Help - Transfering computer files

[disco1]

Hi guys,
I got myself a new laptop yesterday to replace my old desktop. What is the easiest way of transfering old files/pictures from my old PC to my laptop?

Can't be assed buring everything to disc as it is too time consuming, can I link up the the 2 computers and 'drag n drop' from one to the next?

thanks

[r5gttgaz]

Ethernet link.

[toni896]

what sort of setup are you running ? win 98/xp ?

if you have a router then you should be able to copy from one to the other no probs,
if both have wireless cards shouldn't be a problem either,
or if you have a cross oover cable and both have s.network port

[speedchick]

We did mine with the files and settings transfer wizard, works great if you are moving it all from one computer to another, took all my email messages, desktop and everything. We set both laptops up on a home network and did it wirelessly.

May be prudent to make a back up copy anyway, when we deleted the partition on the new laptop we then had to reformat etc, I sent all the files etc over to his pc to store them, and we did it with the wizard, but, it meant that I couldn't move them all back to the new laptop, the file with everything in will only open on the pc we sent it to, you can't send them somewhere else for storage.

[bint]

Network the PC to the laptop and have shared access. Tis what we do, my laptop runs Windows, him indoors has Linux, he shares any pics etc he wants printed and I sort it out as there's no space for the printer near his PC (before any of you whinge about Linux being able to support printers!).

[ATG]

How much data do you need to transfer? If it isn't too enormous, probably the easiest thing is to activate the infrared link on both laptops and point them at each other. Once the machines see each others' IR ports, some windows should pop up that allow you to drag and drop the files to be transfer. If you search for "infra red" in Windows help (click on your desktop, and then press F1) you should be able to work out how to activate this stuff ... you may have to reboot the laptops and enable IR in their bioses ... a little fiddly, but no big deal.

If you need to transfer a lot of data, you could use ethernet as already suggested, assuming bothg laptops have network ports. You'll need a "cross-over" network cable for this, which probably entails a trip to PC world to spend a fiver. You'll then need to configure the network connection between the two PCs. This is a little more involved than the IR link, but isn't too hard.

p.s. of course, if you have a home network already, then use that

Edited by ATG on Thursday 28th December 13:08

[disco1]

I do have a ethernet cable lying around somewhere, will dig it up

Once i connect both up with the cable how do I transfer from desktop to laptop? file manager?

Sorry but I'm an absolute spacker when it comes to this stuff

[ATG]

disco1 said:

I do have a ethernet cable lying around somewhere, will dig it up

Once i connect both up with the cable how do I transfer from desktop to laptop? file manager?

Sorry but I'm an absolute spacker when it comes to this stuff

If you are going to plug one laptop directly into another, you're going to need a "cross-over" cable. These look just like standard ethernet cables, but as the name suggests, a couple of the conductors are swapped over in one of the plugs. If you buy a ready made crossover cable, it will usually/often have "crossover" printed on the side of the cable. If you don't have a crossover cable, you'll need to plug both laptops into a hub.

[john_r]

£60 - well worth it for data transfer and is then useful for backing up everything too.

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48607&doy=28m12&criteria=SALE

[disco1]

ATG said:

disco1 said:

I do have a ethernet cable lying around somewhere, will dig it up

Once i connect both up with the cable how do I transfer from desktop to laptop? file manager?

Sorry but I'm an absolute spacker when it comes to this stuff

If you are going to plug one laptop directly into another, you're going to need a "cross-over" cable. These look just like standard ethernet cables, but as the name suggests, a couple of the conductors are swapped over in one of the plugs. If you buy a ready made crossover cable, it will usually/often have "crossover" printed on the side of the cable. If you don't have a crossover cable, you'll need to plug both laptops into a hub.

I am trying to transfer from an old base unit to a new laptop. I have the programs I need in disc but an example of what I need to transfer is my itunes playlist and digi camera pics from 'my documents'

[Murray993]

Can you link two PCs via USB?

[ATG]

ah, sorry. Misread your original post. Desktop's not going to have IR. The external drive is indeed worth considering as it would be useful extra storage or a backup device. Try searching your PC's help for "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" and have a read. That should give you a good idea of the ways you can link the machines.

[disco1]

Murray993 said:

Can you link two PCs via USB?

thats what I was hoping you can do

[GreenV8S]

Murray993 said:

Can you link two PCs via USB?

I've seen USB cables that claim to do this - although my limited understanding of the USB spec suggests that it shouldn't work.

[ProPlus]

GreenV8S said:

Murray993 said:

Can you link two PCs via USB?

I've seen USB cables that claim to do this - although my limited understanding of the USB spec suggests that it shouldn't work.

if its not too much, why not use a USB Memory stick???

Up to 4gb transferable now

[ThePassenger]

disco1 said:

Hi guys,
I got myself a new laptop yesterday to replace my old desktop. What is the easiest way of transfering old files/pictures from my old PC to my laptop?

Can't be assed buring everything to disc as it is too time consuming, can I link up the the 2 computers and 'drag n drop' from one to the next?

thanks

If both the desktop and Laptop can be networked together (either over your existing LAN/WiFi set up or via a cheapo Cross-Over cable from Maplins) and both are running some version of Windows XP then the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" should be able to do most of the lift n' shift work for you (it pretty much just picks up the account profile and throws it around).

On the new machine (once it's network is a good un) go Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. It'll give you two options (New Comp, Old Comp) select 'New' and work though the options.

On the old machine, do the same, but select "This is the old machine" instead.

It should 'just work' and the profile will copy over. If it doesn't then you'll need to make a network share on the new machine as a temporary holding repository. (Make a folder, right click, select Share).

[sadako]

GreenV8S said:

Murray993 said:

Can you link two PCs via USB?

I've seen USB cables that claim to do this - although my limited understanding of the USB spec suggests that it shouldn't work.

Probably just 2 USB ethernet adapters wired in crossover or something like that.

[ThePassenger]

sadako said:

GreenV8S said:

Murray993 said:

Can you link two PCs via USB?

I've seen USB cables that claim to do this - although my limited understanding of the USB spec suggests that it shouldn't work.

Probably just 2 USB ethernet adapters wired in crossover or something like that.

Or it's PC style (USB-A?) to PC Style and the actual talking is done through a Windows utility; much like the old Serial<->Serial and Parallel <-> Parallel stuff.

[andyparrott]

john_r said:

£60 - well worth it for data transfer and is then useful for backing up everything too.

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48607&doy=28m12&criteria=SALE

I bought a 320Gb Maxtor drive at PC World yesterday for just under £70

[thesnowman]

pc world about 2 years ago told me you cant transfer from one pc to another unless both were online.

i wanted to move my music to the new tower from a laptop, no big deal i thought but the dunder head behind the repairs desk told me i couldnt do it.

think he was telling porkie pies now!