getting a new computer, Easiest way to transfers files and picture

[Ken Louie]

Hello I am getting a new desktop computer this week, what the easiest way to transfer file and picture. My o/s is xp. Thanks for the help. ken

[Joeaksa]

I network the old and new computer together, then transfer everything over from the old to the new. If you do not have a network at home, its not difficult and really fairly cheap these days.

Then I leave them networked and use the old computer as a backup for the new version. Every Friday or so I start copying all the data to the old computer and just let it run for however long it takes. This way if the hard drive dies on one of them, your data is fairly current on the other drive.

Then if you want to be really anal about it, buy a 200 gig USB external drive and plug it into either one of the computers. Back up everything between the three units and there is no way that you would lose three units at one time (unless hit by lightning) and your data is safe. Unplug the external drive and put it somewhere safe at home and you are covering all your bases!

[equality72521]

External hard drive. They are cheap these days for huge storage.

[trekkor]

I just did this.

You can install the old hard drive in your new computer along side the new one.
It will become drive f:

You will have access to all your files without doing any copying.
Or you can move over the files you want to keep to the new drive ( c: ) and have more available space in your old drive.

You may need to go into the BIOS configuration at startup to set the drive boot sequence.

The new computer will have an IDE plug on the mother board ready to accept your old drive, ribbon and all.


KT

[Dave L]

I have both a second drive on my computer and an external USB hard drive. The internal drive is nice because even if I have to reformat the C: drive and reinstall the OS I still have all my data on another drive. The USB drive is nice as a secondary back up and I also use it to back up my laptop and transfer files between the 2. HD space is like HP, you can never have to much.

[stealthn]

Computer Associates has a program called Desktop Migrator. Along with an external drive it will save your settings, bookmarks, etc. It's really made for the migration to a new computer as you described. Very inexpensive as well.

Cheers

[equality72521]

Guys, he is asking for the easiest way. I'm assuming he isn't the most computer savvy since he is asking how to transfer simple files. Everything you guys are saying is true but it may not be simple to him. I still recommend an external USB drive. Plug it in and copy files, simple.

[trekkor]

If's he's like most of us, his old computer does work anymore...


KT

[slodave]

As has been said, take the HDD from the old computer and either stick it into the new computer, copy files and leave the old drive until you are sure you have everything or buy an external HDD case (USB probably safest) and copy files from external (old HDD). Don't waste time or money on the programs that transfer things for you. There is no need.

Dave

[snowman]

What you need is a computer that will give a rating of 5.9 or higher with the windows vista report.

You need a Duo Quad processor, using 64 bit windows vista.
You need a 10K RPM hard drive with more than 6M of Ram
You need 4 gig of the best ram you can get
You need a motherboard that supports all the latest everythign, including fsb high speed ram
You need a good dual PCI 256 MB
DDR2 Video cards, thats TWO cards. for example 2 ea 8500 GT or BETTER. This will land you at the 5.9 performance plateau. TO get better you need to go the the Xeon products.

[Ken Louie]

Thanks for great advice. I didn't realized that my old computer HDD was compatible with the new one. The new computer will have 240g Hard drive space which is probably overkill for me. My initial thoughts were to use a memory stick and transfer files that way but I figure it would take awhile. I'll let you know what happens. thanks again. ken

[slodave]

If you attach the old HDD internally, there is a jumper on the HDD that you should check. On the HDD label, there should be something the says Master, Slave, Cable Select and show some jumper settings. Make sure it is shorted for Cable Select.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yep, take tha HDD and transplant it. Easy, simple.

[Wickd89]

Always good to backup stuff on another medium. Buy a portable external drive and copy everything to this first.

When you finish copying the files to the new computer, you also have them backed up......

[nota]

DVD copy the stuff you never want to loose

[JeremyD]

get a USB external drive or a memory stick (thumb drive)of decent size.

Use the file and settings transfer wizard on both.

Format the drive then start the program collecting all the files and copying them to the thumb drive or USB external drive.

Start the files and transfer wizard on the new computer and use the settings from the old computer.

Wait a little while while it copies/uncompresses - and presto = you have your new computer will look like your old computer.

The hard drive solution is probably easier - but not of you still want to use your old computer.

[JavaBrewer]

I say NO to installing your old hard drive into the new system. It might void any warranty you have with the new computer and frankly a external USB drive is nice to have anyway. I got a Iomega 250 GB USB drive for under ~ $80 a while back. Plug in, copy files. Done.

[kstar]

Floppies?

Best,

Kurt

[equality72521]

Originally Posted by kstarnes

Floppies?

Best,

Kurt

5.25 or 3.5 ???

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by equality72521

5.25 or 3.5 ???

Mine's 8"