Getting Started with Windows Vista
Don't wait to get started with your new PC. Windows Vista helps to take the hassle out of transferring your files from your old computer to your new one.
Setting up a new computer
Your computer is like a file cabinet, a bookshelf full of photo albums and a mile-high CD rack. The thought of getting all that data onto a new computer can be frightening, especially if it's used by more than one family member. Windows Vista has a new tool that does much of the work for you.
The Windows Easy Transfer Wizard in Windows Vista helps to automatically gather the files and settings for each person who uses your current computer, and to transfer those files and settings to your new one, so you can be productive on your new computer from the very beginning.
The Windows Easy Transfer Wizard helps you move your files from your old computer to your new one.
Windows Easy Transfer lets you choose how to transfer the information: by transferring files over a network, burning CDs or DVDs, or storing the data on an external hard drive. The easiest method for most people will be to use an Easy Transfer Cable, which is a special type of cable that you plug into both computers. The cable is designed to work with the Windows Transfer Wizard to transfer all of your files and settings. You can buy an Easy Transfer Cable from many retailers and computer manufacturers.
Back up and restore
Once you've transferred all of your data to your computer running Windows Vista, you'll want to make sure you can get it back in case of an emergency. That means you need an easy back-up and recovery plan you can trust.
With Windows Backup Center, you pick the day, time and how often you want to back up your files, folders and settings. You can also specify the type of data to back up, such as documents, photos or music. Windows Vista takes care of the rest. And you won't be interrupted while you work, because automatic data back-up occurs in the background, regardless of when you've scheduled your back-up. You can continue to use your computer, even when it's backing up. And if your PC is turned off at the time the back-up is scheduled to occur, the back-up process will begin when you next turn on your computer.
You can use the Windows Backup Center to both back up and restore your files or entire computer.
Easily backing up your data is only part of the story - you also need a way to get your files back where they belong if something happens to them. Using the Windows Vista Restore Wizard, you choose only what you want to restore - whether it's an individual file, a group of photos or even your entire system and its related settings. Windows Vista will take care of putting the files back where they were before they were lost.
