Copy files from old to new PC???

A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What is the
cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents, photos, etc) to
the new PC?

I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a network at
home and copy files that way.

He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.

What should he buy and do?

Thanks

Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ovember12.mspx

List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903

HOW TO: Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two Computers in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

Cables That Are Compatible with Direct Cable Connection
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"M Skabialka" wrote:

| A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What is the
| cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents, photos, etc) to
| the new PC?
|
| I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
| connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a network at
| home and copy files that way.
|
| He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.
|
| What should he buy and do?
|
| Thanks

If he's got a network card in both machines, he can connect them via a
crossover cable, or by buying/borrowing a hub - small one's are really
cheap - or something and using straight cables between them.

Alternately, you could pull the hard drive out of the old machine, and
put it into the new machine as a D: drive, and then copy the files he
needs between the two.

grep

M Skabialka wrote:

A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What is the
cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents, photos, etc) to
the new PC?

I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a network at
home and copy files that way.

He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.

What should he buy and do?

Thanks

M Skabialka wrote:
A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What
is the cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents,
photos, etc) to the new PC?

I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a
network at home and copy files that way.

He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.

What should he buy and do?

Some options:

- Ethernet. Requires network card in both computers, and a crossover TP
cable or two straight cables and a hub/switch. Maybe he can borrow some from
you?

- USB networking cable. Availabe in a lot of shops, and probably easier for
a beginner than the above alternative.

- USB thumbdrives. Versatile and easy to use.

- CD-R. Does the old computer have a CD burner of some sort?

- If all else fails: Remove the hard drive from the old computer and
physically mount it on the new one.

It is easy to just put the old hard drive in the new
computer as a slave, very little skill is needed. No parts
need be purchased. But a cross-over CAT 5 cable is not a
problem or very expensive if you don't want to open both
cases and set up the slave drive (jumper setting, plug in
wires/cables.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote in
message ...
| Using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard in Windows XP
|
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ovember12.mspx
|
| List of Programs Whose Settings Are Migrated When You Use
| the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];304903
|
| HOW TO: Set Up a Direct Cable Connection Between Two
Computers in Windows XP
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp
|
| Cables That Are Compatible with Direct Cable Connection
|
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp
|
| --
| Carey Frisch
| Microsoft MVP
| Windows XP - Shell/User
| Microsoft Newsgroups
|
| Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
|
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...t/default.mspx
|
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| "M Skabialka" wrote:
|
|| A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new
PC. What is the
|| cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My
documents, photos, etc) to
|| the new PC?
||
|| I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and
some kind of
|| connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as
I have a network at
|| home and copy files that way.
||
|| He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.
||
|| What should he buy and do?
||
|| Thanks
|

There is a USB port in both machines. Is it a special USB cable he needs?
What software would he run or would he be able to open explorer and see the
other machine?


"André Gulliksen" wrote in message
...
M Skabialka wrote:
A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What
is the cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents,
photos, etc) to the new PC?

I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a
network at home and copy files that way.

He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.

What should he buy and do?

Some options:

- Ethernet. Requires network card in both computers, and a crossover TP
cable or two straight cables and a hub/switch. Maybe he can borrow some
from you?

- USB networking cable. Availabe in a lot of shops, and probably easier
for a beginner than the above alternative.

- USB thumbdrives. Versatile and easy to use.

- CD-R. Does the old computer have a CD burner of some sort?

- If all else fails: Remove the hard drive from the old computer and
physically mount it on the new one.

Yes. Standard usb cables have an A connector on one end and a B connector
on the other. Obviously since two computers are involved, both connectors
will be the same type. USB crossover cables are inexpensive. They have a
small device in the middle of the cable.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
(Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
"M Skabialka" wrote in message
...
There is a USB port in both machines. Is it a special USB cable he needs?
What software would he run or would he be able to open explorer and see
the other machine?


"André Gulliksen" wrote in message
...
M Skabialka wrote:
A friend with very little PC experience, had bought a new PC. What
is the cheapest/easist way for him to move his files (My documents,
photos, etc) to the new PC?

I thought there was some kind of crossover cable, and some kind of
connection in Windows but I haven't tried this before as I have a
network at home and copy files that way.

He just has two PCs and wants to copy files.

What should he buy and do?

Some options:

- Ethernet. Requires network card in both computers, and a crossover TP
cable or two straight cables and a hub/switch. Maybe he can borrow some
from you?

- USB networking cable. Availabe in a lot of shops, and probably easier
for a beginner than the above alternative.

- USB thumbdrives. Versatile and easy to use.

- CD-R. Does the old computer have a CD burner of some sort?

- If all else fails: Remove the hard drive from the old computer and
physically mount it on the new one.

M Skabialka wrote:
There is a USB port in both machines. Is it a special USB cable he
needs?

It is one of several options. The cable has to be specifically made for
connecting two computers. For instance:

http://www.aten.com/02-p-item.php?id=626

or

http://www.emagictech.com.tw/lc2000-1.htm

What software would he run or would he be able to open
explorer and see the other machine?

Software and/or drivers will be supplied with the cable.