Transferring Data To Your New PC or Laptop
Your new PC or laptop has arrived
and amidst all the excitement you realize you need to transfer all
your data and programs to your new machine.
Before you decide which method to use, you need to consider the
following:
- You cannot effectively transfer existing individually installed
programs from one computer to another
- Do you really want all the current data on your new computer
- this is a great time to sort and archive files you don't use
on a regular basis
- Upgrade older versions of software. If you have anything less
than Office 2003 - upgrade.
Data Transfer Options
CD / DVD
With the increased popularity of CD burners and recordable drives,
if the computer that you wish to copy the files from has a CD /
DVD recordable drive, you can copy the files you wish to move from
the computer to a CD-R or DVD disc. A DVD holds significantly more
data than a standard 740MB CD.
Do not use DirectCD on your ME computer. You need to use the Easy
CD program instead and create a Data CD, Finalized.
After copying the files you can erase and reuse the CD-RW's until
you have completed the transfer.
Network
If you have an ethernet cable network or wireless netowrk or plan
on implementing one, this is an ideal environment for transferring
and sharing files. Consider networking your old laptop or pc as
a back up server or a home security station to run webcams.
Using a network is the fastest means of transferring files between
your computers, and once setup will enable to you to continue to
share files.
USB
You can also transfer files from one computer to another computer
using either of the below USB options.
External USB Drive:
If you have an external USB drive that you currently use for backups
you can copy data to the USB hard disk drive and then connect that
drive to another computer to transfer data. If you use a mirror
software you can do a complete snapshot
of your current computer and transfer both programs and data files.
I personally don't recommend this if you have been using your current
computer for over one year. In spite of all the RegClean applications
that supposedly keep your system from becoming corrupt, I find a
clean install gives much better long term performance.
USB to USB
All modern computers have USB. Having USB on both computers means
you can network the computers using USB to USB. This solution is
sometimes easier to setup than a standard Ethernet network and still
enables the user to transfer large amounts of data between computers.
USB to USB connectors can be purchased at most major computer retail
stores.
Windows Vista Easy Transfer
You can use Windows Easy Transfer to transfer files and program
settings from a computer running Windows 2000 (files only), Windows
XP, or Windows Vista to another computer running Windows Vista.
You can copy Windows Easy Transfer to your old computer using a
CD or DVD, a network (if both computers are connected to the same
network), or a USB flash drive.
Windows Easy Transfer is a data transfer wizard to guide transferring
files and settings from one Windows computer to another. You can
choose what to transfer to your new computer and how to transfer
it. It supports the transfer of:
- Files and folders - everything within the Documents, Pictures,
and Shared Documents folders. Using advanced options, you can
select additional files and folders to transfer.
- E-mail settings, contacts, and messages.
- Program settings - your program configurations you had on your
old computer. You must first install the programs on your new
computer, Windows Easy Transfer does not transfer the programs
themselves.
- User accounts and settings - schemes, desktop backgrounds,
network connections, screen savers, fonts, Start menu options,
taskbar options, folders, specific files, network printers and
drives, and accessibility options.
- Internet settings and favorites, and cookies.
- Music - c files, playlists, and album art.
- Pictures and video - any visual file type
For more information on
Windows Vista Easy Transfer
Using An Easy Transfer Cable
Easy Transfer Cable is a specially designed USB cable that can
connect two computers and be used with Windows Easy Transfer between
Windows XP and Windows Vista.
- Start Windows Easy Transfer on your new computer
- Plug in the cable only when you're instructed
to do so.
- Before you plug in the cable on your old computer, you may need
to insert the CD that came with it to install the Windows Easy
Transfer software, and then continue the transfer process. If
this is so, you will be informed to do so.
Using Network With Easy Transfer
To transfer files directly over a network without copying them
to and from a network location such as a back up drive.
- Connect both computers to your network
- Start Windows Easy Transfer on the new computer
- Get a Windows Easy Transfer key from the new computer
- Type the key on your old computer. The Windows Easy Transfer
key acts like a password to help protect files and settings when
you transfer them over the network.
- Collect files and settings to transfer
Easy Transfer Using CD's and DVD
Note - you cannot use DVD's with Windows Easy Transfer to transfer
information from Windows 2000 or Windows XP to Windows Vista. You
will need to use CD's.
Both computers must be able to read and write DVDs or CDs.
A dual-layer DVD holds about 8.5 gigabytes [GB], a single-layer
DVD holds about 4.7 GB, and a CD holds about 700 megabytes [MB].
- As above, Select files and settings to transfer
- Windows Easy Transfer estimates how much disk space and how
many discs are needed to transfer your selections.
- Start Windows Easy Transfer on your new computer, and then follow
the instructions for using CDs or DVDs.
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| Data Transfer | Firewalls
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TV | Home WLAN Security
| Wireless Networking
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