Hello Matt,
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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.
- Log on to the old computer.
- 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.
- On the welcome screen, click Next .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 .
- 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 .
- Browse to the location of the external hard drive or USB flash drive that you are using to transfer files, and then click Open .
- Click Save .
- When the transfer is complete, click Next on the Your transfer file is complete screen.
- Verify that the files are saved to the correct location, and then click Close .
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In the Welcome window, click Next to continue.
- In the Have you already used Windows Easy Transfer to save files from your old PC screen, click Yes .
- Insert the external hard drive or the USB flash drive used to collect files from the old computer into an available USB port.
- 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.
- 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 .
- On the Choose what to transfer to this PC screen, select the user accounts to transfer, and then click Transfer.
- Once the file transfer is complete, click Close on the Your files have been transferred screen.
- Remove the external hard disk or USB flash drive from the computer and store it in a safe place.
- 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.