A method for preparing configuration settings of a source computing system for transitioning for use by a target computing system, the method comprising: providing information about configuration settings of the source computing system, the information identifying locations of configuration settings; displaying an indication of the configuration settings that can be extracted from the source computing system; receiving a selection of configuration settings to be extracted from the source computing system for use by the target computing system; extracting the selected configuration settings from the locations of the source computing system indicated by the information; manipulating at least one of the extracted configuration settings from a location, a name, a value, and a format used on the source computing system to a location, a name, a value, and a format used on the target computing system; and storing the extracted configuration settings and the at least one manipulated configuration settings on a storage device, wherein the stored configuration settings can be used by the target computing system to control its operation. view more

The method of claim 1 including installing the stored configuration settings on the target computing system.

The method of claim 2 wherein the installing is performed under control of an installation application.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include browser configuration settings.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include browser favorites.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include browser bookmarks.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include cookies.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include an electronic mail folder.

The method of claim 9 wherein the electronic mail folder is an inbox folder.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include electronic mail addresses.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extracted configuration settings include registry settings.

A method for manipulating a personality of a target computing system based on a personality of the source computing system, the source computing system having a first version of a program and the target computing system having a second version of the program, wherein the second version is different from the first version, the method comprising: providing a selection of configuration settings, wherein the configuration settings are part of the personality of the source computing system, wherein the configuration settings comprise at least one configuration setting of the first version of the program; extracting the selected configuration settings from the source computing system; manipulating the at least one extracted program configuration setting from a location, a name, a value, and a format used by the first version of the program on the source computing system to a location, a name, a value, and a format used by the second version of the program on the target computing system; storing the extracted configuration settings and the at least one manipulated configuration settings on a storage device; and applying the stored configuration settings to the target computing system so that the personality of the target computing system can be manipulated based on the configuration settings stored on the storage device. view more

The method of claim 42 wherein the personality of the source computing system includes at least one personality object.

The method of claim 43 wherein the at least one personality object includes configuration settings for a program.

A method in a computer system for preparing configuration settings for transfer from a source computing system to a target computing system, the method comprising:</claim-text> providing configuration information about configuration settings on the e computing system, the configuration information including a name and location of each configuration selling; generating an extraction plan that identifies configuration settings to be extracted from the source computing system, the generating including providing a list of configuration settings known to the source computing system and including identifying active configuration settings out of the provided list of configuration settings to be extracted from the source computing system; extracting the active configuration settings of the extraction plan from the source computing system, the extracted configuration settings being located using the provided configuration information; generating a transition plan that identifies configuration settings to be transferred from the source computing system to the target computing system, the generating including providing active configuration settings of the extraction plan and including identifying from the active configuration settings of the extraction plan active configuration settings to be transferred from the source computing system to the target computing; and for each active configuration setting of the transition plan, retrieving the extracted configuration settings identified as active configuration settings of the transition plan; and transitioning one or more of the retrieved configuration settings from a format used on the source computing system to a format used on the target computing system. view more

The method of claim 1 where the provided configuration information is stored in a personality object.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes desktop, network, Internet, mail, and applications configuration information.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes information for locating user preferences that affect the appearance and operation of a basic windowed user interface.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes desktop information for locating visual elements, user interface hardware settings, and windows preferences configuration information.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes network information for locating service providers, services, clients, and domains configuration information.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes Internet information for locating accounts, browser, and network addresses configuration information.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes mail information for locating mail application and application settings configuration information.

The method of claim 2 herein the personality object includes application information for locating application and application settings configuration information.

The method of claim 2 wherein the personality object includes information for locating registry settings configuration information.

The method of claim 1 including providing the transitioned configuration settings to a target computing system for installation of the configuration settings on the target computing system.

The method of claim 11 wherein when an application is not installed on the target computing system, the configuration settings for that application are not installed on the target computer system.

The method of claim 1 wherein the extraction plan includes an inclusion list of configuration settings to be extracted.

A computer system for preparing configuration settings for transfer from a source computing system to a target computing system, comprising:</claim-text> configuration information about configuration settings on the source computing system, the guration information including a name and location of each configuration setting; a user interface application for generating an extraction plan that identifies configuration settings to be extracted from the source computing system and a transition plan that identifies configuration settings to be transferred from the source computing system to the target computing system, the extraction plan identifying active configuration settings to be extracted from the source computing system, the transition plan identifying active configuration settings of the extraction plan to be transferred from the source computing system to the target computing; an extraction application for extracting the active configuration settings of the extraction plan from the source computing system, the extracted configuration settings being located using the provided configuration information; and an transition application that retrieves the extracted configuration settings identified as active configuration settings of the transition plan and transitions one or more of the retrieved configuration settings from a format used on the source computing system td a format used on the target computing system. view more

The computer system of claim 16 where the configuration information is stored in a personality object.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes information for locating of user preferences that affect the appearance and operation of a basic windowed user interface.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes desktop information for locating visual elements, user interface hardware settings, and windows preferences configuration information.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes network information for locating service providers, services, clients, and domains configuration information.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes Internet information for locating accounts, browser, and network addresses configuration information.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes mail information for locating mail application and application settings configuration information.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes application information for locating application and application settings configuration information.

The computer system of claim 17 wherein the personality object includes information for locating registry settings configuration information.

The computer system of claim 16 including means for providing the transitioned configuration settings to a target computing system for installation of the configuration settings on the target computing system.

The computer system of claim 25 wherein when an application is not installed on the target computing system, the configuration settings for that application are not installed on the target computer system.

The computer system of claim 16 wherein the extraction plan includes an inclusion list of configuration settings to be extracted.

A computer-readable medium containing a data structure comprising:</claim-text> information for locating of user preferences that affect the appearance and operation of a basic windowed user interface; information for locating visual elements, user face hardware settings, and windows preferences configuration information; information for locating service providers, services, clients, and domains configuration information; information for locating accounts, browser, and network addresses configuration information; information for locating mail application and mail application settings configuration information; information for locating application and application settings configuration information; and information for locating registry settings configuration information. view more