Migration of Data?

[HellFire]

Just bot a new Dell Computer with Vista, is there any way I can transfer data from my old Windows XP
to the new?  any help is welcome, would hate to re-enter all the data I had manually.  TY.

[Fulmar]

Like what kind of data?  Are we talking works files, pictures, etc?

[BaldEagl]

The fastest way would be to take the drive out of the old machine, put it in the new machine, copy the files you want over then put the drive back in the old machine.

[Delirium]

If you are really stuck and don't know what to do, there is a transfer cable out there.

http://www.belkin.com/easytransfercable/

Plug one end into the Vista machine, the other end into the XP machine and the work will be done. It also doubles as a USB cable...

It is an expensive alternative, but it works well if you're not real computer savvy.

[llama]

If you've been meaning to get an external portable USB hard drive, now is the time.

Buy it.

Copy your data from your old computer to the drive.

Then plug in the drive into your new computer and copy the data over again.

Nice and easy.

-Llama

[HellFire]

Woops!  Forgot to mention that my old computer has a parallel port & a usb port for printers whereas
the new comp has a usb port only.  Any advice as to how I mght get around this problem?

[TilDeath]

Woops!  Forgot to mention that my old computer has a parallel port & a usb port for printers whereas
the new comp has a usb port only.  Any advice as to how I mght get around this problem?

In Vista there you could use "Windows Easy Transfer".  To actually do the transfer the media you could use is a Network, Flash Drive, DVDs or as mentioned the easy transfer cable.

To find this got to START, HELP and SUPPORT, Type in Windows Easy Transfer.  It will assist step by step

[Ghosth]

Well the easy way for the truly important stuff is to gather it, put it in a zip file. When you have a bunch burn it to a DVD. Then move it across to the new system, with the added advantage  you now have a backup. If you buy a 10 pack of double layer disks, your looking at a LOT of data that you could archive. When I backup prior to a repartition, reformat I typically have 1 or 2 standard dvd's that I burn with stuff I want to save. Unless you have a lot of pictures in BMP format, or very large game files, you can get a ton of stuff on a DVD.

There are adapters out there that let you take any ide or sata hard drive, power them, and plug into your new computer with a usb port. Don't even have to crack the case on the new one. I got mine from Mwave for 15$ a year ago. Don't use it often but its a life saver when you need it.

Or as mentioned above you can put the old hard drive in the new system.
You could just leave it there if you don't need it.

There is software for doing disk to disk copys.
I don't know that its that much faster than doing it in windows, but its an option.
Problem with that is you end up with a lot of garbage. Files and folders for the old OS that you really don't need.

[HellFire]

Hi people, checked Belkin Easy Transfer Cable out, seems like an easy way to transfer data from a computer to a newer computer.  Sounds good     A friend of mine suggested I get a Kingston 4gb usb 2.0 datatraveler, I did, it looks like a lil penknife, it's black, approx. 3" long with a usb at end of it.
No instructions whatsoever!
I plugged it in a usb port on my pc, in my Comp.files, obtained a new drive called kingston & now what??  What's my next step?  How do I know if it's working or saving any data?

I'm attempting to copy bookmarks from Firefox 3.05.  How can I achieve that, what do I do?   Likewise,
after I do copy the file successfully, how do I unload it to my new computer?   What are the steps that I should follow?

Thx for your help.

[TilDeath]

Hi people, checked Belkin Easy Transfer Cable out, seems like an easy way to transfer data from a computer to a newer computer.  Sounds good     A friend of mine suggested I get a Kingston 4gb usb 2.0 datatraveler, I did, it looks like a lil penknife, it's black, approx. 3" long with a usb at end of it.
No instructions whatsoever!
I plugged it in a usb port on my pc, in my Comp.files, obtained a new drive called kingston & now what??  What's my next step?  How do I know if it's working or saving any data?

I'm attempting to copy bookmarks from Firefox 3.05.  How can I achieve that, what do I do?   Likewise,
after I do copy the file successfully, how do I unload it to my new computer?   What are the steps that I should follow?

Thx for your help.

Open Firefox Click on Bookmarks then choose ORGANIZE BOOK MARKS  Select IMPORT AND BACKUP then choose EXPORT HTML save to where you want it  to pu on new system do the same except choose IMPORT HTML and there are your bookmarks

[Anodizer]

Just bot a new Dell Computer with Vista, is there any way I can transfer data from my old Windows XP
to the new?  any help is welcome, would hate to re-enter all the data I had manually.  TY.

What kind of data are we talking about?  If you mean can you transfer an entire Windows XP w/programs and all to a completely different computer....Yes and No.....
I've somewhat successful after doing a repair install..  There used to be an app called PC Upgrade Commander that worked pretty well...  May be able to find it on eBay or something.
http://www.laplink.com/pcmover/pcmover.html<--- this works pretty good but it'll cost ya..  These will wipeout your Vista installation and replace it with your XP installation
from your old computer..  Keep this in mind...

But, as far as just data, the best way is to network it to another computer...  You don't need switch(hub) or router..  You can get a crossover cable if you just want to connect two
pc's to each other(some network cards have this capability built in)...  Or you can get a bunch of DVD's and just back up everything..  There are several ways to save data but it depends on what it is and how much of it there is..

[TequilaChaser]

there are alot of different ways already mentioned...........and I myself have tried just about all of them

I recently went to using a new bit of software called Paragon Disk Manager 2009 Pro

this software has alot of benefits to it, for  partitioning, making file transfers from an old HD to a new one, multi-boot setups, restoring / rebuilding OS infrastructure, to Complete Secure wiping of HD's you want to trash or give to another person....

it is a bit costly though @ $129 + / -  but all good things are costly @ times 

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-professional/

Paragon HDM2009 Pro - Features Link:
http://www.paragon-software.com/home/hdm-professional/features.html

YMMV

[HellFire]

Thanks folks for your kindness and good advice, especially to TilDeath for the advice on HOW to use the kingston 4gb usb 2.0, it worked!!  Mission accomplished!

Special thanks to Anodizer for suggesting the PCmover, bought one for $42 + change,
followed instructions and migrated most, approx 94%, of my data (files, apps programs, games , etc).  It took 2hrs 13minutes, but it was worth it!  Btw, it DID NOT
override Vista.  Am now happily on my new computer.

[Anodizer]

Thanks folks for your kindness and good advice, especially to TilDeath for the advice on HOW to use the kingston 4gb usb 2.0, it worked!!  Mission accomplished!

Special thanks to Anodizer for suggesting the PCmover, bought one for $42 + change,
followed instructions and migrated most, approx 94%, of my data (files, apps programs, games , etc).  It took 2hrs 13minutes, but it was worth it!  Btw, it DID NOT
override Vista.  Am now happily on my new computer.

Wow....Didn't know you didn't have to over-right Vista...  Cool man!
Glad to be of service...