Hello,

I have bought a new laptop and want to transfer all my old files over from the old laptop. There is about 10GB worth of stuff though so copying to a pen drive is out. I have an ethernet cable and I am running XP on both. Can I just plug them in and copy? If so how do I do it?

Cheers
Steve

You'll either need a "cross over" network cable which has some of the wires crossed (funnily enough ) or a hub/switch and plug them both into that with "standard" patch cables i.e. no crossed wires.

If you have the means to connect the two via a single cable or via a hub then you will basically be forming a mini network (albeit with just two devices). You'll then be able to "see" each from the other and copy files from shared network folders. The actual setup of the "network" isn't difficult but maybe we'll cross (no pun intended) that when/if you can get the two hooked up.

An alternative might be IrDA (Infrared) if both devices have it. Or bluetooth? Or a copy of something like LapLink which is a piece of software running on both and can use a cable (usually serial but modern versions may use USB) to copy stuff between them.

You *may* be able to set up WinXP to "network" using a USB cable but I may be dreaming that. I've never actually tried but some dusty info in my brain thinks it may be possible.

Far easier to join with normal network cables and a hub though.

HTH

just take the harddrive out and buy a usb2 external case for it for about £5 (ebay). i did this last week, it arrived promptly and is very handy for other stuff aswell.

Ned.

[Edited on 24/1/07 by ned]

I made a cross-over cable once for this (I had a diagram in the back of a network card manual) I just cut the wires that need cut and cross wire them - it actually worked

but the proper cables are cheep enough

I have a wireless router and both laptops could connect to that at the same time, I think. Would that work?

have a 2.5" laptop hardrive in an external usb caddy which i use for work and carry everywhere, it is good because it doesn't need external power only usb power

might not be what you're looking for but it is really useful, mine is 40GB and can play divx files straight to television

both laptops to the wireless will work, along with the caddy or network cable options. i'm guessing speed isn't a issue but IRDA will be going for hours / days!

DO NOT USE A USB CABLE!

right, now i've got your attention, if you don't get a special USB cable designed for linking machines together not only will it not work, you'll risk blowing your motherboard. Its a strange throwback to the USB design. Trust me, i've looked into this for work. you can get the special USB cable for a few pounds

If the machines got a DVD writer.. 2 Dual layer DVD's would be over 10GB or 2 singles wouldn't be far off.

You'd then also have a hard backup copy.. as it must be semi important or you wouldn't be transfering it!

Only issue with the external hard drive carriers is they often require USB 2.0... Okay as long as you've got it but a pain if you haven't and don't realise it needs it until after it arrives!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Lovelock
I have a wireless router and both laptops could connect to that at the same time, I think. Would that work?

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It does have spare ports and I think I have the relevant cables. So, assuming I get that far what do I do to see the pair of computers?

quote:

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Originally posted by Steve Lovelock
It does have spare ports and I think I have the relevant cables. So, assuming I get that far what do I do to see the pair of computers?

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Well I do have two patch leads but it turns out that one of them is cross over lead. So, do I just plug the one cable into the laptops and follow the instructions just as FBI suggests?

Well I followed the instructions with the cross over cable connected to no avail. I feel like a bit of a pain but being able to copy these files would really make my life much happier so advice warmly accepted.

Regards

External DVD writer?
You'd get most of that on a couple of DVDs

Well I found another patch lead and tried the method via the router without luck as well, poo.

I could use an external dvd writer but don't have one.

Fun, Fun

i would just do it by wireless if they both connect to the hub ok, i have transferred loads of things that way, its not as fast as a cable but it ain't that slow, it prob be quicker than messing round with cables

you can see other computers in my network places you just need to share the relevant files or drives etc

Sorry, missed out one part.

Disable Windows or any other firewall software which is running!