Help

[kahuna]

Hey All,

I just bought a new laptop and am not certain the easiest way to transfer my files from my old laptop.

I don't want to copy all the files to cd's unless absolutely necessary...and I'm having a hell of a time finding a 9 pin serial transfer cable.  

Hate to lose them....If anyone knows a simplier way I would appreciate the help.  

Thanks,

kahuna

[Guest]

Hi Kahuna,

Having a moment of insomnia here.

Depending how large the files are:

1) Laptop to router/hub to laptop. I was told that you can use the Network Connection(in the control panel) to config 2 computer to talk to each other by assigning both of them the same user names.

2) Use a USB flash drive/memory device. ie.: SANDISK USB 1GB. Some even have 2GB or more, under $100 Canadian. They are easy to use, just drag and drop the files on to the drive, then plug into new laptop for transfer.

3) There is always Google mail accounts. Create an account- or more, e-mail the file as attachment to yourself, then retrieve them with the new laptop at your convenience.

I am interest to hear more options from all the IT Gurus in this forum.


Ronin, IT Illiterate



PS. If you don't have a Google e-mail, I'll be happy to send you an invite. I think they may have the largest capacity for e-mail accounts.

[rxpharm]

Do you plan on continuing to use your old laptop?

If not then you can remove the old hard drive, buy an external drive case, place it inside, then you can transfer your files at leisure. After that just delete all the remaining files and you now have a clean external hard drive to use.

If you are going to keep your old laptop you can then buy an external drive and transfer the files to it, then to the new laptop.

A less expensive way to do this is buy a USB transfer cable and connect both laptops together.

If your old laptop does not have USB, it is possible to buy a PC card that adds USB functionality to a laptop.

There are probably a few other ways to transfer the data, but these ones and what was mentioned in the previous post cover many of them.

[stogie bear]

Good answer!

[kahuna]

Thanks all....giving the old laptop to my daughter, but I have a new larger hard drive ready to install so I can keep the old drive without dumping the files...I'll give it one more shot today and then and worry about it later....Again, many thanks for your advise....

kahuna

[stogie bear]

Eh? What are you on about?

Buy a new hard drive for your daughters laptop and put your old hard drive in a box which you can then plug into a USB port on your NEW laptop.

The box should cost about $10! They are very cheap. It will house your old hard drive which you can keep permanently plugged into your USB drive of your new laptop!

In the meantime your daughter will have a nice new hard drive with a brand new uncluttered version of Windows on it.

[stogie bear]

Hmmmm... "uncluttered version of Windows..."

Sorry, folks. I wasn't thinking!  

[BAM]

(kahuna @ Apr. 26 2006,15:11) Hey All,

I just bought a new laptop and am not certain the easiest way to transfer my files from my old laptop.

I don't want to copy all the files to cd's unless absolutely necessary...and I'm having a hell of a time finding a 9 pin serial transfer cable.  

Hate to lose them....If anyone knows a simplier way I would appreciate the help.  

Thanks,

kahuna

#1. You can Wi-Fi them together.

#2. You can use a LAN 'crossover or swap' cable. This is a special cable!

#3. Using regular cables you can connect through a router.

#4. Use a USB cable.

The hard drive replacement idea is a good option since it makes the computer safe in the way that no porn is left behind that your daughter might find!

And just forget about trying to connect using the 9 pin RS232 cable idea.... this is extremely SLOW!!!!!

[stogie bear]

Good options to be sure, but for most computer users (like my mum, etc!) the USB box is the best idea. They will do it for you in the shop too and test it. Takes about 2 minutes. No learning computer bullshit and no chances to screw things up.

I've got 3 hard drives ALL on USB plus a DVD recorder, modem. keyboard, mobile phone, cordless mouse, blue tooth ALL on one USB hub plugged into my lap top. Works fine! (Plus I have two plugs for my camera and Gifs mobile phone.

Where is the smiley for smug geek?

[kahuna]

(stogie bear @ Apr. 27 2006,00:03) Eh? What are you on about?

Buy a new hard drive for your daughters laptop and put your old hard drive in a box which you can then plug into a USB port on your NEW laptop.

The box should cost about $10! They are very cheap. It will house your old hard drive which you can keep permanently plugged into your USB drive of your new laptop!

In the meantime your daughter will have a nice new hard drive with a brand new uncluttered version of Windows on it.

Thanks Sogie...That's the answer I was looking for...something even a dumb guy like me can do can do...and I already have the new hard drive...

kahuna

[stogie bear]

...and I already have the new hard drive...

Did you buy it formatted for Windows? Are you going to install it into your old laptop yourself? Unlike PC hard drives, laptop hard drives are about the size of a packet of Kingsize cigarettes. Did you buy the right size?

You know - these questions sound silly to someone who knows their way around a computer, but for most people they simply don't know (and don't want to know) about how a computer works.

And quite right too! You don't hear all this nonsense about TVs and fridges! Why all the hullabaloo about computers!