Always been confused when transfering data from an old PC to a new one?

Want to know how “WET” can help you?

Put in very simple terms, ‘WET’ is an abreviation for ‘Windows Easy Transfer’ and this very useful application can save time for a lot of people transfering from Windows XP to Windows 7 but is often overlooked – until now.

WET comes pre-installed on most newer releases of Microsofts Operating Systems (OS) and designed specifically for helping users transfering saved information, data, images and settings stored currently running on Windows XP or a more recent PC running Windows 7.

WET will even transfer your wallpaper.

Often a lot of people use third party applications like Norton Ghost to backup a PC to another but often for applications like this, users have to pay quite a bit of money for the privilidge of this. I know myself that I have always found an alternative way around this until recently having to re-build a PC and upgrading the Operating System (OS) together.

With everything having to be organised when transfering information from one PC to another and trying not to miss the important information, Norton’s Ghost will create its own custom image probably to complicate things a little more.

The main benefit WET has over Norton Ghost and competitors is that it is FREE and it comes pre-installed with your PC. As it is currently installed in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP, it makes it pretty easy for any user to migrate from one Operating System to another.

Here is a useful link if you want more information on getting started with Windows Easy Transfer – read more

WET is quite a flexible application as it gives users the option to transfer information either onto a hard drive, through a network or alternatively through an ‘easy transfer cable’ which is more formally known as a USB-A to USB-A cable.

Note : Not all programs and settings are going to transfer to your new OS but this definitely makes it easier to transfer compatible program settings, your files, folders and important documents.

We’ve just recently recieved news in within the past few hours from Dell UK about Windows XP becoming end of life. It’s a bit of a sad era for probably one of the most popular Operating Systems Windows have ever developed.

When Windows XP was first released in retail stores towards the end of October 2001, Microsoft managed to sell an astonishing 17m copies in just over two months, it’s been through 100’s of tweaks and upgrades, but topping that, total sales rose to in 2004 to a jaw dropping 210m copies.

Since Windows was released back on the 25th October 2001, Windows XP has gone through three service packs, three commercial versions including Home, Professional and Media Centre Edition (MCE). On the 13th July 2010 Microsoft release a statement stating that support for service pack 1, and 2 would stop forcing all their users to update to service pack 3.

Dell were one company which offered business and commercial clients the ability to downgrade their operating systems from Windows Vista and Windows 7 to Windows XP. It has however been confirmed that on the 23rd September 2010, Dell would not be offering this as a service and is recommending all Dell customers to upgrade from XP to a more preferred platform – Windows 7.

Microsoft have said that customer can “roll back” systems from Windows 7 Pro/Ultimate to XP Pro for the life time of Windows 7. (You must also factor into this that Microsoft will stop supporting XP during this time also). This means though that at any point you, as a Microsoft Customer, have rights to downgrade your OEM Windows 7 system to XP Pro.

 There are two methods of doing this – 

 1.       using your own XP Pro media from another Dell system    

 2.       Purchasing one copy of Software Assurance (S.A.) will give you imaging rights.** 

  **S.A. can only be applied within 90 days of system purchase 

 Please follow the below instructions – 

****BEST SOLUTION****

 Currently a Dell customer and need to understand the impact of this on your business? Have you used Windows Vista and Windows 7 and just a born and bred XP user? Currently on Service Pack 1 or 2 and need help updating to  SP3?

When Windows XP was first released in retail stores towards the end of October 2001, Microsoft managed to sell an astonishing 17m copies in just over two months, it’s been through 100’s of tweaks and upgrades, but topping that, total sales rose to in 2004 to a jaw dropping 210m copies.

Windows XP is all around us, what a lot of people don’t know is that Windows XP is even installed on ATM’s. I remember the old ATM I used to use in Woolworths which used to Blue Screen but it’s not only ATM’s that use Windows XP, the self-checkout tills in Tesco and Asda are running as well.

For any users who currently use the old Service Packs of Windows XP it’s essential that you upgrade your copy of Windows XP Home, Professional, Media Centre Edition or Tablet Edition before 13^th July 2010 or you won’t receive any help from Microsoft as they are stopping support making Microsoft’s Service Pack 1 and 2 a ‘legacy’ software.

So if you are on Service Pack 2, you can upgrade through Windows Update which is under ‘All Programs’ accessible through your ‘Start’ button at the bottom left of your screen. However, if you are on Service Pack 1, it’s not as easy to go straight to Service Pack 3. You firstly need to go to Service Pack 2 and then upgrade to 3.

Service Pack 3 was released as an upgrade to existing computers running SP2 on 29^th April 2008 (quite a while ago in computer terms) with more security updates and newer features compared to its predecessors. Microsoft didn’t necessarily aim their update to consumers but to businesses that are deploying computers.

Service Pack 3 contains three new areas not in the previous versions:

Networking

• Network Access Protection (NAP) modules and policies have been migrated from Vista. NAP is more of a corporate update
• New updates and patches making it more stable and secure
• Improvement to black hole router detection, for people who don’t know what a black hole router is one that discards packets of data silently.

Security

• A new kernel that provides access to cryptographic algorithms
• To aid users into not selecting the incorrect security settings, Microsoft have made the Control Panel more descriptive.

Miscellaneous

• A new Windows Product activation that doesn’t require users to input a product key during setup
• Can detect routers discarding data
• HD audio support which is going to be beneficial for gamers

To upgrade to Service Pack 3, it’s an easy process to upgrade, just simply go to ‘Start > All Programs > Windows Update’. Once forwarded to the Internet Explorer page, just select ‘Express (Recommended)’ and Windows will do all the updates for you. You will however have to make sure that any current programs are closed, shut, saved and preferably backed up to an external hard drive or another peripheral as your computer will have to restart towards the end of the update.

If you need more information on updating to Service Pack 3, please click here.