Vista - Windows Easy Transfer freezing on estimating size of files

I am trying to use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and
settings from my old Windows Vista Business x64 PC to my new Windows
Vista Business x64 PC.

I can launch Windows Easy Transfer, choose transfer over network
connnection, generate a key. Then I go to the new computer, launch it,
choose transfer over network, and type in the key. The two PCs link up
and then the old PC prompts me to select the files and settings I want
to transfer and where I want to transfer them to. On this screen in
the lower right corner, it says "Calculating size of files for
transfer... 1%". I can check/uncheck the items I want, but the status
never changes from "Calculating size of files for transfer... x%". It
will go all the way up to "Calculating size of files for transfer...
14%" and then just sit at 14% forever. During this calculation
process, the 'Next' button is enabled and I can click it where it
takes me to the next screen where it says "Estimating the size of
files and settings (14%)..." and shows a big green status bar that is
about 14% full. It will sit at this screen forever and never go above
14%.

I tried clicking through the file/setting selection screen as soon as
it popped up so it didnt try to calculate it on that screen, but it
just went to the second screen with the green status bar and counted
up to 14% and stopped there again.

I thought maybe it was having issues with the size of files or number
of files in my Documents folder, so I moved every large file out to a
backup folder on my D: drive. I also deleted all of the temp files in
my profile. I trimmed down my entire user folder to only be 850MB
total. I restarted the whole WET process, selected ONLY my user
account FILES (not settings) and same thing - sits at 14%.

I'm an IT professional and can totally move all of the files and
settings manually with no problem. I just thought I'd give the "easy"
way a whirl to see how easy it was. Sure enough, it doesnt work at
all.

What is wrong with Windows Easy Transfer?

On May 1, 3:53 pm, mikemiller.inn...@gmail.com wrote:
> I am trying to use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and
> settings from my old Windows Vista Business x64 PC to my new Windows
> Vista Business x64 PC.
>
> I can launch Windows Easy Transfer, choose transfer over network
> connnection, generate a key. Then I go to the new computer, launch it,
> choose transfer over network, and type in the key. The two PCs link up
> and then the old PC prompts me to select the files and settings I want
> to transfer and where I want to transfer them to. On this screen in
> the lower right corner, it says "Calculating size of files for
> transfer... 1%". I can check/uncheck the items I want, but the status
> never changes from "Calculating size of files for transfer... x%". It
> will go all the way up to "Calculating size of files for transfer...
> 14%" and then just sit at 14% forever. During this calculation
> process, the 'Next' button is enabled and I can click it where it
> takes me to the next screen where it says "Estimating the size of
> files and settings (14%)..." and shows a big green status bar that is
> about 14% full. It will sit at this screen forever and never go above
> 14%.
>
> I tried clicking through the file/setting selection screen as soon as
> it popped up so it didnt try to calculate it on that screen, but it
> just went to the second screen with the green status bar and counted
> up to 14% and stopped there again.
>
> I thought maybe it was having issues with the size of files or number
> of files in my Documents folder, so I moved every large file out to a
> backup folder on my D: drive. I also deleted all of the temp files in
> my profile. I trimmed down my entire user folder to only be 850MB
> total. I restarted the whole WET process, selected ONLY my user
> account FILES (not settings) and same thing - sits at 14%.
>
> I'm an IT professional and can totally move all of the files and
> settings manually with no problem. I just thought I'd give the "easy"
> way a whirl to see how easy it was. Sure enough, it doesnt work at
> all.
>
> What is wrong with Windows Easy Transfer?

Well it turns out that Windows Easy Transfer works. It is just
painfully slow and I am impatient. I left the old PC at the 14% screen
and about an hour later, it kicked over and started copying the files.

Lesson learned: Be patient.