New Computer...how to transfer files from old to new??? HELP!

[cheerful chickadee]

Hi all, I just bought a new computer! I'm pretty stumped on how I'm supposed to get all my files from my old computer to my new one. I have a million mp3 files I want to keep, putting them all on cd's would take forever, my old computer's cd writer is ancient and overheats all the time which causes error after error (hence the new computer). I don't have an ipod or mp3 player so I can't get my files on one of those. I was thinking of uploading the files to a file sharing site like yousendit.com but that would take forever also. MY DH has been searching the net on how to do data transfers and hasn't found anything that will work for us. Something about our old computer having a female serial port and the new one also having a female serial port and being unable to transfer files from female to female. I don't know anything about it obviously lol. Anyone have any suggestions??? It's not just music files I need to transfer over btw I have many many MANY picture files, HTML web design files, favorites, programs and settings, etc.

 

[LittleRydia]

Im not the smartest person ever or know much about the detail technology stuff. But I have bought new computers, and switched my artwork and programs many times from one to another.

You said saving it all on a disk would take to long? Really to me that is the fastes and easy way to do it. but years ago, I had a computer that would not copy stuff on disc even if i wanted it to x_X so what I did was e-mailed so much to myself. try not to e-mail a lot at once to keep it from crashing. open the e-mail on your new computer and save it. This is what I had to do with my old computer a few years back. otherwise only way is disk saving it.

 

[wvjules]

I moved all of my files over a wireless network. Before my old laptop died I transfered all my stuff to my daughter's computer. When I got my new one I transfered it back.

I know there's an easier way to do it but that's how I did it. I think it can be done with an ethernet cable attached to both computers but I didn't try it.

 

[gallaj0]

If your new PC has Windows XP, there is a Wizard on transferring files.
The easiest way is to network the computers, either with a router if you have one, or you can create an "ad-hoc" network by connecting the 2 computers with a cable. If you have ethernet card on both PC's, you can just plug them together and run the file trasfer wizard. If you don't have the ethernet on the old PC, you can do it with a USB cable with the large connector on both ends, or a regular serial cable.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

If your new PC has Windows XP, there is a Wizard on transferring files.
The easiest way is to network the computers, either with a router if you have one, or you can create an "ad-hoc" network by connecting the 2 computers with a cable. If you have ethernet card on both PC's, you can just plug them together and run the file trasfer wizard. If you don't have the ethernet on the old PC, you can do it with a USB cable with the large connector on both ends, or a regular serial cable.

this is what I was trying to get more info on, it seems like it would be best for our situation since we have a lot of files that need to be migrated. Right now we have road runner and have 2 computers hooked to it via a router. So can I use that router to just hook these 2 computers together? So I would have the router hooked to my old computer then have the router also go to the ethernet card on my new computer? Is that all I have to do? Just trying to clarify so I can understand better. All I need is the router to hook the 2 computers to eachother, nothing else? Thank you for your help!! we've been trying to fgure this out for a minute now!

 

[Seahunt]

I saved this info for when my laptop dies I'll buy this or something like it at CompUSA or an office store when that happens because it sounds like something even I (way,way non-computer savvy!) can use. I'm fine when my computer is all set up, but can get in all kind of trouble if not )

PC Relocator @ $29.99
PC Relocator 6.0

Manufacturer: Eisenworld (owned by Microsoft)
Mfg Part #: 602
Product Number: 315400
$29.99


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PC Relocator is a powerful migration tool that takes care of the painful task of copying all your files, settings, preferences and programs without the need for expert knowledge.

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Moves most programs, plus all personal preferences
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Eisenworld has taken the time to make it simple for you. All you need to do is to run your antivirus software and Windows Scandisk, then install PC Relocator and connect the two PCs with the cable included in the box. PC Relocator takes care of the rest for you.


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Your digital home is important to you. You may have spent years making it just the way you want it and we understand that. Therefore, PC Relocator leaves your old PC untouched; and for your new PC, it includes a simple undo command. So if your move doesn’t happen exactly as you want it, then you can have your new computer back to its original state in no time.

 

[gallaj0]

OK, if you have a router, you're halfway there.

Plug the new PC into the router, and start the file transfer wizard. You may need to run the network set up wizard in order for all the pc's to be visible to each other, but once they are, you can use the file trasnfer wizard to walk you through, step by step, to make the transfers.

When you start the computer up, you should get a "getting started
box from the windows; the file transfer wizard is in there, I believe.

Also, on the old PC, you might find it easier to put everything you want moved into one big folder, and mark it for "Sharing" in the properties tab. That way you only have to "find" the one folder to move everything.

 

[jw50]

The simplest way is to take the hard drive out of your old computer, put it in your new computer as a secondary drive (you may have to change the jumper on the drive from master to slave), then copy the files to the primary hard drive (unless you want to just leave the old one as a secondary drive). If you are junking the old one you can leave the old hard drive in the new computer or if you are keeping the old one then just move the old hard drive back to the old computer (changing the jumper back if necessary).

This way doesn't cost you anything and if you copy the files from the old drive to the new one they will copy alot faster than they would over a network ,

 

[cheerful chickadee]

thank you all for your replies! I think I'm going to see if the router works and go from there. For a minute (a crazy minute) I was leaning towards putting the old HD into the new computer but I'm afraid I would mess something up and void the warranty on the new one before I'm even able to use it, that would not be good. I'm moderately computer savvy but some things make me nervous (hardware especially) so I'm not sure if I could do that myself. Thank you all again, I'll update on what happens. I'll probably wait until tomorrow to try it