This past Christmas I got a new (and much more powerful) computer and I need to set it up and get things going.

What I'm curious about here is two things:

First, I want to know what s the best way to transfer everything between the computers, and I have no idea how it's done. Do I need to buy a removable HD? Can they be transferred across a network? Or what?

Also, I have a TON of files on my old computer that I want moved (iTunes songs, school work, web files, etc.). But I'm certain that there's tons of files I DON'T want too (like old word documents, useless image files, and not to mention all the spware and adware, etc. that my computer has accumulated). I'll have to pick and choose what I want on my computer manually, that shouldn't be an issue here.

My main concern here is what's the safest way to do everything?

Network cable
External HD
burn to CD/DVD
"SneakerNet" *see below
Take HD out of old PC plug into new, copy files over











* SneakerNet = copy files onto USB Drive (used to be a floppy) walk to other computer and load them up

Alright, thanks Chris. I'm familiar with the good old fashion USB / DVD methods of moving files.

The ones that I'm not sure about are transferring the files over the network (never tried something like that before) or the complete HD removal methods (like I said though, don't need the junk on my new computer).

Is the external HD method the same as physically removing my current HD from the PC? My new HD is pretty big, so I don't "need" the extra HD with the old files, the new space will hold them easily.

And can I transfer the files using the physical removal method safely? (Meaning hooking the HDs up with each other, but not bringing the spyware and other crap hidden files with it.)


Right now, I honestly don't know the exact total size of everything I'll want to move (iTunes says I have 5.47 GB of song data currently). Not sure how long everything will be if I take the USB route.

I'd like to do everything as quickly as possible, but still consider security a top priority.

I think over a network is the easiest way. If you have a router you should be able to connect both computers to the router and get them to see each other. You'll have to reinstall programs, but you can pick and choose the data you want to move. Or not since you'd be able to access the old computer.

My last laptop stopped working before it's time. I pulled out the hard drive and placed it in an enclosure, which turned the internal drive into an external drive with a usb connection. I plugged that in to my new laptop and it showed as another drive.

The quickest and safest way will be to wire the computers together in some way. You can still do that through a router. Being plugged in through ethernet will be faster than wireless. If everything is wired together there shouldn't be any security issue. No matter what you do you'll still have to wait for data to move across the network. Unless you want to turn the old internal hard drive into an external one that your new computer connects to. In that case you can probably leave most of the data on the old drive.

I agree with vangogh. Transferring files through network would be the easiest mean. I'd remember that w had done this thing on our computer class mostly. We just have to run the ip address of our professor computer. Then after that, transfer the files to his pc so he could check our work. Try it!And remember, your computer should be in network.Goodluck!

I do have a wired network setup, so that's an advantage already. Although the fact that I lack an extra monitor might be a small setback . (I may have an older one in my basement or something though, don't remember ATM.)

See if you can hook up both computers to the same monitor. The only time you might need a monitor is to set up each computer to share files over the network. Once that's set you won't need a monitor on the old computer.

simply remove your HDD from old computer and plug it in the new one... copy all data which you need... and delete remaining data... it is safer and quicker way to do that.... network transfer takes time...

remove the hardisk with data from the computer then use a sata/ide-usb conversion wire (with adaptor) for transferring.

note:you dont need to open the other pc, just plug it to the usb! (its like an external hardisk as well)