what is the easiest way to get several gigs of files moved from one pc to another?
moving files from one pc to another
- Thread starter splodenode
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Easiest: Copy files unto an external hdd, then connect external hdd to second computer, and copy them onto that one.
Fastest/least expensive: Buy a Cat5 cross-over cable, connect both computers, manually setup their ip addresses, enable windows networking, connect from one computer to the other, and copy over the files directly.
Fastest/least expensive: Buy a Cat5 cross-over cable, connect both computers, manually setup their ip addresses, enable windows networking, connect from one computer to the other, and copy over the files directly.
is a cat5 the same kind of cable that connects my cable modem to the pc?
if you are already connected with a router then just setup the network, if you don't have a router then use a crossover cable, yes cat5 is the same thing connecting your cable model to your pc
otherwise you can buy very large USB flash drives for pretty cheap these days, they have 1GB+ USB sticks, that would be the easiest of all to transfer files, just plug into your usb port, copy files onto it (may have to make several trips depending on the size of the files and the size of the usb stick), then stick it in the other computer and copy the files over
1GB USB flash drives for as low as $11 at Newegg
2GB flash drives for around $20 at Newegg
4GB for $30
8GB for $60
16GB for $133
otherwise you can buy very large USB flash drives for pretty cheap these days, they have 1GB+ USB sticks, that would be the easiest of all to transfer files, just plug into your usb port, copy files onto it (may have to make several trips depending on the size of the files and the size of the usb stick), then stick it in the other computer and copy the files over
1GB USB flash drives for as low as $11 at Newegg
2GB flash drives for around $20 at Newegg
4GB for $30
8GB for $60
16GB for $133
so i can just unplug the cable from the modem and stick it into the back of the other pc and transfer files that way?
i was hoping to do it without having to go buy something
i do have a router
i do have a router
Is the router currently hooked up to the network?
If it isn't you'll need to buy 2 additional patch cables. Your cable modem can plug into your router, and your 2 PCs as well, creating a shared Internet connection between both computers and also allowing you to transfer files between the computers.
If it isn't you'll need to buy 2 additional patch cables. Your cable modem can plug into your router, and your 2 PCs as well, creating a shared Internet connection between both computers and also allowing you to transfer files between the computers.
yep i got enough cables for all that
i know how to get both computers on the internet at the same time through the router but dont know how i would send a file from one pc to the other
i know how to get both computers on the internet at the same time through the router but dont know how i would send a file from one pc to the other
windows xp on both
I don't have an XP computer in front of me, so I'm pulling this out of my head. You can also google how to setup file sharing with Windows XP, you are going to find a lot of how-to's out there probably better explained than me.
I would first start by putting each computer in the same workgroup, while not required, it makes Windows computers easier to find each other.
Right click on My Computer,click on Properties than Computer Name tab. Click on the change button to change the workgroup, create a name for the workgroup on both computers, then you will have to restart them.
Now, to share files it is real easy, in your case you can probably just share the entire hard drive, but if you only wanted to share just the file folders you can do that as well. Right click on the hard drive (or file folders you want to share), and click on the Sharing tab. (again i'm pulling this from memory so it may be slightly different), there should be a radio button or some option to enable file sharing with that drive or folder. Share it, and if you need to add your login profile to it you can from there as well. You might also have simple file sharing turned on, in which case it should be even easier and do it for you, I've never used simple file sharing though, I always do it all manually to customize it.
Once you have done that you should be able to browse to your computer from the other one in Network Neighborhood and see the shared drives or folders. You can also just type in the name of the share computer in the address bar manually \\nameofcomputer
That all may sound a bit rough, again, pulling from my head I wish I had something in front of me but I don't. Googling is your friend!
I would first start by putting each computer in the same workgroup, while not required, it makes Windows computers easier to find each other.
Right click on My Computer,click on Properties than Computer Name tab. Click on the change button to change the workgroup, create a name for the workgroup on both computers, then you will have to restart them.
Now, to share files it is real easy, in your case you can probably just share the entire hard drive, but if you only wanted to share just the file folders you can do that as well. Right click on the hard drive (or file folders you want to share), and click on the Sharing tab. (again i'm pulling this from memory so it may be slightly different), there should be a radio button or some option to enable file sharing with that drive or folder. Share it, and if you need to add your login profile to it you can from there as well. You might also have simple file sharing turned on, in which case it should be even easier and do it for you, I've never used simple file sharing though, I always do it all manually to customize it.
Once you have done that you should be able to browse to your computer from the other one in Network Neighborhood and see the shared drives or folders. You can also just type in the name of the share computer in the address bar manually \\nameofcomputer
That all may sound a bit rough, again, pulling from my head I wish I had something in front of me but I don't. Googling is your friend!
thanks dude
i will give it a shot
i will give it a shot
you sure know your stuff
worked good :thumbsup:
worked good :thumbsup:
I actually had a friend call me some years back trying to move 60GB of data from her old PC to her new one. She also didn't want to buy anything new, and had no home network. The Dell customer support was having her transfer the files using a serial cable, which would have taken about two straight days to finish!
I had her set the computers side by side and pop the case off of both computers (with both powered down), take the IDE cable from her CD-ROM on the new computer and plug it into the hard drive of the old computer. Once that was done, we turned on both PC's, making sure the monitor, keyboard, ect. is connected to the new one instead of the old.
The old PC obviously won't boot, but it needs to be turned on to power the old hard drive. However, since the hard drive is now connected by data cable to the new computer, it will show up under My Computer as drive D (most likely). Then files can be easily and quickly browsed and transfered.
I had her set the computers side by side and pop the case off of both computers (with both powered down), take the IDE cable from her CD-ROM on the new computer and plug it into the hard drive of the old computer. Once that was done, we turned on both PC's, making sure the monitor, keyboard, ect. is connected to the new one instead of the old.
The old PC obviously won't boot, but it needs to be turned on to power the old hard drive. However, since the hard drive is now connected by data cable to the new computer, it will show up under My Computer as drive D (most likely). Then files can be easily and quickly browsed and transfered.
Boy you'd think after all these years MS would come up with a more idiot friendly way of tranferring files. Like linking the two machines via a USB cable of something.
I'm sure there is a technical reason why this cannot be done that is beyond Microsoft's control. It's more the area of the hardware vendors and the USB Standards Board to do this.
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