The Files And Setting Transfer Wizard (F.A.S.T.) is a utility provided with Windows XP that helps to migrate important files and settings from an older operating system into Windows XP.

The following links provide step by step instructions on using the Files And Setting Transfer Wizard.

• (KB 293118) HOW TO: Use Files & Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
• (KB 306186) HOW TO: Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard By Using the Windows XP CD-ROM (Rev 3 Recovery CD)
• (KB 306187) HOW TO: Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard with a Wizard Disk in Windows XP

The files and settings can be migrated using:

• 3.5 inch disks or other removable media. (removable media such as CD R or DVD R requires that the F.A.S.T. data file be saved to the hard drive, then written to the optical media - if the file size is too large for one disc, the F.A.S.T. utility may need to be run several times, capturing different data types each time so that the data file is smaller)
• A direct cable connection from your old computer to your new computer.
• A drive on a home network.

Transferring files over a network connection is the fastest (a crossover cable between two computers with network cards is an option)

The Files And Settings Transfer Wizard can migrate the settings from an older Microsoft Windows computer to a newer Windows XP system. One of the following operating systems must be installed on the "older" computer:

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows XP

Limitations with the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard:

• For security reasons, passwords are not migrated.
• Does not migrate the video resolution setting.
• Multimedia files (which are large and cannot be compressed) greatly increase the size of the exported F.A.S.T. data file.
• At times, particularly on large migrations, the Status Bar may appear to be frozen. As long as the hard drive light is flashing, all is probably well.
• The log file is in %CSIDL_LOCAL_APPDATA% ? for those so inclined to look at things like this. :)
• F.A.S.T. will not support migrating more than 63,000 files.
• When transferring large amounts of data over a null modem cable, the transfer time can be calculated in days. Since the speed of a null modem cable is so slow (.115 Mbit/second), this can be agonizingly slow. There aren't any workarounds to this outside of running the F.A.S.T. on the old system and saving the data to a file on the hard drive, then moving the old hard drive to the new system (the hard drive must be formatted FAT32) and using the F.A.S.T. utility to import the settings from the old drive (this would be a Paid Support call).

What information can be transferred by the program?

The following settings can be transferred:

• Accessibility
• Command Prompt Settings
• Display Properties
• Internet Explorer Settings
• Microsoft Messenger
• Microsoft NetMeeting
• Mouse And Keyboard
• MSN Explorer
• Network Printer And Drives
• Outlook and Outlook Express (does not install the programs)
• Regional Settings
• Sounds And Multimedia
• Taskbar Options
• Windows Media Player (does not install the program)
• Windows Movie Maker (does not install the program)

Additional settings cannot be added manually.

The following default folders (and their contents) can be transferred:

• Desktop
• Fonts
• My Documents
• My Pictures
• Shared Desktop
• Shared Documents
• Favorites folder
• Cookies folder

Additional folders can be specified manually.

The following default file types can be transferred (the program searches the entire hard drive for the file types specified):

• *.asf (Windows Media Audio/Video file)
• *.asx (Windows Media Audio/Video shortcut)
• *.AU (AU format sound)
• *.avi (video clip)
• *.cov (fax cover page file)
• *.cpe (fax cover page file)
• *.doc (WordPad document)
• *.eml (Internet e-mail message)
• *.m3u (M3U file)
• *.mid (MIDI sequence)
• *.midi (MIDI sequence)
• *.mp2 (Movie File MPEG)
• *.mp3 (MP3 Format Sound)
• *.mpa (Movie File MPEG)
• *.mpeg (Movie File MPEG)
• *.MSWMM (Windows Movie Maker Project)
• *.nws (Internet News Message)
• *.rft (Rich Text Format)
• *.snd (AU Sound Format)
• *.wav (Wave Sound)
• *.wm (Windows Media Audio/Video file)
• *.wma (Windows Media Audio file)
• *.wri (Write document)

Additional file types can be specified manually.

The following is a list of the programs whose settings can be migrated when you use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard can also transfer settings for select third-party programs. Note that the wizard does not transfer or install the actual programs, it only transfers the settings for the programs. In order for these settings to take effect on the Windows XP-based computer, the programs must be installed on the target computer before you migrate the settings.
Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated

For more information, please use the following links:

• (KB 293118) HOW TO: Use Files & Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
• (KB 306186) HOW TO: Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard By Using the Windows XP CD-ROM
• (KB 283734) Passwords Are Not Migrated by the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard or User State Migration Tool
• (KB 302763) Display Resolution Is Not Migrated by the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard or the User State Migration Tool
• (KB 301999) ?Home or Small Network? Option Is Unavailable in the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard
• (KB 312965) How to Troubleshoot Issues with the User State Migration Tool & the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard
• (KB 306187) HOW TO: Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard with a Wizard Disk in Windows XP
• (KB 307869) Files & Settings Are Not Transferred When You Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard
• (KB 304903) List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard

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