As mentioned in earlier blog post, Windows XP is not a valid upgrade path for Windows 7. Microsoft has maintained this stance and is agressively making an attempt to control the damage with over 60% of PC users still on Windows XP.

An average Windows XP user would have been using the same system for about 4 years or more. This means a lot of emails, documents, pictures, movies, etc. With a clean installation of Windows 7, How can a user migrate all this information the way a user is used to looking at these files?

Microsoft has attempted to respond to this need through their User State Migration Tool (version 4.0). This tool is primarly used for enterprise level deployment of an upgrade while ensuring that all data is kept safe. Microsoft has also released a video for the summary of the process. Click here to download the video.

However, Microsoft has ignored the degree of complexity that is required to use this tool by an average user. With focus at enterprises who have dedicated and skilled workforce to write scripts and automate backup and resoration, the tool will not be handy for a common user. It requires command line and scripting knowledge. To top it all, there are some noted issues with USMT 4.0. There are IT professionals who are troubled by data not getting recovered completely.

There is an immediate need of a tool that can seamlessly provide this assistance to home and small business users to manage data migration. Microsoft must provide this to Windows XP customers.