Gillster Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 I just bought a new computer and I was wondering if there was a good way to transfer files from my old pc to my new one. The old one doesn't have a cd/rw or anything that easy and there are quite a few mp3 files and the like that I would like to keep. The old is an EMachine with Windows 98 if that matters and the new is a Dell with XP. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 I did that a couple of years ago when my Dell laptop was done (win 98) and I was getting an HP laptop (Win XP). Same deal...no CD-R in the Dell. I ended up bying a bi-directional network cord (the green one) and going through the Ethernet cards. You have to go into Network Neighborhood in both machines and set up file sharing for both machines, get them seeing each other, and just drag and drop. I can't really explain how to set up the network....I didn't get it either, and had a computer-geek friend walk me through it. If you know a geek, hit him up. It's pretty easy if someone is explaining it to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shred Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 Brian's probably right, if both machines have ethernet ports, especially if they've both got 100mbit ethernet ports, a crossover cable is $5 and works great. Other options include removing the HD from the old one and sticking it in the new one for long enough to move files. Both of the above are don't-try-this-at-home if you haven't fiddled with that sort of thing before. Best DIY for the non-geek is probably one of the USB-transfer kits that are available (of course you need to make sure your old machine has a USB port that works) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNsTeR Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 If it were me, I'd put the HD in and copy the files. Failing that, the ethernet crossover plan is good too. Both require some savvy though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 If you have USB on the older machine, try an outboard/portable USB hard drive. Most firewire pocket drives have USB ports too. This requires no network setup or special software and you can just drag and drop files in Explorer once the outboard drive mounts. A ZIP-100 or ZIP-250 drive will also do the trick if you don't mind a little disk swapping (how much swapping depends on the file load you are transferring). -- Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.Hayden Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 I'd go EtherNet too, if it's built in. If not, for really old stuff, there's LapLink (serial to serial) - slow but it'll get the job done. Win98 might have it built in (like DOS 6 did)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warpspeed Posted February 1, 2004 Share Posted February 1, 2004 The old HD should drop into the new machine fairly easily as a second or slave HD. Where did you get the new one from? If they are a computer store they probably have a tech department that can configure the old drive as a slave and plug it in for you. Since they sold you the new one, they probably would do it for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillster Posted February 5, 2004 Author Share Posted February 5, 2004 Thanks for the advice guys, I'll probably go the transfer the HD route. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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