Can Easy Transfer from Windows 8 be downloaded?

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Can Easy Transfer from Windows 8 be downloaded?

by jw4444 Jan 2, 2014 9:49PM PST

So I had a Windows 8 machine & upgraded to 8.1 before I found out all the sneaky underhanded sleazy things Microsoft did. In particular pulling the useful (and in my case necessary) 'Easy Transfer' tool that was *on my machine* in Windows 8 and replacing it with a something completely useless to me and calling the same thing which it isn't. Thanks, Microsoft...

So I'm wondering if the Windows 8 Easy Transfer is available for download somewhere and hoping it will work under Windows 8.1.

It doesn't look like the Windows 8.1 upgrade keeps any of the Windows 8 stuff in case you change your mind and want to go back, which is starting to look like a really good idea.

It's a brand-name pre-installed thing so no Widows 8 media, just a recovery partition so I can return the machine to factory with Windows 8 or even go to an OEM Windows 7 (alas no drivers). Rather odious at this point, but may be my only option.

Unless maybe there's a way to pull the Win 8 files from what's on the recovery partition (*.swm files) .

My God what are they thinking...what are they turning into up there at Microsoft?

Thanks & Sorry about the ranting
JW

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I agree MS did a lousy job w/8 UI

by wpgwpg Jan 2, 2014 10:17PM PST

It appears that MS has finally gotten the message that forcing that new Metro user interface on desktop & laptop users is an exercise in lunacy. Rumors have it that 8.2 will fix a lot of the problems, and we can only hope the new CEO listens to customers more in the future.
Regarding your situation, anyone experienced with computer maintenance and repair will be quick to tell you that having a full system backup is something that everyone should have & keep up to date. Doing otherwise is only at your own peril unfortunately.
When you've gotten your system back like you want it, I urge you to get yourself an external hard drive and a good 3rd party backup program. You can set it up to do everything automagically at the time and frequency of your choice. 1 TB external hard drives are about $60 these days and a really good FREE backup program is the Easeus Todo Backup Free. That can save you a lot of time and frustration the next time something like this happens. Sooner or later it happens to all computers for one reason or another.

Good luck.

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Thanks for your reply.

by jw4444 Jan 3, 2014 6:33AM PST

Well it's encouraging that there may be some light at the end of this very dark tunnel for Microsoft. I really think they need a 180 in their corporate culture and that's a big job. Even as big as they are they just can't go on treating their customers with such contempt and survive.

I take your point about backup, of course. At this point there's no data on the new machine to worry about, it's all still stuck on the old XP box! I'm just annoyed that if I wipe the new machine to change o/s, I loose the work I've done installing software, etc. and if I don't, I have to go to more trouble transferring data by hand or using another program (I'm looking at Laplink's PCmover or Zinstall) than I would have if M$ had left me the Easy Transfer pgm that I had before I "upgraded". All because of their greed-driven frippery and spiteful determination to punish people still using XP.

But thanks anyway for your suggestions.

JW

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Try Classic Shell

by wpgwpg Jan 3, 2014 8:57AM PST

Classic Shell gives Windows 8.x the Start button and menu back along with the look and feel of prior versions and it's free. I have to warn you that trying to downgrade a computer built for Windows 8 to Windows 7 is fraught with peril, so try the free Classic Shell. It solves most of the objections people have with the Metro madness.

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I will

by jw4444 Jan 4, 2014 1:05AM PST

> trying to downgrade a computer built for Windows 8 to Windows 7 is fraught with peril,

I know it well! Not really an option in this case.

I have a couple of similar things but 'Classic Shell' sounds like a good one, I'll check it out...Thanks

Back to Windows 8 forum

jw4444 · Accepted Answer · Jan 6, 2014 3:02AM PST

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An update

by jw4444 Jan 6, 2014 3:02AM PST

An update,

I mentioned this was a brand-name machine, like most these days you dont get a CD/DVD with the O/S on it but rather there's a "recovery" partition with an image of the system partition in "factory default" condition with the O/S installed with drivers and supplied software. In my case this partition had a '\RecoveryImage' folder with many *.SWM files. Long story short, I was able to use these files to mount a virtual copy of the factory default image (used a DOS command included with Windows, 'DISM'). This gave me access to Windows 8 before I upgraded it. I copied out the '\windows\system32\migwiz' folder, ran the 'migwiz.exe' within, got the original 'East Transfer' (that works with Windows XP) and it worked like a charm...did exactly what I wanted. Problem solved.

Moral of story, if you have Windows 8 and your considering upgradeing to 8.1: Dont...or a least do some reading and consider the repercussions. At the very least, before you upgrade, save a copy of that 'migwiz' folder - it's not large. Keep it on a flash drive, it will probably come in handy.

If you have Windows 8.1 and want a fully working 'Easy Transfer', find a Windows 8 machine and grab a copy of the 'migwiz' folder. It works fine on Windows 8.1, you can probaby just copy over the 8.1 version. And raise a finger in the general direction of Redmond, Wa

JW

Can Easy Transfer from Windows 8 be downloaded?

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