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I got a new laptop about a month and a half ago, since the old one refuses to do the things I want it to do anymore. However, there are pictures and things that I would like to transfer from one computer to another, and I don't have an external hard drive to get the stuff off of Old Laptop, then transfer to New Laptop.
Could I somehow use a network cable and basically do it that way instead of using some intermediary storage device? If yes, how would I go about doing it and what would I need?
I use a flashdrive to transfer all the time. An inexpensive one with 3 to 4 gig costs under $15. It's a fast way to copy/paste files from one computer to another as opposed to the more complicated process of trying to set up a network between the computers if one doesn't exist.
To backup for safe keeping I have an external drive attached at all times. Again, it's fast and easy to copy/paste from C to K (K being the letter given to the USB port on my computer; yours would be different).
If the itunes library was larger than the flashdrive, then it wouldn't work unless you could split the library into smaller chunks. None of my music or video files were huge, so I don't have first-hand knowledge about transferring an itunes library.
As for setting up a network to "wire" the two laptops together, it was my past experience that older laptops/computers and newer ones have difficulty networking. BUT it completely depends on the age of Old Laptop and the OS version it is running. If I recall, I should have been able to use a basic ethernet wire to connect my old computer to my new one, but the old computer wouldn't cooperate.
I quickly googled and saw that a double-ended USB cord might work and then use file transfer wizard to move the files over to New Laptop.
A few ideas:
- If you are going to use an Ethernet cable and a direct connection from one PC to another PC/laptop then you will have to use a crossover network cable. If there is a switch/router/hub that both these machines will connect to then of course you would use a straight network cable and then make sure all machines are on the same domain or workgroup, enable sharing or remote desktop, etc. and connect to the target PC whichever way you prefer and transfer data easily.
- Alternative would be to use one of the free online data backup/storage sites where they give you Gigs of free space.
- Take out the hard drive from the target machine and connect it to the source machine which should appear as a second drive where you can transfer any and all data you want, this is probably the most practical and easiest. If both drives are SATA, then you do not even have to worry about messing with the Master/Slave jumpers like you would with PATA drives.
If you are really intent on not using a flash drive/online back up you can get a USB device called a Tornado to easily transfer the data.
Or you could get a simple crossover cable. To transfer the data using a crossover cable:
1. Disconnect PC from a network cable/wireless network
2. Connect the crossover cable to the Ethernet port on each PC
3. Do Start, Run, cmd on each PC and enter ipconfig then hit enter
4. Make a note of each IP address. Should be something like 169.xx.xx.xx. This is known as an apipa address. You might have to do ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew in the cmd window.
5. share out the C drive on the source PC: How to Share and Map a Network Drive Using a Crossover Cable Between Systems
6. transfer data as needed
A few ideas:
- If you are going to use an Ethernet cable and a direct connection from one PC to another PC/laptop then you will have to use a crossover network cable. If there is a switch/router/hub that both these machines will connect to then of course you would use a straight network cable and then make sure all machines are on the same domain or workgroup, enable sharing or remote desktop, etc. and connect to the target PC whichever way you prefer and transfer data easily.
- Alternative would be to use one of the free online data backup/storage sites where they give you Gigs of free space.
- Take out the hard drive from the target machine and connect it to the source machine which should appear as a second drive where you can transfer any and all data you want, this is probably the most practical and easiest. If both drives are SATA, then you do not even have to worry about messing with the Master/Slave jumpers like you would with PATA drives.
I do not intend to tell you what you should do, but if you are worried about loosing data.. do you have a back-up source in case your hard drive fails, computer gets stolen?
I kind of like the idea of getting a external hard drive enclosure. You can pull your old hard drive and put it in the external enclosure. The reason I say "kind of" like the idea is because I went through three external enclosures and all of them had issues... I do not want any back-up issues.
I ended up buying a WD My Book external hard drive, and its been flawless for two years!
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