HELP: Transferring Files from PC to PC with Crossover Cable...

[BigDPW]

I have a new PC (YES!!!) only I am having major trouble transferring files from the old PC to the new one... First I tried to install the HD into the new PC but the connection for the power to the HD is different??? Then I tried wiring them together via my router and ran into major trouble getting access from one PC to the other within the workgroups... Then I bought a crossover cable thinking I was missing something and it must be the router but I am still having problems... Now I have the network setup and while on my old PC I can see that my new PC is within the workgroup but I am denied access everytime I try to even enter the file structure or the shared folder... And to top it off when I go to the workgroup on my New PC I do not see my old PC there at all...

To answer some questions in advance:
Both are XP home edition
Yes it is a cross over cable
Yes I am not very smart when it comes to networking
I have searched all over the internet to find answers to my problem and have found lots of good info that does not seem to help in the end.

Any advice on how to accomplish this file transferring? I have thought about trying a USB cable system next but I hear they are more finicky than the Cat5 crossover cable...

HELP!!! I am dying to continue alot of my prior gaming on my new superPC but I can't without alot of these files...

Another thought I had was to use my Ipod (15 GB) to transfer the files though I have a little over 15GB of data to move. And I am afraid I will loose my music on the Ipod if I cannot recover and get data from my old HD to the new one... Also I can't spend alot of money on this my wife is already anxious about the PC purchase.

HELP PLEASE!!!

[sovereignstar]

Do what I do and drop the excess (aka the porn).

[Draft Dodger]

I'm assuming that you are connecting that cable directly between the PCs, and that you've gone in to the old PC and designated a folder (or folders) as shared?

are you using the same network name on both PCs (default, I think, is HOME).
and do you have unique network names for each of the PCs?

[Draft Dodger]

Any advice on how to accomplish this file transferring? I have thought about trying a USB cable system next but I hear they are more finicky than the Cat5 crossover cable...


IF you don't get this working, don't go to the USB cables. get a USB flash drive and move data over that way.

[Easy Mac]

If you can, try to connect the computers directly using the ethernet ports. There should be a program in Start--Programs--Accessories--System Tools called File and Settings Transfer Wizard. This worked for me for transfering files from a Win98 computer to an XP one. It was very easy. Didn't have to share any folders (dangerous). I don't know if it's in XP Home though, may only be an XP Pro thing (or it may be on the XP disk from the manufacturer).

[mrsimperless]

If you are tyring to connect via network and shared folders, make sure that your tcp/ip settings are correct.

For example, when my friend and I play pc games over the lan we use a crossover cable and just bypass the complications entirely. But when you do so you no longer have a DHCP server to assign you an ip address automatically. When we conenct we use 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2 for the ip addresses of the 2 pcs and 255.255.255.0 for their subnet masks. You will need to change back to dhcp (obtain address automatically) when you're done if you have broadband.

Also, some firewalls will block access from local networks. ZoneAlarm for example seems to block by default. You have to add the other pc's ip address to the trusted zone before it will let traffic through.

Make sure you do a ping test to insure that the physical connection (including addresses and firewalls) have been resolved before trying to transfer files. Just open a command prompt and type ping 10.0.0.1 (whatever the address is of the OTHER computer) and if you get replys you are set. You will need to try this from both pcs as it is possible for one to work and not the other because of firewall settings.

Hope this helps.

[jeff061]

I'd make sure whatever windows logon account you are using exists and has the same user name and password on both computers.

[Router Help]

I'd make sure whatever windows logon account you are using exists and has the same user name and password on both computers.

This and the built in windows firewall are almost sure to be the likely culprits here.

To disable the windows firewall:
1. control panel>network connections
2. Right click in your network connection, probably local area connection, and select properties
3. Click on the settings tab
4. Under the settings tab you will see options for the firewall. I can't tell you exactly how to disable it because the screens are slightly different depending on which service pack you have installed. Turn it off for this, but make sure you turn it back on when you are done!

Also, which folder do you have shared? Is it under my documents or documents in settings? Sharing those folders can be tricky sometimes, if so, make a temp folder in C:\ just for the transfer.

[Dutch]

This and the built in windows firewall are almost sure to be the likely culprits here.

If your network is set up properly, I agree with this. Firewall's can be a bitch when you are not thinking about them.

[BigDPW]

Thanks for the help... I decided not to go the networking route after all... It dawned on me that I have an Ipod and I can use it as an external drive... Just finishing the transfers now... I still think I am just an idiot when it come to the network stuff... I can read what to do but there is no dummy proof way of doing it with all of the info I need just bits of good info here and there...