I have a 4 yr Gateway running Windows ME, with a internal zip drive. One day this week I will be getting a new Dell running XP Home with a CDRW. I am going to format the old computer and put Win 2000 on it ( if I don’t like XP I will put 2000 on the new computer as well).
On the old Gateway I have some rather large files that I want to move to the new computer, but I want to do this as cheaply as posable. I will be getting a router etc. someday but not now. Both computers have USB ports. Any Ideas?
I would remove the hard drive and temporarily install it in the new PC.
If you don’t know how to do that (or if it will vois your warranty, wich it probably woul), there are programs you can buy to transfer files over a special USB cable or special paralell cable, but they might be kind of expensive for a one time use.
If you doont need the files right away you could store them on Zip disks untill you get your network set up.
Do you know anyone with both a CD writer and a Zip drive? You could put your stuff on Zips and have them burn them on CDs for you.
Oh, you could also use Winzip to split the files onto a bunch of floppies, it will take FOR EVER and use TONS of floppies though. Only do that if you happen to have a ton of floppies and a lot of time.
I would definitely recommend the hard drive route, but be advised that Dell generally doesn’t include enough space or cable for a second hard drive in the machine, so you may need to get a cable capable of attaching two hard drives from elsewhere (like the old computer). I had this same issue to deal with (with a Gateway and a Dell as well) and I ended up doing a WinZip/Zip drive combo but I only had 1 external Zip drive for both computers so it took forever, having to move the drive back and forth as well. I would do whatever you could to avoid that scenario.
Thanks for the sugestions, I might have to go the winzip route and just email the files to myself. I don’t think I want to install the old hard drive in the new machine as it will be under warrenty. I was hoping that I could do something with a USB cable and an ftp program ( I have WSFTP) but I really don’t know how it could be done.
Your basic USB to USB connection not only wouldn’t work, but it’s actually dangerous, as it’s a cable that carries power as well, and can cause a surge.
You would need to get a special networking USB cable which has a doodad that prevents the surge and actually works pretty well. Usually. I think there are limitations on that, though. Certain computers only, perhaps? And it’s expensive too, I expect.
Does adding a component to your computer void the warranty?
I would think that accepting new components would be considered a normal function of a computer. It’s like saying I’ve broken the warranty on my amplifier by hooking up my CD player.
One option: If you have a high-speed Internet connection, find a friend who has an FTP server (any machine can be an FTP server with the proper software installed) and a lot of space. Copy everything over there and back again.
Back in the old days we’d connect computers with a null serial cable and run link something. But we didn’t have gigabytes in those days.
My old Packard Bell had a few seals you had to break to open its case, so adding internal hardware would void its warranty. My newer HP has an easy-open case, and I don’t think it had anything similar, but I didn’t check since I don’t find warranties especially useful.
The cheapest way, as already suggested, is to remove the old hard drive and stick it into the new computer. There are USB-to-USB connector cables, but they aren’t too cheap (ones I’ve seen were around $30), especially considering you’ll probably use it this once and never again.
You could just buy a pair of network cards and a “cross cable” to connect the two. A cross cable allows you to connect two computers without a hub or router in between - should cost less than $30. Though if you think you’ll eventually connect to other computers or a broadband router, you’d probably want a cheap hub and two normal cables. Network cards are dirt cheap these days, and I don’t think the 100-Mbps cards will become obsolte any time soon. (In fact, I have one 10-Mbps card I bought in '92 - it’s the oldest computer component I have which is still in everyday use.)
Another option is to try to borrow a USB storage device of some kind. Connect it to the old PC and write the data to it, then connect to the new PC. Even a digital camera memory card with a USB card reader will work. A CD-R drive would be ideal - you’ll get to keep the disk as a backup.
Or you could just move the Zip drive to the new PC.
It allows unlimited storage of files. Upload what you need. Then pay for a month, around 4 bucks for 1000 meg downloads I think. Then download them to the new puter. We use this for our old time radio files. The storage is free and unlimited. The downloads cost. Well 50 megs or 10 downloads a week are free.
Would you be transferring more than data files? If not the Zip drive might be all you need. Does the Gateway have an ethernet card? If so, you could get a crossover cable and hook the two up and transfer that way.