how to migrate windows profile from one pc to another?

[lanceuppercut]

i've gotten a new pc for my parents and want to simply transfer their existing user profile (with all their settings etc) to the new machine. i would recreate the profile from scratch, but they have things like skype passwords and such which i'd have to set up again.

i had a google for 'USMT' which we are using at work but thats just gone over my head how to do it.

any suggestions?

[Lucio]

Not used it myself, but give this a go. ForensiT - User Profile Transfer Wizard

Alternatively try the File and Settings transfer Wizard that's built into XP (migwiz.exe at the command line)

[Splash]

Download USMT 3.0.1 from Microsoft and install it on both PCs. On the old PC you need to migrate from do start>all programs>accessories>system tools>Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. Then follow the instructions at Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP

That should pretty much see you right.

Windows XP already has the transfer wizard installed, but by installing the latest version of USMT you should have less problems (some account settings were known to not transfer properly on older versions).

Alternatively you could login to the old machine as an account with admin priviliges that isn't the one they use, backup c:\documents and settings\%account name% and then copy it to the new machine, but this is less elegant.

[lanceuppercut]

ah right, i had installed USMT, i was looking for a 'USMT' program/shortcut but all i could see was a help file shortcut on the start menu, so i gave up at that point!

i'll give it another shot with the above instructions, if not i'll try that forensit util, though i'm more inclined to use a standard part of windows to do the job.

ta!

[lanceuppercut]

that seemed to do it, though it didnt to the messenger/skype stuff i wanted, oh well.