So I bought a new computer...

H

HornsHornsHorns

500+ Posts
And the new machine has Vista, whereas my current machine has XP Pro. Both are laptops, if that makes any difference. I would like to get a data transfer cable to transfer all my music, photos, etc to the new computer, and as far as I can tell, they are all the same. But maybe some of yall have a different opinion. So my question is, is there any real difference between say, this and this?

Or is there some other solution that is even easier?
 
Apple offers an easy way to transfer all your files from a Windows box to a new Mac, but for Windows to Windows you might be SOL. I've heard other Windows users complaining about it and never heard if they came up with a good answer. Sounds like an obvious need for an application from MS.
 
What do you use to back up your data now?

If you don't already back up to an external drive then go buy one. Copy all of the files you need to keep onto the external drive and then copy from there onto the laptop.

Or just spend the money you're planning to spend on a cable and get a 1GB USB thumb drive and do the same. At least you'll have something useful afterwards instead of another cable taking up space.
 
Mac blah blah blah...

You have a billion options. Are your computers on a network? Do you have an external back up HDD? I know you can use a cross-over cable as well... just google how to do that.
 
I agree with Vacantly Occupied. You'll only need that cable for one use. A $100 external drive would come in handy for a long time for similar needs and for back up needs. Or just buy a 4 or 8 GB thumb drive and transfer that way. You can get an 8 gig drive at Fry's for about $40.

If you are just not wanting to spend much money, buy an external drive enclosure for about $20 and pull the HD out of the old laptop and slap it into the case. Copy the files you want off of it, wipe it clean and just use that as a back up drive.

I didn't even think of the networking idea. If you are already running wireless at your house, just transfer the files that way. It may take a while but it will be free.
 
yeah. that mac migration assistant is pretty amazing. i've had the same machine "image" for a few machines. get a new machine, put the old one in target disk mode, run migration assist and when you boot the new machine it's nearly exactly like your old machine. same desktop background, same apps, mail's all there. pretty good. there are some apps with heavy protection that don't like to be migrated though.
 
I didn't even think of the wireless thing. I'll try that. If it is too slow or otherwise ineffective for whatever reason, I'll try something else. Thanks.
 
There is something called the "File Transfer Wizard" that will copy all your documents and settings to your new computer. Should be an icon on the welcome screen when you first start up your new computer. Personally, I prefer to just network the computers and copy the relevant document folders manually. It's just much cleaner, and like the prev poster said, the last thing I want to do with a new computer is junk up the files with some "automatic" file transfer. Cheapest solution would be to go the Fry's and pick up a crossover cat5 cable. You have to know some basics about networking, but its the cheapest way to go. The other suggestions about the flashdrive are good as well.
 
My point Fanboy is that you are hijacking this guy's thread. It doesn't matter if your Apple can solve global warming... the question on this thread is about PC to PC transfer and you have nothing to contribute.
 
It doesn't help that his criticism is wrong, either. The file transfer wizard was introduced with XP. The Vista version is called Windows Easy Transfer and can be found under the start menu>program>accessories>system tools>Windows Easy Transfer.
 
Windows Easy Transfer doesn't appear on my Professional version of XP at the office. It's very likely our IT dept deletes it from the image for some reason. If it's there in a standard release, I stand corrected.
 
WET is the Vista version. File and Settings Transfer is the XP version. I don't have any of my XP computers booted up right now, so I don't know where it would be on the start menu, but it's probably in a similar place, system tools folder.
 
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