Moving to Windows 7 from a 32-bit Vista system? Check out Microsoft's own free utility Windows Easy Transfer. It helps you copy files and settings from one PC to another. (Easy Transfer comes with Windows 7.)

The new version of Windows Easy Transfer adds a file explorer, which simplifies the task of selecting the specific files you want to copy. Easy Transfer won't hang if it encounters a file or setting that it can't move. Rather, it will complete the transfer and then provide a report detailing everything it couldn't copy.

There is some bad news, though: Windows Easy Transfer won't copy your programs. To set up a PC-to-PC connection, you'll need an Easy Transfer Cable, which costs about $20. Other transfer options include a USB flash drive, an external hard disk, and a network connection.

Note: This link takes you to the vendor's site, where you can download the latest version of the software.

--Jeff Bertolucci