New PC - Going From XP to Vista - Need File Help

nocturnecsh · 07-22-2008, 12:40 PM

It was a nice ride, but now that my XP PC is "pushing up daisies", I am moving on to a Vista machine. This means a reinstallation of my Zune software (amongst many others! I'm in for a couple of long nights! "Sorry my dear wife!").

I have autoplaylists, playlists, and many songs with playcounts set. Where can I find that info in the XP environment, is it possible to import the info (or files) into the Vista environment, and if so, where? I have backed up the XP machine to an external hard drive, I just don't know what I need to look for, or where to look. Are there special files that hold the data I need? I figured to install and set up like normal, close the app, copy/paste the files with the info into the proper location(s), and then restart the app (hoping the app will see the old info).

I'm trying to save myself a lot of headaches. Any ideas?

Thanks,

nocturnecsh

Justananomaly · 07-22-2008, 12:49 PM

Most of the files you're looking for will probably appear in c:\documents and settings\YOURUSERNAME\ somewhere. Different applications put them different places.

Gow616 · 07-22-2008, 01:03 PM

c:\documents and settings\YOURUSERNAME\(This is a hidden folder)Application Data\

Microsoft\Zune or Microsoft Zune. Either way it will be in the hidden Application Data folder. You will have to go to folder options and checkmark "show hidden folders".

Also, what amount of RAM are you looking at? Remember if you go any greater than 4gb of RAM go with Vista x86-64 alias 64 bit to utilize all the RAM. Vista 64 can and does run 32 bit applications along with 64 bit applications, including games.

nocturnecsh · 07-22-2008, 01:12 PM

GOW616 - I'm getting a Dell Inspiron 530 with 2GB RAM. Not much of a gamer - attention span is WAY too short!

monahan · 07-22-2008, 01:15 PM

Just lan the two computers up and use the transfer files and settings wizard that comes with vista. It should transfer everything profile specific without any bother.

Gow616 · 07-22-2008, 01:19 PM

I am going out on a limb and guessing he doesn't have that luxury.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocturnecsh

It was a nice ride, but now that my XP PC is "pushing up daisies", I am moving on to a Vista machine.

nocturnecsh · 07-22-2008, 01:20 PM

monahan - no can do. The reason for the move to Vista is that my XP machine is dead (Monty Python lines are FLOWING in my head right now). Motherboard is fried. No can boot. Hard drives spin though . . .

I should be able to pull the files from my backup hard drive (USB - external).

nocturnecsh · 07-22-2008, 01:36 PM

Bouncing off of monahan's comment, if the files I need are not on the backup hard drive (settings are to backup files, and document/MP3/etc. - not executables, DLLs, programs, system files, etc.), would it be possible for me to install the old hard drive (set it as Master and change the new hard drive to Secondary) and boot it up in XP? I could then "drag" the files over, right? I know the boot would be "ugly" (looking for drivers and such) and a chance the video may not display properly, but is this idea plausible?

Of course, I could just leave the old as a Secondary drive and do the same thing . . .

Gow616 · 07-22-2008, 02:31 PM

Check the drive first for the Application Data...it is all that is really needed as it has all the information.

monahan · 07-22-2008, 03:21 PM

Just slave the hard drive, or encase it in an external hub, it'll work just as well. As long as you haven't made the folders private, you should be able to access any and all relevant data without any issues. Saying that, I'm not actually sure if you can access the files and transfer settings in the same manner as well....Nope. You need the software installed on your old computer. Oh well.

What you can do, because I'm fairly sure Vista will get really pissy about the presence of another windows installation, is house the hard drive in an external hard drive casing, and drag and drop everything. It isn't a perfect solution, but it is a solution that allows you to keep all of your data.

07-22-2008, 12:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
nocturnecsh Zewbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	New PC - Going From XP to Vista - Need File Help It was a nice ride, but now that my XP PC is "pushing up daisies", I am moving on to a Vista machine. This means a reinstallation of my Zune software (amongst many others! I'm in for a couple of long nights! "Sorry my dear wife!"). I have autoplaylists, playlists, and many songs with playcounts set. Where can I find that info in the XP environment, is it possible to import the info (or files) into the Vista environment, and if so, where? I have backed up the XP machine to an external hard drive, I just don't know what I need to look for, or where to look. Are there special files that hold the data I need? I figured to install and set up like normal, close the app, copy/paste the files with the info into the proper location(s), and then restart the app (hoping the app will see the old info). I'm trying to save myself a lot of headaches. Any ideas? Thanks, nocturnecsh

07-22-2008, 12:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Justananomaly zB Nightshift Support Team Premium Member Section Staff Super Zuner Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 1,752 Reputation: 468	Most of the files you're looking for will probably appear in c:\documents and settings\YOURUSERNAME\ somewhere. Different applications put them different places. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Anomalys exist, for without struggle there is no progress." This post may or may not contain accurate information. This post is that of my own opinion, knowledge, and reasoning, and does not nessessarily reflect that of CroudGather or Zuneboards and their affiliates, period.

07-22-2008, 01:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gow616 <Genre Unbound> Support Team Premium Member Section Staff Elite Zuner Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, IN, USA Posts: 2,120 Reputation: 581 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	c:\documents and settings\YOURUSERNAME\(This is a hidden folder)Application Data\ Microsoft\Zune or Microsoft Zune. Either way it will be in the hidden Application Data folder. You will have to go to folder options and checkmark "show hidden folders". Also, what amount of RAM are you looking at? Remember if you go any greater than 4gb of RAM go with Vista x86-64 alias 64 bit to utilize all the RAM. Vista 64 can and does run 32 bit applications along with 64 bit applications, including games. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Gow now ships with Trogdor created profile picture and Munke, STKR, Volpe sig. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-22-2008, 01:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
nocturnecsh Zewbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	Bouncing off of monahan's comment, if the files I need are not on the backup hard drive (settings are to backup files, and document/MP3/etc. - not executables, DLLs, programs, system files, etc.), would it be possible for me to install the old hard drive (set it as Master and change the new hard drive to Secondary) and boot it up in XP? I could then "drag" the files over, right? I know the boot would be "ugly" (looking for drivers and such) and a chance the video may not display properly, but is this idea plausible? Of course, I could just leave the old as a Secondary drive and do the same thing . . . Last edited by Gow616 : 07-22-2008 at 02:30 PM.

07-22-2008, 02:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Gow616 <Genre Unbound> Support Team Premium Member Section Staff Elite Zuner Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, IN, USA Posts: 2,120 Reputation: 581 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Check the drive first for the Application Data...it is all that is really needed as it has all the information. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Gow now ships with Trogdor created profile picture and Munke, STKR, Volpe sig. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-22-2008, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
nocturnecsh Zewbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	GOW616 - I'm getting a Dell Inspiron 530 with 2GB RAM. Not much of a gamer - attention span is WAY too short!

07-22-2008, 01:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
monahan Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Posts: 269 Reputation: 45	Just lan the two computers up and use the transfer files and settings wizard that comes with vista. It should transfer everything profile specific without any bother.

07-22-2008, 01:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
nocturnecsh Zewbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 5 Reputation: 10	monahan - no can do. The reason for the move to Vista is that my XP machine is dead (Monty Python lines are FLOWING in my head right now). Motherboard is fried. No can boot. Hard drives spin though . . . I should be able to pull the files from my backup hard drive (USB - external).

07-22-2008, 03:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
monahan Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: UK Posts: 269 Reputation: 45	Just slave the hard drive, or encase it in an external hub, it'll work just as well. As long as you haven't made the folders private, you should be able to access any and all relevant data without any issues. Saying that, I'm not actually sure if you can access the files and transfer settings in the same manner as well....Nope. You need the software installed on your old computer. Oh well. What you can do, because I'm fairly sure Vista will get really pissy about the presence of another windows installation, is house the hard drive in an external hard drive casing, and drag and drop everything. It isn't a perfect solution, but it is a solution that allows you to keep all of your data.

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