Transfer of data from old to new laptop...

[jonothan]

...as my old Compaq laptop has all but given up the ghost, and I've a new HP on order from Dabs arriving tomorrow.

Now, what's the fastest way of transferring the 12GB of data in "My Documents" plus the Outlook .pst files across from the old to the new? The old one has slow USB ports. Any ideas what might work best here?

I'm a bit of an IT numpty so any help gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

J

 

[cookie]

the "files & settings transfer wizard" built into XP will do it.

but your new laptop may very well have vista & i have no idea how that might do it.

 

[John Armstrong]

How about getting yourself an external hard drive, will double up as a back up as well

 

[Invicta Moto]

How about getting yourself an external hard drive, will double up as a back up as well

And they are very cheap for up to 250gb... although there are some small fag packet sized ones. We use them all the time here for taking stuff out to customers to fix their machines....

 

[jonothan]

I deliberately bought a computer with XP on it as I've heard of too many problems of Blue Screen Death with Vista. Yes, I have an external hard drive but the USB on my old machine is so slow it'll take ages to transfer all the data onto it. I'll maybe run that overnight.

I suppose what I'm after is a way of transferring all that data quickly.

Thanks

J

 

[Paul90]

Most laptops have built in network ports (ethernet) square socket for a plug that looks a bit like a BT phone plug. You would most likely use this if you connect the laptop to a LAN at work.

Borrow a lead with a plug on each end, connect old and new together, use peer to peer networking and share the folders to drag the files across.

I've done that in the past - a while ago now but fast(ish) onc set up.
Wizzards and help files on the PC's will guide you through it.

Paul

 

[Mick_rw]

Make....

Borrow a lead with a plug on each end, connect old and new together, use peer to peer networking and share the folders to drag the files across.

Paul

sure it's a cross over cable as a standard network cable will not work if connecting two computers directly.

 

[Paul90]

a standard network cable will not work if connecting two computers directly.

Are you sure ?
Perhaps you are thinking of serial or parallel port cables.

I used the same ethernet cable that I use to connect to a LAN - worked fine. Done it serveral times in the past for various reasons.

Jonothan - if you want a cable give me a shout and I'll put one in the post.

 

[ianf]

Depends on the ethernet adapter. Most can do auto-mdx and sense if you've used straight thru cabling, but strictly speaking between to nic cards you should use a crossover cable.

 

[GSmonkey]

If you're old laptop is for the scrap heap, take the drive out and put it in an external case like this, then transfer files at your leisure. You're then left with a backup drive.

 

[jonothan]

Hi Guys!

The obvious way (for me) was to network both laptops on our home wireless network and transfer the files that way.

It's working a treat.

Thanks for the advice and Paul 90 for the offer of the cable.

Cheers

Jonothan