Operating System
User State Migration in Windows XP
Microsoft Corporation
Published: June 2001
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of tools for migrating files and settings in the Windows® XP operating system. Part 1 includes a summary of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, which is aimed at individual users in a home, small office or lightly managed corporate environment. Part II provides a technical overview of the User State Migration Tool, a command-line tool designed for performing mass deployments of the Windows XP Professional in a corporate environment.
This is a preliminary document and may be changed substantially prior to final commercial release of the software described herein. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.
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Contents
Introduction 3
Part I: Files and Settings Transfer Wizard Overview 4
Benefits of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard 4
Migrated Settings 4
Application settings 4
Summary of migrated settings 4
Migrated Files 5
Part II: User State Migration Tool (USMT) Overview 6
Benefits of USMT 6
What’s in USMT 7
Using USMT 8
ScanState.exe Syntax 9
LoadState.exe Syntax 9
Modifying the Migration Rule INF File 11
Special Folder and Environment Variable Support 11
File Include Rules 11
File Exclude Rules 11
Write to a Different Location Than Read 12
Wildcards 12
Registry Include Rules 13
Registry Exclude Rules 13
Registry Move and Copy Rules 14
Rule Precedence 14
Summary 16
Related Links 17
Migrating files and settings is made easier in Windows XP with two tools aimed at different types of users and situations:
· Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. Designed for home users and small office users. The wizard is also useful in a corporate network environment for employees who get a new computer and need to migrate their own files and settings without the support of an IT department or Helpdesk.
· User State Migration Tool (USMT). Designed for IT administrators in performing large deployments of Windows XP Professional in a corporate environment. USMT provides the same functionality as the wizard, but on a large scale targeted at migrating multiple users. USMT gives administrators command line precision in customizing specific settings such as unique modifications to the registry.
This paper is presented in two parts. Part 1 provides a short overview of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and helps users get started. Part II provides a deeper technical overview of USMT and shows administrators how to approach the modification of INF files.
This section provides a summary of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. This tool is aimed at individual users in a home or small office environment, allowing them to migrate all of their files and settings.
The wizard provides a quick and straightforward way for users to copy their files and settings and resume optimal productivity on their new computer or new installation of Windows. The wizard makes it easier to move to Windows XP through reduced:
· Downtime re-personalizing the desktop.
· Downtime finding missing work files.
· Need to call technical support with re-personalizing the desktop.
· Ramp-up time using the new operating system.
The settings fall into four major groups:
· Appearance. This includes items such as wallpaper, colors, sounds, and the location of the taskbar.
· Action. This includes items 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 item to open it.
· Internet. These are the settings that let you connect to the Internet and control how your browser operates. This includes items such as your home page URL, favorites or bookmarks, cookies, security settings, dial-up connections, and proxy settings.
· Mail. This includes the information you need to connect to your mail server, your signature file, views, mail rules, local mail, and contacts. The mail clients supported are Outlook® and Outlook Express.
The wizard currently supports migrating specific application settings including Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, Outlook®, PowerPoint®, and Word). Support for migrating additional applications will be included when Windows XP is released.
Note that only applications settings are migrated; actual applications are not migrated. Users still need to re-install applications on your new computer.
Migrated setting groups include:
· Internet Explorer settings
· Outlook Express settings and store
· Outlook settings and store
· Dial-Up connections
· Phone and modem options
· Accessibility
· Screen saver selection
· Fonts
· Folder options
· Taskbar settings
· Mouse and keyboard settings
· Sounds settings
· Regional options
· Office settings
· Network drives and printers
· Desktop folder
· My Documents folder
· My Pictures folder
· Favorites folder
· Cookies folder
· Common Office file types
Files are migrated by file type (.DOC), folder (C:\My Documents), or specific name (C:\Important\money.mny). The wizard copies many of the common file types and folders by default and gives you the option of adding or removing folders, file types, or specific files.
To start the wizard
· Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.
For detailed guidance in using the wizard in different scenarios, see Step-by-Step Guide to Migrating Files and Settings at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/techinfo/howitworks/filesettings/migrating.asp.
The User State Migration Tool provides all the same functionality as the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard plus the ability for administrators to fully customize specific settings such as unique modifications to the registry.
USMT is designed for administrators only; individual users do not need to use USMT. In addition, USMT requires a client computer that is connected to a Windows Server domain controller.
USMT reduces the cost of deploying the operating system by addressing each of the following areas:
· Migration technicians costs.
· Employee downtime re-personalizing the desktop.
· Employee downtime finding missing work files.
· Help desk calls assisting employees with re-personalizing their desktop.
· Employee ramp up time on the new operating system.
· Employee satisfaction with the migration experience.
USMT is driven by a shared set of INFs files that can be modified by IT professionals or OEMs. In virtually all cases, when using USMT for automated migration, IT pros will want to modify the INFs to better handle their unique environment and needs. This section addresses the technical details to help IT pros use USMT and modify INF files.
The User State Migration Tool consists of two executable files, ScanState.exe, LoadState.exe, and four migration rule information files Migapp.inf, Migsys.inf, Miguser.inf, and Sysfiles.inf.
ScanState.exe collects user data 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 fresh (not upgraded) installation of Windows XP Professional. Both of these tools can be found on the Windows XP CD in the \valueadd\msft\usmt\ folder.
Additional INF files can be created for additional migration requirements. With no modification to default settings, USMT migrates:
· Classic desktop
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