Prior22

I'm considering buying a new hard drive and am wondering if theres a way to transfer some of my important files from one hard drive to another, such as with a special cable. Thanks.

Deleted090308

Hi,
Install the new HDD as a slave drive on the same cable as your "old" HDD inside the computer. Make sure the "old" is configured as master. Format the new drive. Then you can start moving files. There are other solutions, but this one is the cheapest and easiest.

Nicholas

Deleted090308

What I wrote above only applies for PATA drives (of course). If it's a SATA drive you're going install you need a separate cable for that. As with PATA drives you will have to format a SATA drive before you can use it.

linderman

once your new drive is installed and formatted and "seen" in My computer


then use xxclone (free in my signature links) it will transfer the whole contents of your current drive EASILY to the new drive; there is also a guide in there how to use xxclone


if you are looking for a program more individually selective (like data/movies / pictures etc) then use Snapbackup
http://www.snapbackup.com/


you dont need to buy anything, as long as both drives are seen by your computer

Prior22

I think I may have misdescribed what I was doing. I'm actually going to buy a brand new unit, possibly a Dell Dimension 8200. And I need to transfer some of the more important files from my old computer to the new one. Can snapbackup do this also? And how could I connect both computers at the same time?

Deleted090308

You could use a local network or a USB cable to connect the two computers.

Prior22

How would that work? Would I just leave the old computer on and then plug the new one into an outlet, with the USB cable connecting the two?

linderman

setting up a network is a bit juicer proposition than most users will want to play with IMHO

http://www.samspublishing.com/librar...eqNum=143&rl=1

if both computers have either a networking card or intergrated network controller you can connect those computers with a network crossover cable; commonly found at most computer stores for about $15.00

you could also remove the hard drive from the old computer, install it in an external enclosure, then connect it via USB to the new computer and access all your info ? this type of enclosure can cost as little as $20.00 to $25.00

or if you want the really easy way out, just buy a USB external hard drive / enclosure, then you can use that as the common intermediary via USB connections, then when you are finished, you can use the new usb external hard drive for redundant data back-up

the enclosure is the easiest in my humble opinion

Deleted090308

I agree that that making the "old" hard drive external is the most convenient solution. But, Prior asked how to connect the two computers - a network/USB cable would do the job (like linderman said) - or an already existing LAN (not setting a LAN up ). Trust linderman, he knows what he's talking about - and I didn't explain the options near as good as he did.

linderman

I was just informed of this jewel by Changling



here is the easiest and cheapest way to go! it dont get no easier and cheaper than this!

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?inv...B20-DL&cat=CBL

Prior22

Seems like a great product. Only problem is that its not instock right now. Do any other stores carry it?

linderman

its a very common product any chain store has them

or you can google search for

usb directlink PC to PC cable


here is another

http://www.meritline.com/direct-link...sb-to-usb.html

Prior22

With the old computer still setup would I have to fully connect the new one in the same manner? I'm just confused towards what I would have to do with the new one to make it ready to connect with the USB cable.

Deleted090308

The USB cable is easy to install - but if one of the computers is running Windows 95 or 98 you have to install the software first on that computer. No need for software installation if the OS is post-98. Then just plug the cable in to both computers, who will get the info they need from the "flash drive" in the cable.

Prior22

But would I have to fully setup the new computer while doing this? I was hoping to just have the old computer fully plugged in and for their to be an easy solution to connect the new computer with. I dont know how I would have room to fully connect both at the same time.

Deleted090308

I'm not sure I understand you correctly . If you want to transfer files from one HDD to another HDD - both of them inside different computers - then both computers have to be powered up and running an OS.

Prior22

I would have to buy separate equipment to run both computers at the same time since I only have one connection hub. Instead of going through buying another connection hub, could I just use a flash drive instead like the one listed here: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-FLASH-DRIVE-...QQcmdZViewItem

How fast does data tend to transfer using flash drives?

linderman

yes that will work also; If you are running win 98 on the old computer you will need to install drivers from the flash drives website in order to use it, but yes it will work


you could also just remove the drive from the old computer; install it in the new computer as a slave and be done with the process also

just figure out which method is best for you