If you've had your computer for a while, you probably have everything set up just the way you like it: start menu and desktop items, wallpaper, shortcuts, e-mail settings, bookmarks and so on. The same probably holds true for your Microsoft Office settings: AutoCorrect and AutoText entries, custom dictionary, toolbars, macros and the like.

When you replace your computer with a newer model, or if you need to reformat your hard drive and start everything from scratch, you know what kind of hassle it is to get everything working and looking the way you're used to. You can try to back up as much of this as possible, but you're bound to forget at least something.

Fortunately, Windows XP, Office 2000, Office XP and Office 2003 all have built-in utilities to help you keep your old computer's personality when you make the transition.

To keep your Windows XP settings, select Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. The wizard is easy and self-explanatory. It will save your settings on your hard drive or backup device. (If you save it on your current hard drive, remember to back it up before reformatting or tossing your old drive.) When you have your new computer or reformatted drive, run the wizard again and restore the settings you saved.

To keep your Microsoft Office 2003 settings, select Start/All Programs/Microsoft Office/Microsoft Office Tools/Microsoft Office 2003 Save My Settings Wizard. If you have Office XP, select Start/All Programs/Microsoft Office Tools/Save My Settings Wizard and if you have Office 2000, select Start/Programs/Microsoft Office Tools/Save My Settings Wizard. The concept is the same: back up the old settings and save them in a safe place, then restore them to the new machine. Unlike the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, the wizard for Office XP and 2003 have the additional option of letting you save your settings on Microsoft's servers for free, in a secure place where only you can retrieve them. The wizard for Office 2000 has only this option -- it doesn't have a way to save your files on your own device.

There is one caveat to all this. If your current Windows or Office settings are corrupted and are what's causing you to reformat your drive, you might want to think twice before using these wizards, or you might end up taking the old problems to the new machine.