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View Full Version : Tranfering data to new computer help?

cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 10:19 PM
Okay i finally broke down and got a new computer to replace my dinosaur that has been creeping along for the last 7 years. My dilemma is how do i take all of the documents and info i have on the old computer and transfer it to the new computer? I do not have a cd burner on it and really dont want to buy one for it. I have 3.5 floppy which will do me virtually no good. I tried to zip a bunch of the documents and that is a pain. I picked up PC relocator and for some reason cannot get the damn cable they provide to work. I can go and get a special USB cable but who knows if that will work. I have been looking at online storage to see if i could tranfer what i need there and then download it on to the new computer . I know very little about this option and figured someone here has to have a decent idea of how this works and if it will help. All ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
General Mike
08-18-2005, 10:23 PM
What about one of those USB key drive thingamajigs.
Draft Dodger
08-18-2005, 10:24 PM
easiest thing is to take the old hard drive out and put it in the new PC (or into an external storage enclosure) and just copy over the data you want.
Cuckoo
08-18-2005, 10:30 PM
easiest thing is to take the old hard drive out and put it in the new PC (or into an external storage enclosure) and just copy over the data you want.

This is what I'd recommend as well. If you're just talking about a few files, you can certainly pick up a flash drive. Those things are pretty useful and not too expensive. But if you're talking a significant amount of stuff, just put the old hard drive in the new computer and copy over whatever you need.

Edit: I don't know much about PC Relocator, but I would suspect they'll have directions on how to use it. If it's just a matter of buying a USB cable, they're not too expensive either.
Antmeister
08-18-2005, 10:33 PM
What about one of those USB key drive thingamajigs.

You may be assuming that his old dinosaur even has USB ports. If the computer is 7 years old, there is a chance it may not even have one.
Antmeister
08-18-2005, 10:34 PM
easiest thing is to take the old hard drive out and put it in the new PC (or into an external storage enclosure) and just copy over the data you want.

This is your best bet. I would definitely go with this option.
cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 10:36 PM
Okay but the old hard drive is older than dirt wont i have issues with this?
DaddyTorgo
08-18-2005, 10:37 PM
well what you can do then is just copy the stuff off of it onto the new drive and then junk the old drive
Antmeister
08-18-2005, 10:41 PM
As long as you don't have it configured as your primary hard drive, you should be just fine in most cases. If both your drives are IDE you shouldn't run into trouble.
Izulde
08-18-2005, 10:41 PM
Why not an external hard drive as a transfer method? That makes crap soooo much easier.
cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 10:43 PM
Is uploading what i need to an online storage site not a good idea?
Draft Dodger
08-18-2005, 10:47 PM
Is uploading what i need to an online storage site not a good idea?

you can do it, but it's going to be pretty f'in slow and a major organizational pain
cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 10:53 PM
Realistically i have most about 300 mb worht of info i need to transfer. This really isnt much and i have a cable interent connection which moves pretty damn fast.
DaddyTorgo
08-18-2005, 10:57 PM
Realistically i have most about 300 mb worht of info i need to transfer. This really isnt much and i have a cable interent connection which moves pretty damn fast.
do you have a USB port on the old computer? cuz that's small enough for a lil USB drive to handle in 2 trips
cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 11:05 PM
Yep i sure do have a USB port.
DaddyTorgo
08-18-2005, 11:10 PM
i'd go out and grab a 256mb USB drive. Those can generally be had for like...shoot I don't even know. Let's put it this way...mine was like 70 when I got it like over a year ago. Should be much cheaper now. And that's the easiest way to handle it, plus you get the little USB drive to use again and again in the future. VERY handle little toy.
Draft Dodger
08-18-2005, 11:12 PM
256 MB should be under $30.
DT is right - if it's just a few hundred megabytes, go that route.
DaddyTorgo
08-18-2005, 11:16 PM
under 30 bucks. good god! cheap!
Izulde
08-18-2005, 11:17 PM
under 30 bucks. good god! cheap!

Well my 120 GB external hard drive was only 140 bucks or somewhere around there. So at 256 MB, I can believe that's true.
cubboyroy1826
08-18-2005, 11:18 PM
Thanks for the help guys. I know someone here would know what the heck to do.
Aesyrqwe
08-19-2005, 12:26 AM
I just got a Lexar 256 mb Jump Drive for like 35$ at walmart.

-Aes
chinaski
08-19-2005, 12:47 AM
what are you people talking about? Put the old HD in the new computer, end of story.
sterlingice
08-19-2005, 04:05 PM
what are you people talking about? Put the old HD in the new computer, end of story.
I think this all has to do with how technically inclined you are. Some people don't want to mess with what's inside the box. Frankly, if the question is being asked and he hasn't tried something insane like trying to hook them both up via parallel cable, USB, or on a network then he's probably not someone who is all that comfortable breaking into his machine.

Thumb drives are cheap and easy and just plug in. A friend of mine recommends getting a 1 gig one because you can move a CD on it but if you don't want to spend that kind of cash and don't think you'll get that kind of utility, just go with a cheapy 256.

SI