Windows Easy Transfer is designed to make it easy to transfer your Windows settings and files from one Windows installation to another. But the utility selects ALL internal drives to transfer by default. If you’re like me, you may have terabytes of files stored on internal drives and there is no need to transfer these files if you’re planning to simply move these drives.
To speed up transfer and avoid the redundant step of copying unnecessary files, click Customize – Advanced and uncheck other drives. If you run Windows Programs from any drives other than C:, make sure you include these Program folders. Once you have completed this step, the data to be transferred will go down to megabytes from terabytes. Of course, your results will vary with the amount of data you store in your Document folder. I personally don’t store my files there by default.
Other steps to speed up transfer
Review the files stored in your Windows user folder and delete or move any obsolete files.
Other Windows services or running program may interfere with Windows Easy Transfer. Start WET from a clean boot.
Steps to enter clean boot mode.
1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.
3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.
4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
5. Click OK.
6. When you are prompted, click Restart.
7. After the computer starts, use windows easy transfer.