I'm looking to buy a new computer is there a way I can transfer the files to my new computer?

Question

I don't want to have to put the files on a cd, especially my music.

Answer 1

you can simply network them temporarily and transfer from one to the other.
How often does it happen that you buy a PC or a hard disk and are reluctant to use it because you are afraid to lose all the settings that you have on your existing PC? Saving a copy of your files and then transferring them to a new PC is still thinkable, but changing all the settings individually in the new PC is too tedious and simply unthinkable.

Direct Hit!
Applies to: Win XP users

USP: Use the Files and Settings Transfer wizard to transfer your settings

Primary link: http://tinyurl.com/2or8z

Google keywords: Win XP transfer settings

There is an easy way out-the 'File and settings transfer wizard', a built-in Win XP feature. It lets you save and transfer your files and settings from one PC to another and you can choose the medium you want to use to transfer data. You can connect two PCs directly with an Ethernet cross cable or serial cable. Or you can store them on a floppy or external hard drive and then connect it to the new PC and transfer settings and data.

The settings we are discussing here are not only your network and Outlook settings but also the minutest details such as the screen saver and desktop icon placement. Let's see how to do this.


The wizard helps you collect the data to transfer. To start the wizard go to Program files>Accessories> System tools> File and Settings Transfer Wizard
Click on Next on the first screen and you will be asked to choose whether it's the old PC or the new one to which you want to transfer the settings. Choose 'Old computer'

Select the way in which you want to transfer data between the two PCs. We chose to use a USB flash drive You can choose to copy files, or settings or both. Check the box that says 'let me select the custom list ...settings'

Here specify which files and settings to back up or transfer. All types of files and settings can be added to this list. Click on Next and your back-up disk is ready Now we have to transfer the backed up files and settings to the new PC. Repeat the same procedure as in step 2 and this time choose 'New computer'

Here choose the last option, which says 'I don't need the wizard, ... files and settings from my old computer' Give the path of the drive where you have stored a copy of the files and settings or choose direct PC-to-PC link

After giving the path just click on Next and the wizard will start copying the files and settings onto the new PC Click on Finish and you will be asked to re-login. Once you do that, your old settings and files will be in place


Ankit Kawatra

Answer 2

Since you don't want to put them on a disc drive (CD, Removable Media) you can't transfer your files to the new computer. The easiest way is to put them on a CD, but if you don't want to for some un-thoughtful reason, you'll have to start all over. If you do consider putting them on a CD, don't make it as a Music CD, but a Data CD. Better yet, use a DVD (Data), it holds more files (at least 3x as much).

Answer 3

Couple of options, depending on how technical you are.

1) Remove the hard disk from the old computer and install it in the new one (difficult)
2) Get some file transfer software such as laplink (http://www.laplink.com/) and a cable that connects between the parallel ports.
3) Upload the files to a website and re-download them to your new pc.

Answer 4

I suggest you get a 500 MB or 1 GB usb storage device if the files you want transferred are small and does not exceed that amount. If it's more than that amount I would suggest purchasing an external hard drive and load everything on that.
When you get your new system, just load everything back.

Answer 5

You could temporarily insert your old PCs hard drive into the new PC as a Slave to the new PC's hard drive (refer to your documentation on the old pc for jumper settings on the hard drive to make it a slave, or google the model of the hard drive and jumper setting perhaps-often there is a small illustration on the drive itself to show how it should be set for each mode) then just copy the files directly from one hard drive to the other.

Since your new PC functions off of its currently existing C drive, it will just see the slave as more disk space under a different drive letter, so the fact that you have windows installed on both will have no effect, and you can just copy folders directly from one to the other as you choose.

When all done, remove the 'old' hard drive, set it back to its original jumper settings, and put it back in your old pc if you like

good luck!

Answer 6

There are lots of ways. The easiest requires removing the hard drive from the old one, attaching it to the new one (probably as a slave) and then just copying everything over. You could hook up the 2 with a special USB cable but you would have to buy it, the first way won't cost you anything.

Answer 7

You can actually link the two hard drives together and import the files you want directly.

Just put the old hard drive as a slave on IDE1 to the new one

Answer 8

Try buying a Flash Drive, and load all the data from the old computer to the flash drive. Then load the flash drive data onto the new computer.

Answer 9

When your new PC is set up you need to Network the two puters and once done, you will be able to copy from one to the other.

Open my Network Places (desktop icon or in start, all programs) and select from Network Tasks section 'Setup a home or small office network' - the wizard will guide you from there.

Answer 10

get either a huge capacity jump drve or a backup hard drive. if you "back up" the files to the external hard drive than you can load it to your new computer, music and all.