Windows 7 Windows Easy Transfer program is asking for a password. I did not enter a password. How do I get my files back?

Question

I've seen this question around this forum, but it has not been answered that I can tell. Windows 7 came pre-installed on an HP computer I purchased. I decided to reinstall Windows 7 using the factory restore option built into the BIOS. I used Windows Easy Transfer to back up my files to an external hard drive. I did re-install the operating system back to factory status. When trying to open the WET file, I am asked for a password. I did not enter a password. I tried the MIGrecover program. It starts with, 'this store seems to be password protected. . ." and does not create any files, only error messages that it cannot create the file(s). How do I access or restore my files? The file MIG is 200gb and has close to 20 years of my life in it. I desperately want to retrieve my files.

Answer 1

The password which Windows Easy Transfer (WET) asks for is not the Windows login password. It’s a special key called the Windows Easy Transfer key which acts like a password to help protect files and settings when you transfer them over the network.

A WET key is presented to you during the transfer (see screenshot below). The same key has to be used when you’re transferring files and settings using WET on the other computer.

Please see the following thread for details:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_7-windows\_programs/password-issue-with-easy-transfer-from-windows-7/1a6cc2f1-abf6-432e-9f71-96ea54399c70

Answer 2

I was not offered a WET key, nor did I enter a password. As I stated above, I have read many forums, including here, on this very same question. Your response does not answer my question. I backed up files using the WET program, I reformatted my hard drive, and restored my computer to factory specs. This was all done on the same machine. I cannot open the WET file.

I did a small backup, just now, using WET, on the same exact computer as all of above and again, no key was offered to me, nor did I enter a password. I was able to open the WET file I had just created..

So please answer this question, "How do I get my files back when no password was entered and no WEP key was offered or displayed?"

Thank you,

Ryan

Answer 3

Andre,

Can you please answer my question.

Here's a new question; can I put the 200gb WET file on a hard drive and mail to someone at Microsoft to have them open it? Please help.

Answer 4

Windows 7 Windows Easy Transfer program is asking for a password. I did not enter a password. How do I get my files back?         

MIG Recovery and Viewer Utility

http://www.migee.com/2011/01/17/mig-recover-and-viewer-utility-alpha/#comments

It's slow but it works.