Migrating files

[John Saxon]

Hello,

I would like to migrate files (manily word processing documents and
pictures) from my desktop to my laptop. Both feature Windows XP operating
systems. I don't want to email the files; furthermore, my laptop doesn't
have a floppy disk drive. ( Incidentally, I don't plan on buying one anytime
soon; furthermore, I assume it shouldn't work for pictures either).

Therefore, I presume using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard should be
the best way to go. What concerns me, however, is collecting my files from
the source computer, the desktop, so that they should be ready when I
instruct the target computer, the laptop, to transfer them. Is there a way
to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the source computer to
ready them so? If not, would you know of any other way whereby I might do
some such thing?

My understanding is that, assuming I should be able to transfer files in the
way described above, I shall need either a null modem serial cable or a
serial PC to PC file transfer cable. Should both of these cables work
equally well? If not, which one do you recommend?

In close, I would truly appreciate any information you could give me
regarding the subject of transferring files.

Regards,

John

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I would like to migrate files (manily word processing documents and
pictures) from my desktop to my laptop. Both feature Windows XP operating
systems. I don't want to email the files; furthermore, my laptop doesn't
have a floppy disk drive. ( Incidentally, I don't plan on buying one anytime
soon; furthermore, I assume it shouldn't work for pictures either).

Why don't you just buy a flash drive, copy everything to that, then
copy from that to wherever you want the files on your laptop?

 

[Nepatsfan]

Hello,

I would like to migrate files (manily word processing
documents and pictures) from my desktop to my laptop. Both
feature Windows XP operating systems. I don't want to email
the files; furthermore, my laptop doesn't have a floppy disk
drive. ( Incidentally, I don't plan on buying one anytime
soon; furthermore, I assume it shouldn't work for pictures
either).
Therefore, I presume using the Files and Settings Transfer
Wizard should be the best way to go. What concerns me,
however, is collecting my files from the source computer,
the desktop, so that they should be ready when I instruct
the target computer, the laptop, to transfer them. Is there
a way to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the
source computer to ready them so? If not, would you know of
any other way whereby I might do some such thing?
My understanding is that, assuming I should be able to
transfer files in the way described above, I shall need
either a null modem serial cable or a serial PC to PC file
transfer cable. Should both of these cables work equally
well? If not, which one do you recommend?
In close, I would truly appreciate any information you could
give me regarding the subject of transferring files.

Regards,

John

If you don't have both systems connected to a router, consider
running a crossover cable between the network adapters on both
computers. If you have a large amount of data to transfer, this
is by far the quickest way to move it from one computer to the
other. You can then share a folder on the desktop, place the
files that the FAST wizard creates into that folder and then
run the FAST wizard on the laptop and point it to the shared
folder on the desktop.

You can also have to FAST wizard save the files on your hard
drive and then put them on CD or DVD. You can then take that
CD/DVD to your laptop.

Take a look at these articles if you need more info:

Files and Settings Transfer
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.php

How to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard with a wizard
disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306187

Moving Files and Settings to a New PC
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/getstarted/bott_fstw.mspx

Here's an example of a crossover cable:
http://tinyurl.com/952gb

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I would like to migrate files (manily word processing documents and
pictures) from my desktop to my laptop. Both feature Windows XP
operating systems. I don't want to email the files; furthermore, my
laptop doesn't have a floppy disk drive. ( Incidentally, I don't plan
on buying one anytime soon; furthermore, I assume it shouldn't work
for pictures either).

Sure a floppy would work. As long as the pictures fit on the floppy, a
floppy drive would work fine. The only issue is that, depending on how much
you have to move, it might take a lot of floppies, and a long time.

Do you have a CD burner on the desktop? A CD-ROM drive on the laptop? If so,
that's probably the easiest way, and requires nothing you don't already
have.

If not, a USB thumb drive is inexpensive and a very easy way to transfer
files.

If both computers have network adaptors, connecting them with a crossover
cable is another way to do this. A crossover cable is even cheaper than a
thumb drive, but setting up the network is slightly more difficult.

Therefore, I presume using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
should be the best way to go.

Word processing files should be in the My Documents folder, and pictures in
My Pictures folder. Although you can use FAST, I wouldn't even bother for
such a simple copy operation. If you don't have the needed CD drives, I
would take the easiest alternative--just buy a thumb drive of 128-256MB
(around $20-$30), copy to it on the desktop), then move it to the laptop,
and copy from it. Depending on how much there is to transfer, you might have
to do it in a couple of batches, but it's fast and easy enough that it
shouldn't take long.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup


What concerns me, however, is

 

[Alan]

Hello,

I would like to migrate files (manily word processing documents and
pictures) from my desktop to my laptop. Both feature Windows XP operating
systems. I don't want to email the files; furthermore, my laptop doesn't
have a floppy disk drive. ( Incidentally, I don't plan on buying one
anytime soon; furthermore, I assume it shouldn't work for pictures
either).

Therefore, I presume using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard should
be the best way to go. What concerns me, however, is collecting my files
from the source computer, the desktop, so that they should be ready when I
instruct the target computer, the laptop, to transfer them. Is there a way
to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the source computer to
ready them so? If not, would you know of any other way whereby I might do
some such thing?

My understanding is that, assuming I should be able to transfer files in
the way described above, I shall need either a null modem serial cable or
a serial PC to PC file transfer cable. Should both of these cables work
equally well? If not, which one do you recommend?

In close, I would truly appreciate any information you could give me
regarding the subject of transferring files.

Regards,

John

There are a few ways, but the solution depends on your equipment and exactly
what you want to do.
If you have a CD Writer you can write the files then copy them onto your
laptop. If you don't have a CD Writer on your laptop that would be one way
only.
For 2 way consider a USB memory thumb drive. The prices are pretty good- I
got a 512Mb one for £20 a couple of weeks ago.

There are other possibilities too, but what is best for you depends on
exactly what equipment you have on your machines and exactly what you want
to do.

 

[Plato]

Sure a floppy would work. As long as the pictures fit on the floppy, a

Just popped open a brand new box of floppies. Darn things have a 10 to
20% failure rate. Seems QA/QC on such have gone South for the Winter

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just popped open a brand new box of floppies. Darn things have a 10 to
20% failure rate. Seems QA/QC on such have gone South for the Winter

Perhaps so, but that has nothing to do with his comment that floppies
wouldn't work for *pictures*.

 

[Plato]

Perhaps so, but that has nothing to do with his comment that floppies
wouldn't work for *pictures*.

FYI. Floppies dont care what file type you are trying to copy.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

FYI. Floppies dont care what file type you are trying to copy.

Of course not. And if you had read my message that you replied to, you would
have seen that I said the same thing.