Migration problems - XP Home to XP PRO

[madmilt]

1st problem: No direct cable that I have tried works with the prepackaged
file transfer wizard.
I tried 9-pin to9-pin serial - The wizard does not connect.
The only ports that the file transfer wizard recognizes on either computer
are the USB ports.
The only USB cable with 2 male connectors that I have found at Best Buy,
Office Depot, Staples or Radio Shack has the following drawbacks:
1. It not only is designed strictly for XP-to-Vista migration (sorry, I
WON'T HAVE Vista), but neither the software provided with the cable nor the
Find Hardware wizard finds anything else online.
2. The newer computer tells me that I should find and install a higher speed
USB driver but gives me no clue where to find it.

As for migrating by other means, that too has its problems - the expense of
a second DVD drive, and bugs connecting the newer computer to the Internet
(it was a freebie from my employer, and I already have done a reinstall from
the CDs)

Details: The older one is a Compaq Evo D310; the newer is a Dell OptiPlex
GX240.

I should think that the easiest solution would be to find a high speed USB
driver for the Dell (but what and where?), and if there is a computer chip in
the cable, to disable or bypass that chip, so that the new computer won't
have to be run on Vista. Is there a way to do this?
Milt

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Using WinXP's FAST Wizard, by MVP Gary Woodruff
(Please read the caveats about Outlook Express)
http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

 

[Paul]

1st problem: No direct cable that I have tried works with the prepackaged
file transfer wizard.
I tried 9-pin to9-pin serial - The wizard does not connect.
The only ports that the file transfer wizard recognizes on either computer
are the USB ports.
The only USB cable with 2 male connectors that I have found at Best Buy,
Office Depot, Staples or Radio Shack has the following drawbacks:
1. It not only is designed strictly for XP-to-Vista migration (sorry, I
WON'T HAVE Vista), but neither the software provided with the cable nor the
Find Hardware wizard finds anything else online.
2. The newer computer tells me that I should find and install a higher speed
USB driver but gives me no clue where to find it.

As for migrating by other means, that too has its problems - the expense of
a second DVD drive, and bugs connecting the newer computer to the Internet
(it was a freebie from my employer, and I already have done a reinstall from
the CDs)

Details: The older one is a Compaq Evo D310; the newer is a Dell OptiPlex
GX240.

I should think that the easiest solution would be to find a high speed USB
driver for the Dell (but what and where?), and if there is a computer chip in
the cable, to disable or bypass that chip, so that the new computer won't
have to be run on Vista. Is there a way to do this?
Milt

In terms of hardware connection methods -

1) To connect two computers directly to one another, you need an
Etnernet "Crossover" cable. That connects TX on one computer, to
RX on the other computer, and vice versa. You need to make sure
some IP addresses have been set up - you can assign static private
addresses like 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2 to the two computers,
then use the "ping" command for connection testing.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2284646

An exception would be a computer, whose Ethernet interface supports
MDIX. Typically, that is available on gigabit ethernet interfaces.
If one of the two computers has MDIX, then the Ethernet cable type doesn't
matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mdix

If you keep one each, of a "straight thru" and a "crossover"
Ethernet cable in your toolbox, you'll always be prepared for
any situation.

If you connect the two computers to the LAN interfaces on a router,
that is another way to connect them. Cabling from a computer to a
router, uses a "straight thru" cable.

2) If you want to connect two computers via RS-232 serial ports,
the same logic applies. You need a "null modem" cable. Such
a cable connects TX on one end, to RX on the other, and vice
versa. Something clever will also be done with the flow control
signals. (A "straight thru" cable would be used between a
computer and a dial up modem.)

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2288284

3) For USB to USB transfer cables, there are two speeds of chips
used. Some scumbag seller, continue to sell the USB 1.1 cables,
which are quite slow.

The chip itself is rather dumb. All the magic, is in the drivers.

http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/files/PL-25A1 Product Brochure 101306.pdf

Some USB transfer cable products, include software which supports
TCP/IP networking. If possible, I like to see a CD in the package,
to prove there is included software. Naturally, you won't know what
you're buying, until you open the package.

(Example of product *claiming* TCP/IP support)
http://www.usbmax.com/CU2TCP_Network_USB_2.0_SuperLink_Cable_by_CableMax_TCP-IP_EasyLink.cfm

I expect, when a product claims to support "WinXP to Vista" transfer,
that would also include "WinXP to WinXP" and "Vista to Vista" transfer
as well. The idea being, that both OSes have some kind of support at
the driver level, for working with that kind of USB transfer chip.

I think some of the methods in PA Bears link, will be easier
to get going.

HTH,
Paul