Is there a downside to running MS's Easy Transfer to save and then restore settings, accounts etc.?

I'm a bit late to the party, but I would say the answer is that there is no downside. I have upgraded a few machines over the years in this manner and it has worked extremely well.

Just keep in mind that it can't transfer the settings for most programs; it can only do Windows and a handful of MS programs.

 

[silicon]

I'm installing an SSD on this XP laptop and installing Win7 32 bit, a clean install. Is there a downside to running MS's Easy Transfer to save and then restore settings, accounts etc.?

Just my personal experience but I am extremely leary of any claim by MS that something is easy. but thats just me though.

 

[Muse]

Just my personal experience but I am extremely leary of any claim by MS that something is easy. but thats just me though.

Well, on the face of it it does look extremely easy, at least the path I took with saving the file. I haven't installed the SSD and Windows 7 yet and tried to restore from the file, that very likely very shortly.

I have an issue with the machine that's made me hesitate. It's a long standing chronic sometime issue being when I reboot, often the machine fails to boot. It hangs at the Windows XP splash screen. The Windows XP image, when this happens, is about 1/5th the intensity that it usually is, it's just a ghost of that image, so to speak, you almost have to look hard to even see it's there. The only thing I can do at that point AFAIK is to unplug the machine and try again. Usually when I do that it just happens again. However, if I let the machine sit for an hour or two it boots fine. This has me suspecting a heat issue and that it's because I removed the thermal pad on top of the Intel GMA 950 graphics chip a few years ago. I put Arctic Silver 3 on top but the pad was likely quite a bit thicker than the Arctic Silver and I think that might be what's causing this problem. In my researching the issue I came across a post or posts suggesting a DIY solution, being the shave down a high silver content dime (the older ones were very high silver content: "Early Roosevelt dimes were made of 90% silver and 10% copper (1946-1964). Dime pieces from 1964 forward are clad coinage consisting of copper sandwiched between two layers of an alloy that is 75% copper and 25% nickel."), and I've done that, have a dime I prepared last week. I'm thinking now that since I'm not sure it isn't a software issue, it would be potentially a lot easier to first install the SSD and Windows 7. Then if it looks like I still have this issue I can open the machine and put that dime in there slathered with a thin layer of Arctic Silver 5 on both sides. I shaved down that dime with a whetstone to the point where it's basically just smooth flat metal on both sides.

Edit: I remember now how I successfully made images of my laptop hard drives using Ghost 2003. Said program will not write to my 2TB or 3TB WD external USB HDs, but it will write to my old Cavalry 500MB USB HD. All these external HDs are Western Digital inside, but Ghost 2003 can only see the Cavalry drive. I have several images on there, there's certainly room for another, or I will make room for my fresh install of Windows 7. I suppose I should do basic stuff before imaging, i.e. installing Lenovo utilities, all Windows7 updates and perhaps installing MSE.

 

[Muse]

Well, here's what I did this afternoon:

Checked in BIOS of the Lenovo T60, SATA mode was already set to AHCI. BIOS version is 2.6

Removed the original HD, replaced with the virgin Intel 330 180GB SSD.

Started the machine and slipped the Windows 7 32bit install disk in the optical drive.

Files loaded for quite a while and then the screen changed to Starting Windows. I should mention that after installing the SSD drive I put the machine back in its customary place, in a mini-dock which is attached to a 23" monitor by HDMI and a 19" monitor by VGA. It's the 19" monitor that always displays everything until the Windows sign-on screen appears.

So, the 19" monitor is saying Starting Windows but this has gone on for 4.5 hours now. Is something wrong? I've known Windows to have the StartingWindows on the monitor for a long time when installing but I don't think as long as 4.5 hours.

 

[HOSED]

I have never done a clean install while docked ... and it should not take more than 30 minutes from the time you start the install until the system prompts you to reboot. I would undock the system and start over. It may also be a good idea to create a USB stick for the install. If you have an .iso file this works great http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool
(just to rule out an issue with the install media).
NOTE is used to be easy to D/L iso files but very recently they seem to be pulled from Digital River . I found these links http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links BUT they do not contain SP1.

 

[Muse]

My theory that the GPU is overheating remains and is bolstered in my mind by the goings-on this morning. I think the hang at the Starting Windows screen may be basically the same thing that was happening when I was booting to XP from the now-removed 60GB original HD, when the machine would hang at a very dull Windows XP splash screen when rebooting after being on for some time. The remedy I discovered after much trial and error was letting the machine cool down for a good spell and then starting it cold. Then no problem. I think I'm seeing the same behavior with the SSD and Windows 7 installed, I'm not sure because it's early in the game. However, that's my theory. Right now I'm running Windows Update for the second time and instead of it wanting to install around 6 updates it's downloading 151 important updates. By the time it's done doing that I figure the machine may be too hot to reboot (again the hotness is just my theory), and will again fail to get beyond the Starting Windows splash screen. If that does happen, I will unplug the machine, let it sit a good long while, plug it back in and "Start Windows Normally." If that works, one more vote for the overheating theory and I will probably be opening up the machine, removing the fan/heat spreader assembly, cleaning off the GPU, spreading Arctic Silver 5 on the GPU, the underside of the heat spreader and both sides of my shaved down high-silver (90%) ~1960 dime and inserting it and crossed-fingers seeing if things start behaving OK.

 

[Muse]

Well, I don't know. 151 updates were installed, I was prompted to restart, I did and the machine appeared to hang at the Starting Windows splash screen. No Microsoft pennant accompanied the words Starting Windows. After about 4 minutes I pulled the plug, reinserted it and started the T60 laptop and was offered to repair (recommended) or start normally and I started normally and this time it booted! I'm running Windows Update again and it has 2 important updates and 11 optional, which I'm ignoring. I can't explain this behavior, but still think it might be the GPU too hot. That may be totally wrong...

 

[Muse]

Well, last two times the system rebooted I didn't have to unplug it... so progress is being made. Maybe, just maybe, something's been resolved by virtue of the downloads and installs.

 

[Mushkins]

I cant imagine the laptop is overheating that soon into the boot process unless the heatsink on the GPU literally has detached from the GPU and any load at all is causing a massive temp spike. Sounds more like a driver issue where the GPU is locking up as soon as the basic onboard video hands control over to the discrete driver right about when the windows splash screen pops up.

If you can get to the desktop, I would uninstall the GPU driver completely and reboot, then do a clean GPU driver reinstall without the docking station. Installing drivers while in a docking station is always a crapshoot, especially on those T60s and X60s.

Back on the original topic, I use the windows easy transfer tool to go from XP to 7 systems all the time at work, even between bitness. It works great, and only carries over superficial profile settings that are valid between both systems (power settings, start menu preferences, folder settings, etc). Anything that would be considered heavy lifting is beyond the scope of the tool anyway specifically so it can't fudge it up.

 

[ViRGE]

I cant imagine the laptop is overheating that soon into the boot process unless the heatsink on the GPU literally has detached from the GPU and any load at all is causing a massive temp spike. Sounds more like a driver issue where the GPU is locking up as soon as the basic onboard video hands control over to the discrete driver right about when the windows splash screen pops up.

If you can get to the desktop, I would uninstall the GPU driver completely and reboot, then do a clean GPU driver reinstall without the docking station. Installing drivers while in a docking station is always a crapshoot, especially on those T60s and X60s.

Note that the GPU driver isn't even loaded at that stage though. His system is failing on a simple VGA screen. That still points to a hardware failure in my book.

 

[Muse]

I cant imagine the laptop is overheating that soon into the boot process unless the heatsink on the GPU literally has detached from the GPU and any load at all is causing a massive temp spike. Sounds more like a driver issue where the GPU is locking up as soon as the basic onboard video hands control over to the discrete driver right about when the windows splash screen pops up.

If you can get to the desktop, I would uninstall the GPU driver completely and reboot, then do a clean GPU driver reinstall without the docking station. Installing drivers while in a docking station is always a crapshoot, especially on those T60s and X60s.

Back on the original topic, I use the windows easy transfer tool to go from XP to 7 systems all the time at work, even between bitness. It works great, and only carries over superficial profile settings that are valid between both systems (power settings, start menu preferences, folder settings, etc). Anything that would be considered heavy lifting is beyond the scope of the tool anyway specifically so it can't fudge it up.

I rarely boot from an actually cold state, it's almost always a restart, so the machine's quite warmed up. It may be a stretch to suspect an overheating GPU because the symptom I'm getting is that hang at the splash screen. However, yesterday I couldn't execute any Youtube videos, probably unrelated but who knows. I subsequently removed the HD and replaced with SSD, so...

Yes, maybe a driver issue, but a similar problem carrying over to new SSD and Windows 7 install has me suspicious that it's hardware. Anyway, last few times the machine has rebooted (in a warmed up condition, too), no hang.

Nice to hear about the Easy Transfer, I am still a ways away from restoring. Right now running Lenovo and Windows updates. ATM, I'm installing MSE and it's scanning the system. Obviously there should be nothing for it to find, but I'm letting it do its thing. I will obviously be doing this stuff well into tomorrow. I'm a ways from even installing any programs...

Question: Should I have a look at and install any "optional updates" when running Windows Update? I haven't bothered looking at them yet...


Thanks for the help!

 

[Mushkins]

I rarely boot from an actually cold state, it's almost always a restart, so the machine's quite warmed up. It may be a stretch to suspect an overheating GPU because the symptom I'm getting is that hang at the splash screen. However, yesterday I couldn't execute any Youtube videos, probably unrelated but who knows. I subsequently removed the HD and replaced with SSD, so...

Yes, maybe a driver issue, but a similar problem carrying over to new SSD and Windows 7 install has me suspicious that it's hardware. Anyway, last few times the machine has rebooted (in a warmed up condition, too), no hang.

Nice to hear about the Easy Transfer, I am still a ways away from restoring. Right now running Lenovo and Windows updates. ATM, I'm installing MSE and it's scanning the system. Obviously there should be nothing for it to find, but I'm letting it do its thing. I will obviously be doing this stuff well into tomorrow. I'm a ways from even installing any programs...

Question: Should I have a look at and install any "optional updates" when running Windows Update? I haven't bothered looking at them yet...


Thanks for the help!

Easy way to tell if it's a heat issue, install GPUZ and look at the temps. The card shouldn't be locking up/shutting down until at least 100C+

As for Optional Updates, i'd say yes, look through them. Things like improved versions of RDP, .Net updates, language packs (for Ultimate), and general usability stuff tend to get shoved into the Optional category. Unless it's something that's clearly junk like Bing integration, I install them. You can also find driver updates under Optional if the manufacturer decided to supply them via windows update, which is good for NIC drivers and such. On a fresh install usually the only drivers I install manually are NIC (if not supported by the base Windows driver), Chipset, and GPU (if discrete). I let windows update take care of the rest instead of playing around with a dozen manufacturer websites.

 

[Muse]

Easy way to tell if it's a heat issue, install GPUZ and look at the temps. The card shouldn't be locking up/shutting down until at least 100C+

As for Optional Updates, i'd say yes, look through them. Things like improved versions of RDP, .Net updates, language packs (for Ultimate), and general usability stuff tend to get shoved into the Optional category. Unless it's something that's clearly junk like Bing integration, I install them. You can also find driver updates under Optional if the manufacturer decided to supply them via windows update, which is good for NIC drivers and such. On a fresh install usually the only drivers I install manually are NIC (if not supported by the base Windows driver), Chipset, and GPU (if discrete). I let windows update take care of the rest instead of playing around with a dozen manufacturer websites.

Thanks, I just noticed this post and I'll follow up by installing GPUZ, a free utility I surmise.

I did the Easy Transfer thing but only after installing quite a lot of the programs I use. However, before restoring the file (~6-8GB IIRC), I made an image of the OS and boot partitions. After several days I decided to restore the image. However, I first looked at the Microsoft report that Easy Transfer worked up upon finishing the restore. It indicated a great many programs and utilities, frameworks, updates, whatever that were referenced in the restore. Some of those needed to have programs installed to work. My old XP installation was, I believe, from way back, probably the original in 2006. I'd accumulated a lot of junk, too many icons on the desktop, too many things I hadn't sorted out. I went through a lot of those and deleted them, I made notes about the programs etc. that the report indicated. However, a couple of days ago I was having trouble with a program. For some reason the shortcut to it in the task bar wouldn't hold its icon. Rather than chasing that into the woods I just figured why not just restore from before the Easy Transfer and go from there. I can install programs and utilities and whatever afresh and I figure my Windows will function better.
Edit: After restoring the pre-Easy_Transfer Windows 7 partition (restored the boot partition at the same time, WTH), the machine again froze at the Windows splash screen as I reported earlier in the thread. I still think it could be the GPU overheating. I unplugged the machine, let it sit ~20 minutes, started it and did a "Normal" start and it started fine, apparently. Will look into that GPUZ thing. It's a little hard for me to believe that it's a driver issue, the freeze at the splash screen happening with both my old XP install and the new Windows 7 install.

Edit2: GPUZ info...


Support NVIDIA and ATI cards
Displays adapter, GPU and display information
Displays overclock, default clocks and 3D clocks (if available)
Validation of results
No installation required
Support for Windows 2000 / XP / Vista (both 32 and 64 bit versions are supported)

My graphics in this Lenovo T60 is Intel integrated 950 GMA. Also, I'm running Windows7 32bit currently. Don't know if this will work with my setup. Guess I can give it a try...

 

[Muse]

Easy way to tell if it's a heat issue, install GPUZ and look at the temps. The card shouldn't be locking up/shutting down until at least 100C+

I installed GPUZ, the latest version 0.7.8, ran it. I don't see any info about temperatures. Maybe it can't do that with my integrated Intel 950GMA GPU.

I'm getting closer and closer to opening up the T60, removing the fan/heat-sink-pipe assembly, cleaning off that old Arctic Silver 3, slathering a layer of Arctic Silver 5 on all surfaces including my shaved-down dime, and putting it all back together and seeing how things transpire... I did something similar around 10 days ago on my other T60, whose fan had gotten noisy. No dime for that one, but I had to disassemble the fan and put a drop of lubricant in the spindle in hopes of significantly elongating it's useful life.

 

[ViRGE]

I installed GPUZ, the latest version 0.7.8, ran it. I don't see any info about temperatures. Maybe it can't do that with my integrated Intel 950GMA GPU.

Correct. The GMA iGPUs don't provide temperature data since they're part of the Northbridge. But they also draw next to nothing for power, so it seems unlikely it's overheating.