Microsoft User State Migration Tool (USMT) is a free Microsoft tool that covers many common migration scenarios. If your organization has enough resources to spare, does not mind spending a few month on building a proper USMT transition environment, and the transfers needed are non-personalized and standardized, USMT will probably do the job.

If so, when is Zinstall more applicable?

When you do not have the resources or time to spend several month on preparation, development and training
When you prefer your tool to be simple to use, even by less-qualified operators
When you need to transfer personalized, diverse workstations
When some transfers are cross-Windows version (i.e., Windows 10 to Windows 11 or Windows 7 to Windows 10), cross-hardware make and model (i.e., HP to Dell)
When you need a tool that is both automatic and highly-configurable when needed

Here is what you gain with Zinstall:

Usable immediately, out of the box – no deployment, scripting, training required
Portable, remotely executable, centrally executable, including command-line interface
Fully automatic by default, yet fully configurable – allows to exclude/include specific applications, folders, files, profiles, even registry entries
Transfers it all: files, profiles, settings, personalization, even applications
Supports program-less transfer – if you have your application image set, and are looking for a a way to transfer all personalization for each user
Supports various migration scenarios: over the network, from a hard drive, via shared storage, via external storage, in-place upgrades
Allows migration to VDI, to Cloud, P2V, V2V and V2P
Made for IT tech use – used by service providers, PC techs, OEMs, and many, many businesses worldwide
Flexible licensing and activation structure

If your project is complex enough to make you think of USMT, you can probably get it done faster, cheaper and more efficiently using Zinstall.

You can also check out the user guide for more scenarios and options.

Contact us and get your evaluation copy

Contact us, and we’ll be glad to assist, provide an evaluation copy and discuss options for getting your migration project done.