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Exporting and Importing Profiles

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Applies To: Windows 7

Windows SteadyState provides the ability to export users’ accounts, files, and settings and then import them on another computer running Windows SteadyState. Windows 7 has a similar capability: the Windows Easy Transfer tool. Ben can use this tool to copy the ByaGuest account and its files and settings from one shared computer to another shared computer, rather than re-creating them on each.

Windows Easy Transfer is a Windows 7 installation tool that helps users move their accounts, files, and settings when they migrate from earlier Windows versions to Windows 7. The tool supports three methods for moving accounts:

  • Connect two computers by using an Easy Transfer Cable and then run Windows Easy Transfer on both computers to transfer everything.

  • Transfer accounts from one computer to another by using a network connection.

  • Export a shared computer’s accounts to a removable storage device, then transfer them to other computers.

Ben wants to copy accounts from one shared computer to another without connecting them, so he will export a shared computer’s accounts to a removable storage device. Then, he can transfer the accounts to other shared computers from the removable storage device.

Use the following procedure on the computer that you want to save and copy the account.

To export an account and its files and settings

  1. On the Start menu, type easy transfer, and then click Windows Easy Transfer.

  2. Click Next.

  3. Click An external hard disk or USB flash drive, and click Next.

  4. Click This is my old computer.

  5. Select the check box next to each account that you want to export to the removable storage device, as shown in Figure 9, and then click Next.

    Figure 9  Exporting an account by using Windows Easy Transfer

  6. In the Password box, type a password with which to protect the exported account, files, and settings. In the Confirm Password box, retype the password, and then click Save.

  7. In the Save Your Easy Transfer File dialog box, type the path and name of the Easy Transfer File that you want use for exporting the account. Then, click Save.

  8. Click Next, click Next, and then click Close.

Use the following procedure on the computer that you want to apply the account.

To import an account and its files and settings

  1. On the Start menu, type easy transfer, and then click Windows Easy Transfer.

  2. Click Next.

  3. Click An external hard disk or USB flash drive, and click Next.

  4. Click This is my new computer, and then click Yes.

  5. In the Open an Easy Transfer File dialog box, locate the Easy Transfer File that contains the accounts, and then click Open.

  6. Select the check box next to each account that you want to import, and then click Transfer.

  7. Click Close.