# How can I get my files from this computer that runs Win 98? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 10, 2007, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602 "2007-02-10T07:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/1 "2007-02-10T07:34:15Z")
I have a brand new laptop that I would like to transfer files to, from an old Gateway system that runs Windows 98 and has 1 USB port. I’m almost sure it’s a USB 1 port. So, I tried to use my flash drive, and the old comp didn’t recognize it as a drive or anything else. I’d like to try a network connection, but I’m not sure how to make the software communicate properly. I can provide any info needed for this transfer to occur. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/2 "2007-02-10T07:45:14Z")
Does the old puter have a CD burner (thus providing a snapshot/backup of the old system at the point of transfer)? (Alternatively, do you have or can you borrow a 3.5" external drive?) Does the old puter still have e-mail access? (If you have a lot of stuff to be moved, does it have Zip software that is compatible with the Zip software on the laptop?) While potentially tedious, I would think that either of these options would provide a fairly secure method to move the data. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/3 "2007-02-10T07:48:56Z")
Win 98 sometimes needs a driver to recognize a USB drive. Usually these can be found at the website of the thumbdrive manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/4 "2007-02-10T08:02:53Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Does the old puter have a CD burner (thus providing a snapshot/backup of the old system at the point of transfer)? (Alternatively, do you have or can you borrow a 3.5" external drive?) Does the old puter still have e-mail access? (If you have a lot of stuff to be moved, does it have Zip software that is compatible with the Zip software on the laptop?) While potentially tedious, I would think that either of these options would provide a fairly secure method to move the data. [/QUOTE] Burn to disc and then trasnfer? I was hoping that would be a last resort, but it might be the only feasable means. One would think that network cables could make data transfer lighting fast. Perhaps not in this case. No, I don’t have a 3.5" drive at all. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/5 "2007-02-10T08:05:56Z")
We’re talking about just shy of 4gig’s worth of data. Thanks for all the advice so far! ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/6 "2007-02-10T08:13:39Z")
[QUOTE=dnooman] I’d like to try a network connection, but I’m not sure how to make the software communicate properly. [/QUOTE] IIRC win98 has wizards for this, but you will need a crossover cable rather than a standard ethernet cable…any computer store will know what you are talking about. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/7 "2007-02-10T08:22:04Z")
[QUOTE=drachillix] IIRC win98 has wizards for this, but you will need a crossover cable rather than a standard ethernet cable…any computer store will know what you are talking about. [/QUOTE] I have a USB to network adapter if that’s what you mean. I even have a USB to serial adapter. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/8 "2007-02-10T10:10:05Z")
[QUOTE=dnooman] So, I tried to use my flash drive, and the old comp didn’t recognize it as a drive or anything else. I’d like to try a network connection, but I’m not sure how to make the software communicate properly. [/QUOTE] If you can plug both machines into the same LAN, you can move files over the network, but it’s not as easy as you’d think. I’m surprised **drachillix** didn’t mention the voodoo ritual required to get WinXP and Win98 to talk over a network, though. So, for you: One [Voodoo Ritual](http://alpha-geek.com/2004/05/08/file_sharing_between_winxp_pro_and_win98), coming up. It involves creating two identical user accounts (one on each system) so that the Win98 box thinks you’re logging into it from within the machine. It took me hours to figure this out on my own when I helped my dad go through this, but it worked just as described on that page. Good luck! BTW, it should also work with a crossover cable, but life will be much easier if you can plug them into the same LAN. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/9 "2007-02-10T14:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=Dag Otto] Win 98 sometimes needs a driver to recognize a USB drive. Usually these can be found at the website of the thumbdrive manufacturer. [/QUOTE] This is correct and should be your first move. If it works, then using the flash drive will be the quickest and easiest way to do what you want. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/10 "2007-02-10T15:44:35Z")
USB is the cheapest way to go, but I really don’t recommend it if you have 1.0. USB 2.0 is something like 40x faster, and it quite disconcerting to see “182 minutes remain” when you are just trying to copy over a section of your mp3s. At 4 gigs, you would waste, what, 6 CDs for less than a dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Rockwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c0e974/32.png) [@Rockwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rockwell)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/11 "2007-02-10T15:59:09Z")
I have a similar situation. What I was wondering, can a hard drive from an old Gateway computer with O/S of Win 98, be used as a slave drive for a Dell desktop computer running Windows XP? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/12 "2007-02-10T16:13:31Z")
[QUOTE=Rockwell] I have a similar situation. What I was wondering, can a hard drive from an old Gateway computer with O/S of Win 98, be used as a slave drive for a Dell desktop computer running Windows XP? [/QUOTE] Yes. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/13 "2007-02-10T16:26:02Z")
I have sent you an invite to set up a Gmail account. Just attach the files to emails on one computer and save them from th emails on the other. I just did the same thing with a neighbour a few days ago to save him buying a cable. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/14 "2007-02-10T16:29:13Z")
I don’t know if it as an Aussie phenomenom but apparently when my neighbour was looking for cables to do his transfer a USB to USB was about 10 times the cost of an ethernet cable. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/15 "2007-02-10T16:52:49Z")
[QUOTE=Rockwell] … can a hard drive from an old Gateway computer with O/S of Win 98, be used as a slave drive for a Dell desktop computer running Windows XP? [/QUOTE] Yes. You need an adapter like [this](http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=294956). Or you can get a USB enclosure like [this](http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=306130), which is probably more useful in the long run - you can use it as a portable USB HDD. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/16 "2007-02-10T17:24:23Z")
[QUOTE=KlondikeGeoff] This is correct and should be your first move. If it works, then using the flash drive will be the quickest and easiest way to do what you want. [/QUOTE] If it doesn’t work, and that is more than likely to be the case, then you could use a digital camera to transfer the files ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/17 "2007-02-11T02:21:21Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] I have sent you an invite to set up a Gmail account. Just attach the files to emails on one computer and save them from th emails on the other. I just did the same thing with a neighbour a few days ago to save him buying a cable. [/QUOTE] I was wondering who that was. I have a gmail account already, thanks for the invite though. The only problem with doing it via email, is that the old comp doesn’t have internet connectivity at the moment. I might try the disc method, because that way I’ll have backups as well. Thanks again for all the help! ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/18 "2007-02-11T03:00:02Z")
[QUOTE=Jurph] If you can plug both machines into the same LAN, you can move files over the network, but it’s not as easy as you’d think. I’m surprised **drachillix** didn’t mention the voodoo ritual required to get WinXP and Win98 to talk over a network, though. [/QUOTE] Hmmm, I have never run into this… last time I tried this the machines were already both on the network and I told the win98 machine to share C: for all the world to see and mapped the 98 drive to a letter on the XP machine, worked like a charm. Maybe I got lucky. I didn’t worry about security since it was only going to be like that for a few minutes anyway. The same place has machines running win95 over novell netware printing to shared printers on XP machines in a microsoft network on another leg of the network… sometimes I’m amazed the router dosen’t just scream FUCK THIS and self nuke, taking the nearest machine with it. My first day working on that places machines involved many diagrams to keep it all straight as to who was plugged into what and why. Usually for this type of stuff I carry an external drive and I have windows 95/98 drivers for it on CD and floppy. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/19 "2007-02-11T22:02:55Z")
[QUOTE=dnooman] So, I tried to use my flash drive, and the old comp didn’t recognize it as a drive or anything else. [/QUOTE] The flash drive is probably a USB 2 type. Few flash drives sold are compatible with USB 1 (and if so they are slower.) A null modem cable would work. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602/20 "2007-02-12T01:06:43Z")
Hmm, I don’t see why a straight crossover cable connection won’t work? Unless it’s indeed a bitch to network 98 and XP. The voodoo description from above seems to be used with a straight cable? Crossover cables are designed for creating a “network” (debatable if it only involves two computers). If you want, you can even create your own crossover cable by cutting and resplicing the wires in a normal ethernet cable. Crossover cables are usually more expensive. I think this alone would work, and transferring 4 gigs ought to be easy at network speeds. The other idea is to find a friend with an iPod although USB 1 is slow. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-my-files-from-this-computer-that-runs-win-98/391602.md?page=2)