User State Migration Tool

The User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a Microsoft command line utility program intended to allow advanced users, comfortable with Scripting languages, to transfer files and settings between PCs. This task is also performed by Windows Easy Transfer, recommended for general users. USMT supports the high-volume, automated deployment of files and settings from Microsoft Windows versions 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 and is useful in migrating user settings and files during OS upgrades. 32-bit to 64-bit migrations are supported, but 64-bit to 32-bit are not.

Because USMT has high complexity and a command line interface, there have been several attempts to provide access to its useful functionality by creating GUI wrappers for it.

Versions

USMT 3.0.1 and 2.6.2 are available publicly.[1][2] USMT 3.0.2 is a limited private release on Microsoft Connect for select affected customers. USMT 4 is included in the Windows Automated Installation Kit. USMT 5 and later versions are included in the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).[3]

Source and destination OSes

USMT version Source operating system Destination operating system
USMT 2 Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP, Windows XP Professional x64 Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP
USMT 3 Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP, Windows XP Professional x64, Windows Vista (All 32-bit and 64-bit editions) Windows XP, Windows Vista (All 32-bit and 64-bit editions)
USMT 4 Windows XP SP3, Windows XP Professional x64, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7 (All 32-bit and 64-bit editions) Windows Vista, Windows 7 (All 32-bit and 64-bit editions)
USMT 5 Windows XP, Windows XP Professional x64, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 (All 32-bit and 64-bit editions) Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 (All 32-bit and 64-bit Editions)

What USMT transfers

USMT transfers[4]

History

USMT was designed to move settings and data from one Windows-based computer to another. It is a command-line tool designed for system administrators and is an alternative to other GUI tools (e.g. Files and Settings Transfer Wizard and Windows Easy Transfer). USMT is designed to perform mass migrations and allows customizations designed for corporate environments.

With Windows 8, many settings and data are now being synchronized in cloud services via a Microsoft Account and Skydrive.

Practical use of USMT

USMT consists of two separate programs. Scanstate.exe scans the source PC for the data and settings and stores it in a .MIG file. Loadstate migrates the data and settings from the .MIG file onto the target PC.

What to transfer is specified as commandline switches in the configuration XML files migapp.xml, migsys.xml, miguser.xml and other optional Config.xml files. Which Users (and their data) to transfer is controlled by other switches.

An example of a "load data on to PC" command could look like this (in one line – newlines and indents added here for readability):

loadstate "Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1"
          /i:"Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\migapp.xml"
          "Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\migsys.xml"
          /i:"Y:\temp\Migrationstorage\WS_toolshop1\miguser.xml"
          /ue:*\* /ui:gutte /ui:Lotta /lac /lae
          /progress:"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\USMTprog.log"
          /l:"C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\USMTscan.log"..
          /c

The "Scanstate" command is similar in complexity. Both commands require strict adherence to syntax.

GUI wrappers for USMT

Because of the complexity of USMT command-line input, there are third-party GUI front-ends available on the Internet, e.g.

References

  1. ↑ USMT 3.0.1
  2. ↑ USMT 2.6.2
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ more details on Microsoft Technet

External links

  1. ↑
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