Windows Easy Transfer for Windows 10
In Windows 7 there was an excellent tool called Windows Easy Transfer to transfer all your settings and data from one machine to another or to backup data to restore after a computer rebuild.
Well Microsoft being the helpful company they are decided to remove this from Windows 10!
So, we are fighting back and showing you how to get Windows Easy Transfer to work on your Windows 10 machine.
First of all, you need to download the Windows Easy Transfer Package available by clicking the link below:
Included in this file are the 32-bit and 64-bit files you will require. Ensure that you use the correct one for your version of Windows 10.
You will need to copy the folder called “migwiz” from within the zip file:
Then you need to paste this folder into the following location on your Windows 10 machine:
1 | C:\Windows\System32\ |
Note that we are assuming that your Windows installation is on the C: drive, if not, change the drive letter.
Then go into the “migwiz” folder and run the following file:
1 | C:\Windows\System32\migwiz\MigSetup.exe |
This will then start the setup process and launch the Windows Easy Transfer program.
If you want to use it in the future again, you can then run this file:
1 | C:\Windows\System32\migwiz\MigWiz.exe |
This will then launch the Windows Easy Transfer program:
That’s it! simple as that to bring back a tool that Microsoft should never have removed from Windows 10!
COMMENTS
If you have any questions on this guide, please feel free to leave us a message below using our Disqus system.
Seems you can only run migwiz.exe or migsetup.exe only once. After that you get a fatal error.
Really? I’ve not seen this, I’ve been able to use it multiple times.
I can’t copy the folder to system32, i get “you have not permission to perform this action”, my account is administrator.
Create a folder in the C: drive root and copy it there – it should still work from there for you.
which computer do I install WET on, the old one or the new one or both, also does it matter if one system is 32 bit and the other 64 bit? thanks
Depends on what OS you are using. Windows 7 already has it installed so no need to install it on that. Windows 10 does not have it installed so you would have to install it on that. You cannot use it cross platform – as in x86 to x64 will not work.
Struggled to find a solution to restore the MIG file i created for a customer’s laptop migration. This information provided has helped me tremendously. With no luck using usmt or willingness to pay for the third party migration tool, this process has saved me tons of time and effort. Thank you!!
Great to hear positive feedback, glad it helped you out.
I tried to copy the migwiz file where your instructions said, but I got messages that some files were duplicates of existing files and that for other files I need permission that I don’t have. Help!
Create a folder in the C: drive root and copy it there – it should still work from there for you.
had used windows easy transfer from windows 7 pc to ext. hard drive. windows 7 pc no longer bootable. just downloaded file and followed instructions. opened and ran magwiz which installed windows easy transfer. tried to transfer from ext drive to new pc and got “Windows Easy Transfer couldn’t open the file” I had a 64 bit windows on old pc that I transferred my files to the ext hard frive. used the 64 bit file in migwiz. Any suggestions would be helpful
Just to confirm what your issue is; you have taken a WET backup from a Windows 7 x64 machine and now you are trying to restore that file to a Windows 10 x64 machine?
Are you still having issues with this?
The video card just went out in my lap top and I have a gig tomorrow, wasn’t sure how I was going to get everything off the back up hard drive to my new computer then I found this! Thanks! Transferring now (I think), easy peasy.
No problem, you will have to let us know if it restored all your data fully.