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Windows Easy Transfer in 8.1

Anonymous
2015-09-03T19:03:32+00:00

I have a laptop with 8.1.

I want to Easy Transfer my files to a thumb drive or another storage device.

I Searched for Windows Easy Transfer. Hit enter and got a screen titled "Windows Easy Transfer". I click "Next". In this next window. I have the question "Have you already used Windows Easy Transfer to save your files from your other PC?"

Answer is No because this is the computer I want to transfer FROM  not TO. The NO answer closes the screen. Yes, I have followed the same steps - several times - expecting different results. :-(

I would like to know how to get the files TO a storage device so the files can be moved TO another computer. NOT FROM another computer TO THIS computer.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T16:50:56+00:00

    Hello Matt,

    Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

    You can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer information to a computer running Windows 8.1 from computers with one of the following operating systems:

    • Windows 8
    • Windows RT
    • Windows 7

    Windows Easy Transfer cannot back up files on a Windows 8.1 computer for transfer to another computer. To back up and transfer files from a Windows 8.1 computer, use SkyDrive or manually transfer files using external storage devices.

    Step 1: Determining the best transfer method.

    When transferring files to a Windows 8.1 computer from a Windows 8, Windows RT, or Windows 7 computer, Windows Easy Transfer supports the following methods:

    • USB  flash drive      : Each computer must have a USB port.
    • External  hard drive      : The external hard drive must be compatible with both computers.

    To decide which method to use, consider how much information you are transferring. If you are transferring everything from all users on the computer, an external hard drive works well. If you are transferring only a few files or folders, a USB flash drive works well.

    Step 2: Collecting files from the old computer

    Follow these steps on the old computer to collect the files to transfer to the new computer. You must be logged on as an administrator.

    Before performing the following steps, disconnect both computers from the Internet and temporarily disable any firewall software that might be running.

    1. Log on to the old  computer.
    2. Search for Windows  Easy Transfer on the computer.
      • In  Windows 7: Click the Start button, type Window Easy Transfer into the search field, and select Windows Easy Transfer from the list of search results.
    3. On the welcome      screen, click Next .
    4. On the What do you want to use to transfer items      to your new PC screen, select the An external hard disk  or USB flash drive option.
    5. On the Which PC are you using now      screen, select This is my old PC .

    Windows Easy Transfer scans the user accounts to find everything that can be transferred.

    1. On the Choose what to transfer from this PC screen, select the checkbox next to the items you want to transfer, and   then click Next .
    2. If desired, on the Save your files and settings for transfer screen, type a password to protect the Windows Easy Transfer file, and  then click Save .
    3. Browse to the    location of the external hard drive or USB flash drive that you are using      to transfer files, and then click Open .
    4. Click Save .
    5. When the transfer is      complete, click Next on the Your      transfer file is complete screen.
    6. Verify that the      files are saved to the correct location, and then click Close .
    7. Remove the external   hard drive or USB flash drive and set it aside until you are ready to  transfer the files to the new computer.
    8. If you disabled      firewall software running on the old computer, re-enable the software.

    Step 3: Transferring files to the Windows 8.1 computer

    Follow these steps on the new computer to transfer the files.

    1. From the Start      screen of the new Windows 8.1 computer, type transfer      to open the Search charm, and then select Windows Easy Transfer      from the search results.
    2. In the Welcome      window, click Next to continue.
    3. In the Have you already used Windows Easy Transfer to save files from your old PC screen, click Yes      .
    4. Insert the external      hard drive or the USB flash drive used to collect files from the old      computer into an available USB port.
    5. In the Open an Easy Transfer File      window, select the external hard disk or USB flash drive that you will be      using to transfer items, and then click Open .

    A list of files stored on the external hard disk or USB flash drive opens.

    1. Select the transfer      files from the list, and then click Open .

    If prompted, enter the password used to protect your transfer file, and then click Next .

    1. On the Choose what to transfer to this PC  screen, select the user accounts to transfer, and then click Transfer.
    2. Once the file      transfer is complete, click Close on the Your files have been transferred screen.
    3. Remove the external      hard disk or USB flash drive from the computer and store it in a safe place.
    4. If you disabled      firewall software running on the new computer, re-enable that firewall software.

    Also see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2735227/en-us

    Hope this information is helpful. Please do let us know if you need further assistance with Windows, we’ll be glad to assist you.

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