Transferring personal files

[shaner66]

I want to transfer numerous, large files from my system (XP Pro) to a Dell Notebook (XP Home).

What is the easiest way to do this?

Should I pick up a firewire cable?

And I'm unsure whether the notebook will have firewire or not, so if it doesn't, is there another way?

 

[bcastner]

You could use a cross-over cable between the ethernet ports to create a mini-LAN of the two machines. The share the drive(s) on the source desktop, and map the drives on the laptop. You can then use drag and drop in Explorer to transfer the files, or just a CMD session and use DOS commands copy or Xcopy.

 

[shaner66]

Both machines have ethernet cards, so that's not a problem.

But what is the cable called? Is it just called a cross-over cable?

And if I connect the two machines that way, do I not also need to purchase a router, or can I just run the cable from my PC directly into another PC?

And once I do that, will the two machines automatically see each other, or will I have to configure them?

I don't know too much about networking.

 

[bcastner]

It is just called a cross-over cable, likely something like "Catagory 5 Cross-over Cable."

You do not need a router or even Internet Connection Sharing installed. You could just plug in the cable between the machines and run the new Network Wizard.

Or you could use XP's Direct Connect feature:

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm

See this link under the network topics for discussions in detail of how to make the mini-LAN connection.

 

[bcastner]

BTW, you might be able to do this just using the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/crawford/november12.asp

 

[shaner66]

If I was to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, do I have to use a null modem serial cable, or can I use a parallel or crossover cable?

The serial cable is just too slow.

I do have a crossover cable, but I looked through the links above, and it doesn't mention anything about setting up two XP machines with a crossover cable.

It mentions parallel and serial, but that's it.

 

[bcastner]

Use the cross-over cable and setup the little lan. Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the old machine, specifying a disk Folder for the output. Lets call it Old_Folder

My Computer, right-click on your hard disk icon, Sharing, and make a sharename for the disk drive. Lets call the sharename Old_Data

On the new machine map a drive letter to the old machine's hard disk drive. Browse with Network Neighborhood/Places to the Old Machine, double-click to see its shares, and right-click on the Old_Data sharename and select Mapping. Give the map a drive letter. Lets say Z:

Run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard from the new machine. The location of the files to be restored would then be z:\Old_Folder



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