Computer Info transfer

wingnut4772

This may seem like a silly question to some of you smart computer types but here goes..

I want to transfer all my music and pictures and stuff over to a different computer but still leave them on the original? Can I do that? If so, how would I go about it?

jakelm

Connect one computer to another via USB or LAN line. Your computers will automaticly read the new computer as a new drive. Double click the new drive in My Computer and you will enter your other computer. Drag and drop.

bdaley6509

Might be easier to just get a USB removable external hard drive and copy the information that way. You'll have a backup you can keep on the drive, and you won't have to worry about networking your machines. Connecting computers via a LAN line isn't as easy as connecting a couple of wires, but a removable drive is.

Systems

2 gig USB Thumb drive = $25 if you look hard enough. Then when you get your new box with vista, plug it in the back and use readyboost on it to imporve Vista perf. Well worth the $25.

billbillw

wingnut4772 wrote: »

This may seem like a silly question to some of you smart computer types but here goes..

I want to transfer all my music and pictures and stuff over to a different computer but still leave them on the original? Can I do that? If so, how would I go about it?

Well, it might not be quite as easy as Jake said. Computer to computer connections aren't that easy unless you have a network switch or router. Routers are the easiest and its what you need anyway if you want the two computers to share an internet connection.

If you already have them networked, great, but somewhere in the process you have to set up a windows network through the windows network wizard. Do this on both computers and make sure you name the network the same on both. This will allow you to see the other computer in the file browser.

After that is done (may require some rebooting on each), then just set up a blank folder in the new computer, and specify it as a shared folder in properties (you may have to jump through a few hoops to get this to work, but it should be pretty easy to configure)

Then go to the original computer, use My Computer or Windows Explorer to find the folders/files that you want to transfer. Then simply copy and paste into the new folder on the new computer. I would do it in chunks, one large folder at a time. My pictures, my documents, my songs, etc.

Good luck

Edit: If you are talking about less than a couple GB total, then the USB Flash method described above is probably easier. In my case, I've got over 8 GB of photos on my computer, and 12 GB of songs. If you use the network copy/paste, you can just walk away and forget about it.

jakelm

yeah those guys are right...at least 2 gig thumb drive is easiest.

I always do things the hard way..


But when you connect the 2 compuers together, a wizard will guide you to set up networking. Then once set up...youll never have to set it up again. If anything should happen where one computer crashes or problems occur, you can always hook the 2 back up and everything will already be set for you.

Sami

If you are going to have two computers you most likely have a network to support them as well. I still recommend getting a USB drive that can be a backup.

Download SyncToy (free). I have several computers; laptop at work, desktop at work, and a desktop at home. I use SyncToy with an external HD to keep up with changes in files, this way I don't accidentally lose any work I have done by overwriting it with older file.

Systems

jakelm wrote: »

yeah those guys are right...at least 2 gig thumb drive is easiest.

I always do things the hard way..


But when you connect the 2 compuers together, a wizard will guide you to set up networking. Then once set up...youll never have to set it up again. If anything should happen where one computer crashes or problems occur, you can always hook the 2 back up and everything will already be set for you.

hahha, depends on the size of the data

I have about 600 gigs worth of media data now so I would not want to use that 2 gig thumb drive.

shadowofnight

Silverti wrote: »

hahha, depends on the size of the data

I have about 600 gigs worth of media data now so I would not want to use that 2 gig thumb drive.

Exactly...all depends on the amount of data needed to transfer...I back up data for customers all of the time ( Even have to save precious pictures and movies for them AFTER they have trashed their OS's ) . Small amount of data ( 4GB or less ) thumb drive perfect....above that size a usb 2.0 external hard drive is really handy . If I want an extremely fast transfer for huge data I just throw the drive into a removable caddy and throw it into one of my servers .

bruss

turn off the source pc.. take the drive out.. add is as slave to second.. copy all your crap then return it back to the first pc

Sherardp

External hard drive or go with Bruss's suggestion, fastest way to do it.

Face

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10303
Or
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10208
Simple and cheap.

wingnut4772

Thanks guys. It would be all my music files and my pictures. there is a lot but I have no idea how much that equals in megabytes, kilobytes , mosquito bites or whatever.:D

jakelm

Silverti wrote: »

hahha, depends on the size of the data

I have about 600 gigs worth of media data now so I would not want to use that 2 gig thumb drive.

600 GIGS!!!! WOW..

Computer to computer my friend....

bruss

wingnut4772 wrote: »

Thanks guys. It would be all my music files and my pictures. there is a lot but I have no idea how much that equals in megabytes, kilobytes , mosquito bites or whatever.:D

Just right click the folder they are in and it will tell you.. If all your stuff is in mydocs for example ricght click > properties > it will display something like this



4.05 GB (4,359,438,215 bytes)

You could also get one of these empty enclosures pretty cheap take your drive out and put it in there.After that you just plug the enclosures USB into your pc. You would just need to know if it is SATA or IDE before you bought it.. I have seen IDE enclodures for about 10 bones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000090092+1053807123+4093&name=%2410+-+%2425

nothing fancy... 20 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817105011

wingnut4772

bruss wrote: »

Just right click the folder they are in and it will tell you.. If all your stuff is in mydocs for example ricght click > properties > it will display something like this



4.05 GB (4,359,438,215 bytes)

You could also get one of these empty enclosures pretty cheap take your drive out and put it in there.After that you just plug the enclosures USB into your pc. You would just need to know if it is SATA or IDE before you bought it.. I have seen IDE enclodures for about 10 bones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000090092+1053807123+4093&name=%2410+-+%2425

nothing fancy... 20 bucks

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817105011

Ok. It says 29.5 GB

bruss

wingnut4772 wrote: »

Ok. It says 29.5 GB

do both of these computers connect to the internet through your home network?

can you see them in network neighborhood?

audiobliss

Yeah, no USB flash drive for that much information. The most straight-forward way would probably be pulling the drive out of the computer and putting it in an external enclosure, but that does require opening up the computer and removing the drive.

Short of that, sounds like the best way would be to connect the two computers via USB or network cable.

jakelm

audiobliss wrote: »

Short of that, sounds like the best way would be to connect the two computers via USB or network cable.

I think thats what I said.....ON THE FIRST REPLY POST!!!


...but nooo...you guys and your wimpy thumb drives.....:eek: :eek:

Face

Sona wrote: »

Why do these male to male cables have one small connector? Wouldn't 2 large connectors be what was needed?

Scroll down, they have cable with large males on both ends.

jakelm

Sona wrote: »

Why do these male to male cables have one small connector? Wouldn't 2 large connectors be what was needed?

Some male cables are small some are large.. . Its a fact of life my friend.






....P.S. I use the larger ones.