Migrating customer data after reinstall

[RegEdit]

If you have to reinstall Windows (after backing up the customer's data), do you just dump it all into one folder on the desktop? Drop it inside Documents & Settings? Or do you actually manually copy the backed up "favorites" contents into the new user's "favorites" folder, and do the same for everything else found inside "documents and settings" (such as "desktop" contents), and whatever else you may have backed up?

 

[atlanticjim]

I actually ask the customer what they would like.
I burn it all to a DVD (after I have sanitized it) and give the choice of 1. separate folder "My Old Documents" with a shortcut on the desktop 2. Return the files to their appropriate file structure 3. Leave them on disk and leave it to the client to fiddle with.

 

[XFalloutX]

Most of the time I copy My Documents into the new Documents folder and so forth with the Favorites.

 

[Xander]

I put everything back where it's supposed to be. Most of my customers don't know how to search for a file or drag&drop. They don't understand that everything has been wiped and put back. All too often if ANYTHING is out of place, I get a call. It's more worth my time to just put things back to where they'll expect to find it.

 

[hardtoremember]

I put it back. It's just easier when everything is where they are used to it being.

 

[NYJimbo]

Since they mostly just ask for the favorites, pictures, music, etc.. I tend to put it right back where it belongs. As others say, most people dont have a clue about file structure, never mind copying things or understanding what file extensions are for what and so on. So the less they have to do the more likely I wont get a call back after the pick up the machine.

 

[RegEdit]

I put everything back where it's supposed to be. Most of my customers don't know how to search for a file or drag&drop. They don't understand that everything has been wiped and put back. All too often if ANYTHING is out of place, I get a call. It's more worth my time to just put things back to where they'll expect to find it.

You make some good points. I don't want any calls....

 

[RegEdit]

What program do you use to copy people's data? XCOPY command? RoboCopy? And do you filer out anything such as .dll files? I copy everything to be on the safe side, but there's definitely a lot of clutter that's inevitably gonna be transferred. I sometimes wonder if I should copy EVERYTHING to one folder, but then go back and create a special "filtered" data folder, from which I can use to drop folders back into the appropriate new install folders. Of course the files and settings transfer wizard takes care of most of this, but I'm speaking of situations when the FST is not working or not accessible (ex- due to massive virus infection).

 

[rivo99]

I always put the data back to where it is supposed to be. The docs, music and pics are easy... I always do my best to get the customers email data back into the appropriate app and reinstall popular applications like iTunes, etc.

I still get a few calls on the new setup, but mostly because some of the exact programs that the customer had installed are not there anymore.

Rivo99

 

[rkenig]

I put it back where it goes. It is easier upfront to do this than have the cusotomer call back saying they can't find their data. Most customers have docs, pics, video, and music it is not so difficult.

 

[stevenamills]

What program do you use to copy people's data?

Although it's not perfect, I use xplorer2. I find the 2 panel system easier to work with and it has a robust copy mode which, generally, will keep churning after it encounters an error.

 

[DanB]

autobackup3

Fabs Autobakup3 (http://www.technibble.com/fabs-autobackup-3-repair-tool-of-the-week/) is just excellent at this. After you try it I would suggest buying the 10 license pack for 25 euros. It will save you so much time it is well worth it. A 100 license pack works out to 1.5 EUR each. Easy to pass on to the customer.
It takes all the mail, favorites, user docs, shared folder, and anything you pick and copies it to your drive. When you are done it puts it all back where it came from.

 

[chrisaroz]

Good stuff, thanks for posting. Too bad they don't have a tech license.

 

[Larry Sabo]

+1 for Fab's Autobackup3. Does a terrific job. You have to back up the Contacts yourself though, as they are not done so by the program when backing up Windows Mail. Not sure about the Address book. Also, the Mail account settings are not restored, so be sure to note them while you can. I was told by the developer, Fabrice Parisot, that he will try to incorporate it into a new version, one of which is due to be released on Monday.

 

[RegEdit]

I wouldn't rely 100% on Fab's or the files and settings transfer wizard. Customers and programs (like Quicken) sometimes save personal data in unorthodox locations.

Can Fabs do it's export on a slave drive? Often people's C drives are so infected that they can't boot to the desktop or won't work well enough to run programs.