Error message when you use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files in Windows 7: “Windows Easy Transfer couldn’t open the file”

Method 1: Verify the location of the migration store files

1. Click Start , and then click Computer.
   

2. In the Search Computer box in the upper-right hand corner, type *.mig*, and then press ENTER.
   

3. Note the location of all files that have a *.mig extension such as *.mig, *.mig01, and so on.
   

4. Make sure that all files that have a *.mig extension are in the same folder. If they are not in the same folder, follow these steps:
   

   1. Select a folder in the migration store.
      

   2. Select all the *.mig files that are listed in the Search Results window and that are not in the migration folder that you chose in step 4a.
      

   3. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
      

   4. Open the folder that you chose in step 4a, and on the Edit menu, click Paste.
      

5. Try to run Windows Easy Transfer again.
   

If method 1 does not resolve the issue, try method 2.

Method 2: Copy the migration store files to another location

1. Right-click an empty area of your desktop, point to New, and then click Folder.
   

2. Name the folder Migration Temp, and press Enter.
   

3. Click Start , and then click Computer.
   

4. In the Search Computer box in the upper-right hand corner, type *.mig*, and then press ENTER.
   

5. Note the location of all files that have a *.mig extension such as *.mig, *.mig01, and so on.
   

6. Select all the files that have a *.mig extension and that are listed in the Search Results window.
   

7. On the Edit menu, click Copy.
   

8. Open the Migration Temp folder, and on the Edit menu, click Paste.
   

9. Run Windows Easy Transfer, and point to the Migration Temp folder location when you transfer files and settings to the computer.
   

If method 2 does not resolve the issue, try method 3.

Method 3: Check the hard disk for errors

Use the Chkdsk tool to check for disk problems. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , and then click Computer.
   

2. Right-click the drive that contains the migration files, and then click Properties.
   

3. On the Tools tab, click Check Now in the Error-checking area.
   

4. Click to select the Automatically fix file system errors check box, and then click to select the Scan for and try recovery of bad sectors check box.
   

5. Click Start.
   

6. If you receive the following message, click Schedule disk check, and then restart the computer:

   Windows can’t check the disk while it’s in use. Do you want to schedule the disk check to occur the next time you restart the computer?
   
   
   Note: Depending on the size of the hard disk, the disk check may take several minutes. To achieve the best results, do not use the computer for any other tasks during the disk check.
   

Try to run Windows Easy Transfer again. If you continue to have problems, please contact Microsoft Support for more help.