Moving settings to new computer

mikey r · 3 Sept 2012, 02:35

I just put a new computer together and would like to transfer my preferences and toolbar setups to the new installation. Is this possible?
I did copy the Plugins directory over and that worked ok. The toolbar setups are the most important. Thanks.

Dave R · 3 Sept 2012, 02:39

You could export the registry for SketchUp but I think you'd be better off making a screen grab from the old machine showing where your toolbars are and then setting up the new machine to match.

If you've created your own custom template, don't forget to grab it and set it as your default on the new one.

Dan Rathbun · 3 Sept 2012, 04:05

On Windows, grab an empty thumbdrive, plug it in the old machine.

Log on to the user account you wish to MIGRATE.

Go to: StartMenu > Programs > Accessories > System Tools

Choose:
On XP: Files and Settings Transfer Wizard

On Win7: Windows Easy Transfer

At one time this utility was called the Migration Assistant, I think. (Dang MicroSoft keeps changing the name of things.)

I am not sure if you would need to download Easy Transfer for an XP machine, to migrate the profile to Win7.
I just did this for my Aunt, but she went from a year-old Win7 machine to a newer Win7 machine. It worked great!

Dan Rathbun · 3 Sept 2012, 07:47

@dan rathbun said:

I am not sure if you would need to download Easy Transfer for an XP machine, to migrate the profile to Win7.

I guess you do. Here are the links at Microsoft download:

Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (32 bit) to Windows 7

Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (64 bit) to Windows 7

mikey r · 3 Sept 2012, 09:17

@dave r said:

You could export the registry for SketchUp but I think you'd be better off making a screen grab from the old machine showing where your toolbars are and then setting up the new machine to match.

If you've created your own custom template, don't forget to grab it and set it as your default on the new one.

Hi Dave,
I did remember the template and was just trying to save time with the toolbars. I thought there might be a preferences file like with Firefox and some others I moved over. Thanks.

Gaieus · 3 Sept 2012, 09:19

You can export (then import) your shortcuts but unfortunately not the toolbar settings. In fact, the whole registry area o SU is (probably) too cluttered especially due to the toolbar settings that I doubt it would be wise to play around with them.

Dave R · 3 Sept 2012, 09:35

You're very likely to have a bunch of unneeded/unwanted toolbar entries in the registry due to a quirk with SketchUp. No point in bringing all those over to the new machine.

mikey r · 3 Sept 2012, 10:09

@dan rathbun said:

@dan rathbun said:

I am not sure if you would need to download Easy Transfer for an XP machine, to migrate the profile to Win7.

I guess you do. Here are the links at Microsoft download:

Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (32 bit) to Windows 7

Windows Easy Transfer for transferring from Windows XP (64 bit) to Windows 7

Hi Dan,
I don't want to transfer everything on the computer. Would this just let me do Sketchup?
I built my own computer to avoid bloatware and get a new clean install of windows 7.
Thanks,
Mike

Dan Rathbun · 3 Sept 2012, 21:49

Yes you can pick and choose what you wish to copy.

It works similar to a backup program, or a 3rd-party CD Burner program.

Dave is correct about the toolbar entries. The registry features of SU need some TLC, automatic cleanup etc.

It's not hard to resetup the toolbars. Five mins max. Either put your old computer next to the new one for reference, or print out a screen shot.

The shortcuts are kept in the registry, but as Gaieus said there is a export/import utility built-in for those.

The ones you might wish to migrate, are the savings for WebDialogs or plugins.
The WebDialog keys all begin with "WebDialog_"

Unfortunately... there is no common prefix for plugin settings keys.