A Microsoft Windows user profile describes the Windows configuration for a specific user, including the user's environment and preference settings. The user profile contains the settings and configuration options specific to the user, such as installed applications, desktop icons, and color options. The user profile contains:
Start-up programs, shortcuts, and personal groups.
Settings for Windows applications - Notepad, Paint, Windows Explorer, Calculator, Clock, and more.
Start menu settings - Programs that can be selected from the start menu.
The user profile settings are saved on disk and are loaded when the user logs on. User profiles in Microsoft Windows are of two types – Local and Roaming user profiles. Local profiles are only stored on the computer to which you log in. Roaming profiles are profiles that have been placed on a central server. When the user logs onto the domain, the roaming profile is copied to the local computer the user logged on from. If the user makes changes to the profile, they are saved to the local computer and the central server. When the user logs on from another computer the most recent of the local or server stored profile is used. Since Roaming profiles are downloaded when a user logs on, and uploaded when the user logs off, large user profiles degrade system performance. Using local profiles, and limiting the profile size shortens the time required to log on and off and improve system performance for all users.
User State Migration Tool (USMT):
The User State Migration Tool (USMT) 4.0, part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK), is a command line-scriptable tool for migrating user state from one computer or operating system to another. It is designed for large-scale migrations whereas Windows Easy Transfer is for small-scale and individual transfers. USMT migrates files and settings between Microsoft Windows versions 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7, and is useful in migrating user settings and files during OS upgrades. Migrations from 32-bit to 64-bit are supported, but from 64-bit to 32-bit are not supported by USMT. USMT can transfer:
Selected User Accounts.
Files and folders.
E-mail messages, settings, and contacts.
Photos, music, and videos.
Windows settings.
Program data files and settings.
Internet settings.
A migration can be side-by-side or wipe-and-load. Side-by-side, sometimes called PC Replacement, migrates data from one computer to another via central storage such as a server. Wipe-and-load, sometimes referred to as PC Refresh, moves data to central storage and then back to the same PC.
USMT uses ScanState command to collect the files and settings from the source computer and LoadState to restore the user state onto the destination computer.
ScanState scans the source computer, collects the files and settings and creates a store. ScanState does not modify the source computer. By default, ScanState compresses the files and stores them as an image file (USMT3.MIG).
LoadState migrates the files and settings from the store to the destination computer. LoadState migrates each file (one by one) from the store to a temporary location on the destination computer — the files are decompressed (and decrypted if necessary) during this process. Next, LoadState transfers the file to the correct location, deletes the temporary copy, and begins migrating the next file.
Migrating All User Accounts and User Settings Using USMT:
Log on to the source computer as an administrator, and at a command prompt type: scanstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml /o
Log on to the destination computer as an administrator.
Enter either of the two strings at a command prompt depending on your requirements:
If you are migrating domain accounts, type: loadstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml
If you are migrating local accounts along with domain accounts, type:
loadstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml /lac /lae
Migrating 2 Domain Accounts (User1 and User2):
Log on to the source computer as an administrator, and specify: scanstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /ue:*\* /ui:domain1\user1 /ui:domain2\user2 /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml /o
Log on to the destination computer as an administrator.
Specify the following: loadstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml
Migrating 2 domain accounts (User1 and User2) - Move User1 From the NewYork to the Portland Domain:
Log on to the source computer as an administrator, and type the following at the command-line prompt: scanstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /ue:*\* /ui:NewYork\user1 /ui:NewYork\user2 /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml /o
Log on to the destination computer as an administrator.
Specify the following: loadstate \\fileserver\migration\mystore /mu:NewYork\user1:Portland\user2 /i:miguser.xml /i:migapp.xml
USMT 4.0 hard-link migration is a new feature that you can use to perform an in-place migration much faster than by using traditional file copy mechanisms. Hard-link migration in USMT scans the computer for user files and settings and then creates a directory of hard links to those files. The hard links are remapped into the appropriate locations in the new operating system. The entire process typically takes a few minutes to run, does not duplicate files on the local disk, and can save several hours when upgrading to Windows 7. You can use USMT hard-link migration both online and offline.
Follow these steps to perform user profile migration:
Boot in to Windows XP. Insert Windows 7 DVD and run the setup.
Select Clean Installation. Once you come on the Hard drive selection screen select the partition on which you installed windows XP. (Let us assume that the partition on which you installed windows XP operating system is C). Then select C: and click Next.
On this screen you get a message that all files folders and settings of XP are moving to Windows.old and Windows will be installed on Windows folder. Click OK.
Let the setup complete until it reaches the desktop of Windows 7.
Install Windows AIK (Downloaded earlier) on your system.
Click My Computer, then click C: Drive and then click Program Files.
Click Windows AIK, then click Tools, and the click USMT.
In this folder, two more folders are there - x86 and AMD64. Both folders contain USMT files for both the architectures.
Now open a new Notepad file and copy the following text in it:
If exist D:USMT*.* xcopy D:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist E:USMT*.* xcopy E:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist F:USMT*.* xcopy F:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist G:USMT*.* xcopy G:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist H:USMT*.* xcopy H:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist I:USMT*.* xcopy I:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist J:USMT*.* xcopy J:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
If exist K:USMT*.* xcopy K:USMT*.* /e /v /y C:WindowsUSMT
Save this file with .bat extension and copy it to the C:/Program Files/Windows AIK/Tools/USMT folder.
Right-click the file and click Run as Administrator.
After this, USMT will start transferring your files and folders and settings into Windows 7 from XP. After the process is complete, you will notice that your desktop icons, your theme and all other settings have been restored to their original form.
Migrating Profiles With Windows Easy Transfer:
You can install Windows 7 as an upgrade to an existing installation of Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 using the Upgrade option during installation. To maintain settings when installing Windows 7 on a computer running Windows XP, you must migrate files and settings using a tool such as Windows 7 Easy Transfer and then reinstall your software programs. Additionally, if you are installing Windows 7 on a new computer, you can transfer settings and files from any other computer running Windows Vista or Windows XP by using Windows Easy Transfer.
The instructions below show how to tranfer a profile from a computer running Windows XP to a different computer running Windows 7.
Boot in to Windows XP and insert the Windows 7 DVD.
Navigate to the support folder and open the migwiz (migration wizard) folder and run migwiz.exe. This opens the Windows Easy Transfer window which initiates the process of file transfer.
It asks you for the media you wish to use to transfer your settings. Select the appropriate media from the options presented by the wizard.
It ask whether this is the new computer (to which you wish to copy the settings) or the old computer (from which you wish to copy the settings) select old computer. The wizard will now start scanning system for your files.
Once scanning is complete, it will provide the list of files in your system for all users and allows you to select which ones you wish to copy. Select the required files from the list.
You are then asked to provide a password for the data file. Provide a password for data security. Then press Save.
Log on to the Windows 7 computer.
Click Start, then click All Programs, and then click Accessories.
Click System Tools, and then click on Windows Easy Transfer.
It opens the Windows Easy transfer window and asks you to select the media you wish to use (USB, Network or transfer cable). Select the appropriate media from the options presented in the window.
Then, it asks you to select whether it’s your new or old computer. Select new computer.
It asks you to browse to the file which you created while copying data from old computer.
13.Click Transfer to transfer all files and settings. You can also determine which files should be migrated by selecting only the user profiles you want to transfer, or by clicking Customize.
