Migrating User Settings to Windows

Default user profiles give settings to new users, but what do you do about users who already have user profiles? You can let Windows migrate the user profile. Throw disk imaging into the mix, and you have a whole different bag of problems. One of the drawbacks of using disk imaging to deploy the operating system is that users lose their documents and settings. This doesn't have to be a barrier to deployment, though. A variety of third-party utilities are available to migrate users' settings. Also, Microsoft provides two tools, one for the user and one for the IT professional:

Files And Settings Transfer Wizard.
This tool is designed for the user. This wizard is also useful in enterprise environments when employees want to migrate their own documents and settings without the IT department's help.
User State Migration Tool (USMT).
This tool is designed for IT professionals performing large-scale deployments of Windows in an enterprise. USMT provides the same functionality as the File And Settings Transfer Wizard, but on a larger scale. USMT gives IT professionals precise control over the documents and settings that it migrates.

All these tools work roughly the same way. First you copy users' documents and settings off their computers and store them on the network. You install a new disk image to their computers, and then you reapply their settings. Users get to keep their documents and settings.

Files And Settings Transfer Wizard

Files And Settings Transfer Wizard is a fast and easy way for you to copy all your documents and settings from your previous configuration to Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. To start it, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Files And Settings Transfer Wizard. It migrates settings in four major groups:

Action.
This group includes settings such as the key repeat rate, whether double-clicking a folder opens it in a new window or the same window, and whether you need to double-click or single-click an object to open it.
Internet.
This group includes settings that enable you to connect to the Internet and control how Internet Explorer works. They include settings such as your home page URL, favorites, Internet shortcuts, cookies, security settings, dial-up connections, and so on.
Mail.
This group includes settings for connecting to your mail server, your signature file, views, mail rules, local mail, and contacts. The wizard supports only Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express.
Application.
This group includes application settings such as Microsoft Office. The wizard migrates only application settings, not the applications. You must reinstall each after upgrading to Windows XP or Windows Server 2003.

Files And Settings Transfer Wizard also migrates your documents. It does so by type (*.doc), folder (C:\Documents and Settings\ username\My Documents), or name (C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\Jerry.doc). The wizard is preconfigured to copy the most common types of files and the most useful folders. It also gives you the option to change the folders, the file types, and the file lists.

User State Migration Tool

User State Migration Tool (USMT) is similar to the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard, but it also allows you to fully customize exactly what the tool migrates. USMT is designed for IT professionals only; individual users do not need to use USMT. The tool is designed for large-scale migrations, and it requires a domain controller on which to store settings during migration.

USMT consists of two programs, ScanState.exe and LoadState.exe, and four migration rule information files: Migapp.inf, Migsys.inf, Miguser.inf, and Sysfiles.inf. ScanState.exe collects users' documents and settings based on the information contained in Migapp.inf, Migsys.inf, Miguser.inf, and Sysfiles.inf. LoadState.exe deposits this user state data on a computer running a clean installation of Windows. Both of these tools are on the Windows CD in the \Valueadd\Msft\Usmt folder. The shared set of INF files drive USMT. IT professionals can modify these files to customize the documents and settings that the tool migrates. In fact, during any real deployment project, you'll most likely have to modify the INF files to handle your unique requirements.

More Info
The white paper “Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Files and Settings” is a good guide for learning how to use USMT. This white paper is available on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx.