transferring files from desktop computer to laptop

[Guest]

just got a new laptop, and was told I could use a data cable to transfer
files from one to the other. followed the instructions, but could not find
the com port. Also, does it have to be just windows files, or can it be any
programs from my desktop?

 

[Richard Urban [MVP]]

You don't transfer a program to one computer from another. You install the
program on the 2nd computer if you have a license to use the program on two
machines. Most programs do not give to license to do so.

The data transfer cable will transfer files - usually data files that you
have created on one computer to another computer. Ex: address book, I.E.
favorites, photo's, mp3's, word documents etc.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your quick response. The problem is that it will not connect
from either computer to send anything. I have some data files from a
licensed program I would like to send over, and also set up all my favorites
on I.E. I pluged in the data cable to the desktop where I would normally put
the dsl cable into and the same with the new laptop. I then used the XP disk
to set things up per instructions. It kept looking for a port when I used
Auto detect. That's as far as it would go. I would apprecate any help you
can give me.
Thank you in advance.........................

 

[Richard Urban [MVP]]

If you are using a LAN connection on each computer you will need a crossover
cable. A standard Ethernet cable will not work.

I have read that you can use a USB connection on each computer to do the
same but I have never tried this method.

Then there is the "standard" method of connecting both computer to a router,
forming a small network.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from: George Ankner
"If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!"

 

[Ron Martell]

just got a new laptop, and was told I could use a data cable to transfer
files from one to the other. followed the instructions, but could not find
the com port. Also, does it have to be just windows files, or can it be any
programs from my desktop?

If you have any volume of files to transfer then you will need
something much faster than a com port (=serial port) transfer cable.

The best way to do this type of transfer is to use the Files and
Settings Transfer Wizard that comes with Windows XP.

Run it first on the old computer to save your data files into a folder
on the hard drive. I normally create a folder named Transfer to do
this (e.g. C:\Transfer).

When the files have been accumulated then you have a choice of methods
of doing the physical transfer:
1. Connect the two machines via a crossover network cable. Configure
the old machine so that the c:\transfer is shared on the network and
then run the FASTW on the new machine to import the information over
the network.
2. Burn the Transfer folder and its content to a CD or DVD if your
old computer has a drive with this capability and if the folder
content is small enough to fit. Then insert the disk into the new
machine and use FASTW to import the data.

MVP Gary Woodruff has an article on using FASTW at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm which may be of some assistance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm