Transfering files from One pc to another...

[Oz]

Hey folks. I just bought this relly fancy-smancy laptop and its in the mail as we speak but there a problem i cant find anyone around here who knows the answer. I have alot of files on my desktop I want to copy onto my new laptop. Of all the research I have found I now know its safer to use the parallel ports than the USB ports. But someone said I have to have a program to do the transfer of the files and that Windows doesnt come with that program. Someone recommended Ghost and someone else recommended Laplink. Is there any free programs out there that are easy to use to do this? Thx for all the help!

Oz

[AwARe]

Errr heya Oz......this may or may not help depending on how many and the size and if the laptop has a modem and how fast it is etc etc etc..........but just a thought.......if the new laptop has a modem......er umm install your internet software on that thing then email those files to yourself then download them back on the laptop http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Oz]

Hehe not even feasible http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Were talking about 8 gigs of information here i need to transfer from One computer to the other. That'd be one heck of and email http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

[This message has been edited by Oz (edited 05-08-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

If both computers have [or you can get] Network Interface Cards, you can link them fairly easily with Win98 and move the data through a home network ....either that or you are probably faced with a proprietary program like "Lap-Link"....not free http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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Will XP save Me ?

[AwARe]

ya know OZ, I was thinking, well there are really lots of ways to get those files moved over there, one of them is the one randy suggested, which truthfully I almost suggested after I saw your reply to my response, but well let me say it like this lmao........isnt it about time you bought a CD burner? hahahahahaha

[Oz]

Hehe, well sorry to put down another one of your ideas but, yes i have a cd burner. Im not looking to burn 10 discs of info or even 5 if i zip them all up. Id much rather take my parallel port and hook them together and use a free or trial program to do it. Im always looking for the easiest way out hehe http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

[Icy]

In my opinion the least troublesome way to accomplish this would be just to network the two together.
Of course that depends on
1. If you have NIC cards in both
2. If you have the NIC cables
3. What OSs you are working with

Without the availability of cards or cables you could just do a parallel port transfer. For complete information on this you can go to these web sites and research it for yourself.
http://www.lpt.com/Questions/DirectParallelFAQ/directparallelfaq.htm
http://www.beyondlogic.org/

The second is not nearly as helpfull as the first I provided. Good luck.



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ICY

[nimnorf2]

Yo Oz, if you have windows 98 you can use your parallel ports on both computers and do a direct cable connection. I'm a certified neophyte with computer stuff and I've been able to do it. Direct cable connection is a windows accessory application. Probably under the sub-heading of communications....now you got me questioning myself and I'm going to have to go look to see for sure....yep, it's start/programs/accessories/communications. One acts as a host and the other is the guest. Pretty simple stuff, I think. If you don't have it on your system, you may have to load it off your original Windows CD. Direct Cable Connection might not be a default load. Ie: maybe it isn't automatically installed within the normal installation. I can't remember, but I know it's there.
Peace.

[aliaga]

Well...
If you do have NIC in desktop and a PCMCIA in your laptop follow this :
Buy yourself a crossover patch lead ( less than $10 ) or if you do have a
set of networking tools try to crimp :

pin wire
1 0range white 3 green white
2 orange 6 green
3 green 1 orange white
6 green 2 orange

Connect both machines with the crossover cable .
when you finish this go to :
start/settings/control panel/Network/Identification and set the same workgroup in both machines.

Now you are ready to see the C Drive of each machine and to download the files.


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Aa

[Bailey]

Nim is right about the direct cable connection. I have it on 98SE. Don't know if it will be on your laptop (WinMe?). It'll be a little slow, but is probably better than E-mailing your files to yourself. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

This is a very easy solution is you can spend a few $:

AlohaBob (http://www.alohabob.com/newsite/default.htm)

[This message has been edited by Bailey (edited 05-12-2001).]

[bassman]

Hey Oz, I have never actualy used Direct Cable Connection even though I have recommended it several times. You do not need anything software wise but you will need a parallel cable with 2 male ends. The program is under start>programs>accessories>communications on Win. ME as well and if it is not accessable at the time,it can be installed from Add/Remove programs> Windows setup.
Parallel communication is slow and probably quite a bit slower than installing from disks. I say this because you said you have 8 Gigs of info.Is that all data??

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They say to eat before you go to the grocery store so you don't buy so much. That doesn't work at the liquor store does it!

[tjaymadison]

Wow! Oz! We really went far afield on this one, didn't we? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

All the way from "copy files" through "e-mail upload/download", and
8-Gig CD burns, to the pin-outs for making your own crossover cable.

If it's an exact copy of the drive you're looking for, the suggestion
about Norton/Symantec Ghost, or also DriveCopy and similar commercial
programs, is the cheapest way to go. This will copy programs and data,
but there will be other steps to take after the process is complete
to get the programs to work right.

If it's just data files, go with nim and Bailey and bassman's suggestions:

Install DCC on both systems if necessary
Read what Windows Help has to say about it
Get a cable if necessary
Start the process
Have lunch
Mow the lawn
Take a nap
Continue with other worthwhile activities http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

EDIT: -- The suggestions about NIC's and LapLink are good,
but expensive if you don't already have them.

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"I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage, mathematician, computer pioneer, analytical engine designer (1791-1871)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 05-12-2001).]

[Oz]

Well i just got my laptop today and im going to give it a try with the parallel ports to each one since it sounds the easiest. Oh and for your info, its 7.6 gigs of MP3's HAHA http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[nimnorf2]

Oz, that's a lot of MP3s. You could start Napster part II. Please post back when you get to this, "major move" of files. I'm interested in seeing what you do. I think I used DCC and transfered maybe 10 MG of data and I don't remember that taking very long, but, indeed, 8 gig ....wow TJAY is right that's gonna take some time, eh? Oh and by the way, TJAY is always right! On this forum the more messages you post doesn't necessarily mean the more you know (maybe you just post lots of questions/problems) but generally the master geeks and ascendant master geeks seem to be pretty reliable. They usually go over my head and speak computer-eaze. Good luck to ya.

[This message has been edited by nimnorf2 (edited 05-14-2001).]

[Oz]

Well i did what tjay said and i have successfully transfered all desired information to my new AWESOME laptop mwuahahaha! Thanks guys! It took about 3 hours with me fooling around downloading and transfering new stuff http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[yawningdog]

Before we wrap this up, I have a question. Might it have been possible to take the old HD and somehow simply install it in the laptop as a slave and then copy the drive? Having worked with laptops almost not at all, I don't know about their IDE configurations.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler.

[amateur]

U can take a laptop apart n install
a harddisk? is there DIY laptop? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[Paleo Pete]

You can take them apart but it does tend to try one's patience. They have molded pplastic tabs inside, similar to the way AC Adapters and such are made. You have to find out how to get past those tabs without breaking them, then you can get inside.

To connect a hard drive it might be possible to do it as a temporary only setup by attaching an adapter to the standard drive and installing it as slave, lying on the tabletop. That is once you manage to get inside...preferably without ending up looking similar to your friendly neighborhood moderator...whose head could be used by Nasa as a lighted landmark without too much ado...

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)