You can use your operating system wizards to help you transfer files and other data from one computer to another—for example, from an old computer to a new computer. For instructions, see the following section that corresponds to the operating system that your computer is running.
Microsoft® Windows® XP
The MicrosoftWindows XP operating system provides the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to move data from a source computer to a new computer. You can transfer data, such as:
E-mail messages
Toolbar settings
Window sizes
Internet bookmarks
You can transfer the data to the new computer over a network or serial connection, or you can store it on removable media, such as a writable CD, for transfer to the new computer.
NOTE: You can transfer information from an old computer to a new computer by directly connecting a serial cable to the input/output (I/O) ports of the two computers. To transfer data over a serial connection, you must access the Network Connections utility from the Control Panel and perform additional configuration steps, such as setting up an advanced connection and designating the host computer and the guest computer.
For instructions on setting up a direct cable connection between two computers, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article #305621, titled How to Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP. This information may not be available in certain countries.
For transferring information to a new computer, you must run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. You can use the optional Operating System media for this process or you can create a wizard disk with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard With the Operating System Media
NOTE: This procedure requires the Operating System media. This media is optional and may not be included with certain computers.
To prepare a new computer for the file transfer:
Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click Start®All Programs®Accessories® System Tools®Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears,
click Next.
On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer®Next.
On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I will use the wizard
from the Windows XP CD®Next.
When the Now go to your old computer screen appears, go to your old or
source computer. Do not click Next at this time.
To copy data from the old computer:
On the old computer, insert the Windows XP Operating System media.
On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click Perform
additional tasks.
Under What do you want to do?, click Transfer files and settings® Next.
On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer®Next.
On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you
prefer.
On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to
transfer and click Next.
After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears.
Click Finish.
To transfer data to the new computer:
On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click
Next.
On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you
chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next.
The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.
When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.
Click Finished and restart the new computer.
Running the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Without the Operating System
Media
To run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard without the Operating System media, you must create a wizard disk that will allow you to create a backup image file to removable media.
To create a wizard disk, use your new computer with Windows XP and perform the following steps:
Open the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard: click Start®All Programs®Accessories® System Tools®Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
When the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen appears,
click Next.
On the Which computer is this? screen, click New Computer®Next.
On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? screen, click I want to create a
Wizard Disk in the following drive® Next.
Insert the removable media, such as a writable CD, and click OK.
When the disk creation completes and the Now go to your old
computer message appears, do not click Next.
Go to the old computer.
To copy data from the old computer:
On the old computer, insert the wizard disk.
Click Start®Run.
In the Open field on the Run window, browse to the path for fastwiz (on
the appropriate removable media) and click OK.
On the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard welcome screen, click Next.
On the Which computer is this? screen, click Old Computer®Next.
On the Select a transfer method screen, click the transfer method you
prefer.
On the What do you want to transfer? screen, select the items you want to
transfer and click Next.
After the information has been copied, the Completing the Collection Phase screen appears.
Click Finish.
To transfer data to the new computer:
On the Now go to your old computer screen on the new computer, click
Next.
On the Where are the files and settings? screen, select the method you
chose for transferring your settings and files and click Next. Follow the
instructions on the screen.
The wizard reads the collected files and settings and applies them to your new computer.
When all of the settings and files have been applied, the Finished screen appears.
Click Finished and restart the new computer.
NOTE: For more information about this procedure, search support.dell.com for document #154781 (What Are The Different Methods To Transfer Files From My Old Computer To My New Dell™ Computer Using the Microsoft® Windows® XP Operating System?).
NOTE: Access to the Dell™ Knowledge Base document may not be available in certain countries.
Microsoft Windows Vista®
Click the Windows Vista Start button , and then click Transfer files
and settings®Start Windows Easy Transfer.
In the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
Click Start a new transfer or Continue a transfer in progress.
Follow the instructions provided on the screen by the Windows Easy Transfer wizard.
Turning Off Your Computer
NOTICE: To avoid losing data, save and close all open files and exit all open programs before you turn off your computer.
Shut down the operating system:
Save and close all open files and exit all open programs.
In the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system, click Start®Shut
Down®Shut down.
In the Microsoft Windows Vista® operating system, click the Windows Vista Start button , click the arrow in the lower-right corner of the Start menu as shown below, and then click Shut Down.
The computer turns off after the operating system shutdown process is complete.
Ensure that the computer and all attached devices are turned off. If your
computer and attached devices did not automatically turn off when you
shut down your operating system, press and hold the power button for
about 4 seconds to turn them off.
