Transferring All Settings to New Computer

Bought a new computer, now need to get everything on it.

[rj87uk]

Hey All,

I just bought a new desktop yesterday, it should be here this week I hope. What I will need to do is transfer all of my settings & data I use every day on to it. Can we help make a list of everything I will need to get over? Here is what I have so far:

1) Bookmarks from FF (found under organise bookmarks).
2) FireFox's passwords & settings - Do i copy the "profile" folder?
3) I use Xammp for local db testing, need a full reinstall?
4) Copy local website files, folders & data.
5) How do I get all my Emails / Account settings etc from Outlook? I have around 20 accounts set up with 30 folders and loads of Emails I would like to keep?

Anyone else?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Hi Raymond, your Outlook settings are all held in your Outlook PST file. This is a very large file that holds all of your Outlook settings including accounts, history, folders, etc. Google Outlook PST file for more info.

You may need to search for it but on my Windows XP system it is in
"C:\Documents and Settings\myname\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook"

When you install Outlook on your new PC you may have to point it to your PST file.

I recently bought a new laptop and I transfer my PST file between PC and laptop a couple of times a week. That way I know that I have all my current Outlook data on both machines. When I go away I just need to pick up my laptop and leave.

(Someone is now going to come along and tell me a better way of doing this but I can live with that.) ;)

There are lots of low cost packages available to help with changing computers. Sometimes it's worth investing the £20 or £30 it costs to save yourself some hassle.

[Dabrowski]

Is it Outlook, or Outlook Express? People often don't specify.

If it's Outlook Express then all the data files are stored in:

C:\Documents and Settings\You\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{X-X-X-X-X}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

On the new computer, run Outlook Express once, don't bother configuring it. You have to do this so it creates it's files. Then copy the contents of that folder over. It *should* copy everything except for the passwords for the accounts.

[jatar_k]

1) you can also find them in
"C:\Documents and Settings\myname\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\profilename"
it's called 'bookmarks.html'
2) wondered the same myself though with Seamonkey
3) yes, reinstall, though you may want config files for custom settings
4) you might also want to pick around your ftp settings if necessary
5) already answered

I pick through a couple places

C:\Documents and Settings\myname\Application Data\
C:\Documents and Settings\myname\Local Settings\
C:\Program Files\

any programs that store config or settings thn I just copy what I can see

[rj87uk]

4) you might also want to pick around your ftp settings if necessary

Ah, Now thats the stuff i'n talking about! I use SmartFTP, I think ive done it before so shouldn't be a bother.

It's just outlook not the express one.

Good idea I'll check they folders and see if I can find anything else.

The only thing left is to get a new mouse mat, might sound funny to all of you lot but I like a mouse mat that is not covered in fabric rather I like plasic something smooth like that. I'll take a drive down to PC world tomorrow and take a peak at what they have.

[Receptional Andy]

Do you use an exchange server with Outlook? If so you'll most likely also have an OST file.

[blend27]

I do this every 4-6 month or so for my Dev. Laptop, I reinstall the OS and all Apps and this is the route that I usually go:

I split the hard drive in 2; any data and files that could be moved are stored on a separate partition, Including Outlook .pst file(5 year old – 800 Megs – God Bless). All Database files and logs, all Documents (in fact MyDocuments folder there too), All Code and installation Programs. This way if, all you need is to point to it.

Here is the link from KB: [support.microsoft.com...] for the Outlook.
I know you've mentioned Xammp but, If running IIS, here is a helpful link as well, this saves a lot of time recreating Virtual directories for the projects on XP Machine [support.microsoft.com...]

Hope this helps,

Blend27

[phranque]

i would use the windows search to find files that have been updated in the past week (month?) to make sure you didn't miss something that you access regularly...

[bunltd]

Recently upgraded to a 60GB HD and we used Acronis to mirror things over to the new drive. It was beautiful, didn't have to reinstall or tweak anything, totally seamless. (we store My Documents on a local server, and I use multiple Outlook pst's ) Might not work as well in your case with all new hardware, though.

Didn't see anyone mention SSH: I know I've got umpteen sessions settings stored in SecureCRT - do you? I also keep copies of various FTP and Dreamweaver site definitions.

LisaB

[rj87uk]

Hey All,

Got my new computer, I am in the process of moving things over. I am slightly stuck with MS Outlook 2003, I managed to copy over the pst file and have all my folders/Emails but is it possible to copy account information & account rules over to the new PC?

I have around 15 accounts and it would be a real pain if I had to do it manually!

Let me know?

RJ

[blend27]

Microsoft Office Save My Settings Wizard is located in

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft Office\Microsoft Office Tools folder.

you could also get to it by navigating to

Start-All programs-Microsoft Office-Microsoft Office Tools-Save My Settings Wizard

[Dabrowski]

ok then, a little more complicated, anyone know how to 'extract' the drivers windows is using in a format where a new installation would reinstall said drivers?