I just got a new computer, and I’m trying to use Windows’ “Direct Cable Connection” to get data from my old one to my new one. I got a parallel port- to -parallel port cable, and I’ve set up the old computer as a host and the new one as a guest.
But when the two connect, the new computer tells me I have to enter the name of the old computer in order to be able to see the shared folders on the old one. Say what? I can’t find the “computer’s name” anywhere. It doesn’t seem to be its Network Identification name, because when I enter that, it doesn’t help. Does anyone know how I can find out what name the program is asking me for?
Go into the control panel on the old computer, click on “network”, a window will pop up. Click on the “identification” tab. The Computer name will be there. If it’s jibberish like ZXSZXS, you can name it something simple like “old”.
Duh, I should have read your whole post before jumping the gun. Sorry. Good luck. I tried connecting two computers in the same manner once and it was hell.
Direct Cable Connection is a nightmare, trust me, you don’t want to go that route. I tired for years and these are the only tried and true ways I have found to get data from one computer to the other.
Get LapLink. The software is okay to use and needs no special set up. It can be tricky but works if you have the $150 to spend with minimal effort.
If you know enough about computers (the most recommended thing and cheapest) is to take the hard drive out of the old machine, set it to a slave drive, set the BIOS on the new machine to recognize it, and boot the new machine up, transfer the data. This is what I do for friends and family all the time when they get new computers and need me to transfer data over.
Network the two together. A lot more detailed than the two above so unless you have any desire to network them, I wont go into detail. (have it copied over on Fathom)
Depending on what you desire to do, I am sure I or someone else can expand on one or more of the above if you have any questions.
Thanks, guys. Actually, I found my answer a few minutes ago. Problem was, I didn’t have the NetBUEI and IPX protocols and the Windows File Sharing Service added to the “Network” properties of my machines (both). Once I added these, everything worked like a charm…and the host computer name is indeed the one in Network | Identification, once these have been set up.
Removing the old disk and installing it as another drive on the new PC to suck the data off it, then putting it back in the old one is a reasonable way to go, but …
Disks are large and very reliable these days, but if you care about what’s on your PC, you SHOULD still have something like a zip, jaz, CD RW or even (gasp) a tape drive and be making backups (backups represent a way to recover from malicious hacking as well). Or you can backup across the net to an online service these days.
If you can’t get things on to your new PC by installing software from original media and downloads, and restoring your own data from your backups, there is something wrong with your backup strategy. Think of the new machine as a test of it. If you haven’t been backing up, buy something suitable as a backup device, hook it up to your old machine first, and get the important data off the old disk. Of course, this requires that you have used enough discipline in your disk organization to know where everything that needs to be backed up is, without backing up too much stuff that will be reinstalled anyway.
Last time I got a new machine, this is exactly what I did - reinstalled all commercial apps and restored my own source, documents, etc, from backup on a zip drive.
Yabob has the right idea. You should be able to restore data from a backup device. I use a parallel port external hard drive to back up my important files. Works like a charm.