I am trying to connect my new computer to my old one. The new one has vista and the old one has xp..I have 2 ethernet cards in the new computer and one in the old one. I just want to be able to transfer files from my old compter to my new one, I am not worried about getting my old computer on the internet. Thanks in advance.
Need some techhead help please!!
- Thread starter wrenchjr
- Start date
VelvetDarkness
Polysyllable Whore x
- Joined
- May 24, 2006
- Posts
- 6,521
I'm afraid I'm not a tech-head.
Which is why I'd burn everything off or throw it onto a USB memory stick and do it that way.
Which is why I'd burn everything off or throw it onto a USB memory stick and do it that way.
fabricator
Experienced
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2003
- Posts
- 76
You won't be able to do what you're thinking. DO NOT TRY IT. You need a 'hub' or 'router' to be able to have the two computers talk to one another. The simplest thing is to get a memory stick, put the files you want on it from your old computer, and install them on your new computer. You could also burn it to a cd but that takes longer.
rosco rathbone
1. f3e5 2. g4??
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2002
- Posts
- 42,431
That's how I did it.
popcorn2721
GONZO!
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2005
- Posts
- 3,188
There are ways to hook up 2 PCs without buying a router or switch. You could purchase a null modem cable and use it to hook up one PC as a host. Vista is pretty network friendly but you might have some issues with post sp2 XP. I did it once waaay back. The little trick works fine, saved me some money too. I would say on a tech level of 1 to 10 Im gonna rate the difficulty at around a 7... you might actually have to do some setup with your pc's to get them to share the files you want.
Having said alll that.. I would prolly buy a 8gig flash drive and move it. Its gonna take a while to transfer data over a lan cable.
Last edited:
UM not so true for the previous replys.
Buying a 10$ Jump Drive/ Thumb Drive/ Flash Drive would probably be the easiest way to move files but it is possible with a newer system and just an ethernet cable. The reason you dont need a switch or hub is that newer network cards do this automaticly for you. However what you would need to do is connect the systems, enable file shareing and then browser from one system to the other and copy your files.
Buying a 10$ Jump Drive/ Thumb Drive/ Flash Drive would probably be the easiest way to move files but it is possible with a newer system and just an ethernet cable. The reason you dont need a switch or hub is that newer network cards do this automaticly for you. However what you would need to do is connect the systems, enable file shareing and then browser from one system to the other and copy your files.
CWatson
Not in a band.
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Posts
- 1,653
Memory is getting really cheap nowadays. You can get like a 8GB thumb drive for $20. Alternately, to do it all in one swell foop, go for an external hard drive--250 GB for $55.
Obviously, this is money out the door, but it's cheaper and--most notably--easier than learning to network your computers using a network router.
Obviously, this is money out the door, but it's cheaper and--most notably--easier than learning to network your computers using a network router.
sunandshadow
Cocksnail!
- Joined
- Jan 1, 1970
- Posts
- 3,863
If your intent is to junk the old computer after transferring all the data, and you have an open bay in the new case, you could just install the old harddrive into the new case as a slave drive. Won't work if the new one is a laptop, obviously.
silverwhisper
just this guy, you know?
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2005
- Posts
- 11,319
what sunandshadow said re: transferring of data, although a quicker and likely faster solution in most cases is the use of a USB drive, as everyone else has suggested.
ed
ed
Actually if your savvy enough you can actually take the harddrive of the old computer and put it in as a slave of the new one. That way you can actually pull the files just from the drive. It should boot up from your vista, just remember on the xp drive you have to move the jumper on the outside of the drive to slave, or it will not work.
I've done this before for older computer systems. They even have external HD hooks up like this External USB SATA Drive
I've done this before for older computer systems. They even have external HD hooks up like this External USB SATA Drive
NightL
smoke'n'mirrors
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2004
- Posts
- 3,318
How to Network Vista and XP Computers Together
How to Network Vista and XP Computers Together
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1165037
How to Network Vista and XP Computers Together
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1165037
bambikiller
Really Really Experienced
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2008
- Posts
- 417
There maybe some files that just won't transfer an easy way around this.
E-mail them to your self, it works when nothing else will.
E-mail them to your self, it works when nothing else will.
silverwhisper
just this guy, you know?
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2005
- Posts
- 11,319
i wonder of wrenchjr ever got the files moved.
ed
ed
Depending on what you're wanting to transfer, the file types and the reason for transferring them you have plenty of options.
If your sole goal is to transfer your files from your old computer to your new one and never use the old computer again; just maximising your storage by installing the old hard drive is your best bet. It is very simple and requires very little skill or computer know how. A benifit of doing this is you can transfer the files from the old hard drive faster, and set your virtual memory to access your secondary hard drive instead of your primary and speed up your new computer more then you realized.
If you want to keep your old computer running for other purposes; transfering your files through CD/USB or DVD is the best option.
If you want to transfer files between the computers on a continuous basis then networking them is the best option. If your more interested in transfering media to and from your old computer I would recommend a media server program (many available are free) as that allows you to stream content from one computer to the other without making an actual copy of it on your new computer.
I personally have a slave computer in my entertainment system without a monitor and keyboard I use for media sharing. I threw a very large hard drive in it and loaded up all my music, videos, pictures etc etc and have it networked so my PS3 can access it when needed. Since I have a wireless router and purchased an inexpensive USB WIFI adapter nobody even knows the computer exists. This isn't very hard to do either and very impressive to those not familiar with the process or the ability to do such.
The first thing you need to do is figure out what your going to do with your old computer. Once you know what the future holds for it you can best decide how you want to transfer the files and what if any equipment or software you will need after its finished.
Dregun
If your sole goal is to transfer your files from your old computer to your new one and never use the old computer again; just maximising your storage by installing the old hard drive is your best bet. It is very simple and requires very little skill or computer know how. A benifit of doing this is you can transfer the files from the old hard drive faster, and set your virtual memory to access your secondary hard drive instead of your primary and speed up your new computer more then you realized.
If you want to keep your old computer running for other purposes; transfering your files through CD/USB or DVD is the best option.
If you want to transfer files between the computers on a continuous basis then networking them is the best option. If your more interested in transfering media to and from your old computer I would recommend a media server program (many available are free) as that allows you to stream content from one computer to the other without making an actual copy of it on your new computer.
I personally have a slave computer in my entertainment system without a monitor and keyboard I use for media sharing. I threw a very large hard drive in it and loaded up all my music, videos, pictures etc etc and have it networked so my PS3 can access it when needed. Since I have a wireless router and purchased an inexpensive USB WIFI adapter nobody even knows the computer exists. This isn't very hard to do either and very impressive to those not familiar with the process or the ability to do such.
The first thing you need to do is figure out what your going to do with your old computer. Once you know what the future holds for it you can best decide how you want to transfer the files and what if any equipment or software you will need after its finished.
Dregun
@wrenchjr
Unfortunately you will not be able to copy most games from the program files folder. Even if you did there would be some files that are written elsewhere that you would not be able to get at.
If you do manage to get a game folder to move try running it. If it works thats great, if it does not, then you might as well delete the folder.
If you have specific games you want to get PM me and I might be able to help.
Unfortunately you will not be able to copy most games from the program files folder. Even if you did there would be some files that are written elsewhere that you would not be able to get at.
If you do manage to get a game folder to move try running it. If it works thats great, if it does not, then you might as well delete the folder.
If you have specific games you want to get PM me and I might be able to help.
Similar threads
