How to transfer files from laptop to desktop?

[Ferre]

yeah, I know it will be a stupid question for some of you, but it isn't to me because I've never done it, I have some pictures and video on a laptop (runs on vista) and need to transfer them to my desktop (runs on vista too).

How to do that? Do I need some cable? I have a few cables that could be designed for that purpose, but I'm not sure.

Ah, questions, questions, any takers? :sqerr:

[Strong]

You are on the right track there Ferre. I've done it a couple of times when I've bought a new computer and wanted to copy files across. But I have forgotten the details.

Windows had a way to recognise a connected PC as just another drive. You could then just copy the files from one drive to the other. I think it was a serial cable, but I could be wrong.

Maybe PCTec or Zap might know.

[tsdesigns]

Theres a few ways to do it.

1) A big enough usb drive (e.g. usb pen, usb external hard drive, whatever) - copy them onto that and then move it to the other computer.
2) Write to a disc and then move to the other computer
3) Use a network cable/Cat5 cable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable

[Ferre]

Do you plug this where normally the internet cable goes, is it the same cable?

[tsdesigns]

Yeah, it's a network cable. It can be used to connect to a router or between 2 (or more) computers.

If you do it that way then you just send the files over the network.

[Muddy]

Are on a wireless network Ferre?

[Atom]

Or you can upload wanted files to an internet server that you have access to from the first computer, then download the files from that server to the second computer. I use Ipswitch WS-FTP Pro for both the uploading and downloading tasks. You could also have both the first and second computers on a local network where files may be freely transferred from one computer to another via Total Commander, which is an awesome file transfer program, I don't know how I would manage without Total Commander, that is one handy sumbitch.

[krisma5]

Or you just connect in your own home network (http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworking/a/connecttwocomp.htm).

[Atom]

Total Commander is a file management program with two windows side by side, one for each computer, where you can simply transfer files, in computers on the same home network, from one computer's HDD to the other's, but it has many other features as well. TC is really an indispensable file management program to have. You can do searches on your HDD with extreme speed, just for one example.

[Atom]

TC does have full FTP capacity, but I just prefer WS-FTP Pro for that as a matter of preference.

[pctec]

You can use a crossover cable that connects the two comps directly via the network cards...

The easiest way is by use of an external USB hard drive however...

[Atom]

You can use a crossover cable that connects the two comps directly via the network cards...

The easiest way is by use of an external USB hard drive however...But this doesn't transfer the files, it only allows access to them doesn't it?

[Atom]

And with the home network, same thing, it's sharing rather than transfer, thus my mention of a file transfer program such as Total Commander.

[tsdesigns]

But this doesn't transfer the files, it only allows access to them doesn't it?

No, it allows the transfer of files as long as you have write access to the folder your copying them to (usually theres a shared folder setup automatically).

[Atom]

No, it allows the transfer of files as long as you have write access to the folder your copying them to (usually theres a shared folder setup automatically).Oh, ok thanks, ts. How long does it take?

[Atom]

TC is pretty fast, not great on the transfer speed but not bad either, but really fast on the search speed. I was just wondering if Windows was faster than TC on the transfer, I know that TC is much faster than Windows on the search.

[tsdesigns]

Oh, ok thanks, ts. How long does it take?


TC is pretty fast, not great on the transfer speed, but really fast on the search speed. I was just wondering if windows was faster than TC on the transfer, I know that TC is much faster than windows on the search.

I think it takes the same time as it would to copy to an external HD. It's probably the fastest way.

[Atom]

Or maybe things have changed with Vista and search is now fast, I don't know, I'm not familiar with Vista at all.

[Atom]

I think it takes the same time as it would to copy to an external HD. It's probably the fastest way.Ok well I just transfered a 20 meg mp3 from one drive to another with TC and it took about 5 seconds. Do you know how fast the Windows system is?

[tsdesigns]

Ok well I just transfered a 20 meg mp3 from one drive to another with TC and it took about 5 seconds. Do you know how fast the Windows system is?

No idea.

It'd depend on a lot more than just the OS. The read speed of the drive it's reading from, the write speed of the drive it's copying to, the drive type (fat32/NTFS/Whatever), a bunch of other things.
I mean if your transferring between two velociraptor's then it'd be much faster than if your doing it between other drives.

[Atom]

No idea.

It'd depend on a lot more than just the OS. The read speed of the drive it's reading from, the write speed of the drive it's copying to, the drive type (fat32/NTFS/Whatever), a bunch of other things.
I mean if your transferring between two velociraptor's then it'd be much faster than if your doing it between other drives.Well if you get a minute sometime, transfer a 20 meg file from an external HDD and tell me how long it takes, I'm curious if there's a faster way than I've been doing it. Because speed really matters when you're transferring the contents of entire HDD's.

[tsdesigns]

Well if you get a minute sometime, transfer a 20 meg file from an external HDD and tell me how long it takes, I'm curious if there's a faster way than I've been doing it. Because speed really matters when you're transferring the contents of entire HDD's.

Just done it there with an 18Mb .mp3 (couldn't find a 20Mb one) and it was pretty much instantanious (the copying bar didn't even come up on screen...it just put it in the right place on my external). Connected through a USB2.0 port.

[Atom]

Just done it there with an 18Mb .mp3 (couldn't find a 20Mb one) and it was pretty much instantanious (the copying bar didn't even come up on screen...it just put it in the right place on my external). Connected through a USB2.0 port.Ok well that is much faster, are you using Vista?

[Atom]

I've never been able to transfer files very fast, I guess the difference is using a USB port versus the connection card. ?

[tsdesigns]

Ok well that is much faster, are you using Vista?

Sadly, yes. I'm getting Win7 next week from uni though so it should be sweet!

[Ferre]

Thanks for the help guys. Turned out I could set up a home network between the computers using my home router, this means a lot of configuration on the two computers and I resorted to the external HD solution, I have a few of those and that was sufficient.

Thanks again. :sqbiggrin:

[Atom]

All lies from the pit of hell and all of Satan's legions, don't believe a word of it, Ferre.


Glad you got it sorted. I don't recall ever using a USB cable to transfer files so I guess that is the secret then. I'm living in the past on most of this stuff, it's a wonder I am even able to type this. lol

[Atom]

What I remember is little yellow folders flying through the air and taking forever. That's when I started using TC, I don't know if it was faster or not though in the transfer process.

[Atom]

It's from steam engine to search engine and I'm like.. wtf? lol.

[Sami4u]

Sadly, yes. I'm getting Win7 next week from uni though so it should be sweet!

Hi,

Have Win 7 now I like it once I got to know it.

I use the crossover cable all the time between this and my acer.

Good advice.

Sami

[tsdesigns]

Yeah, I've used Win7 a bit on my mates laptop in uni and it seems much better than Vista. I love the whole snapping to the side of the screen to resize windows...

Still not sure if I want to upgrade my new laptop (came with XP) to Win7 or not though. Probably will.

[Sami4u]

Hi,

The acer came with XP I will keep that as a back up. I really like the little thing fits in the purse and is light.

Sami

[tsdesigns]

Yeah I got a Samsung N310 (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-N310-13GBK-10-1-Inch-Black-Netbook/dp/B002DUED94/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259387745&sr=8-2) (but with 2Gb RAM instead of 1), it's so small, light and seems to be faster than my desktop (which is weird considering it has half the RAM...supose it's cause it's XP and not Vista though).

[Sami4u]

Hi

I upped the acer to 2 gig ram. Are you doing the work from that?

Sami

[tsdesigns]

Nah, I usually work on my desktop because it can handle my programs better (Photoshop for example), also I like to work on a big screen.

I did do some work from the laptop because I was away for the weekend visiting my brother and some mates from back where I grew up, but I wouldn't usually.

[Sami4u]

Hi

Dual monitors and I still can't see.

I want what my old boss had.

6 monitors I think they were 20 or 22. He had a software program I don't know the name of but it would turn them all into one big screen like at the football game.

Sami

[tsdesigns]

That'd be sweet!

I have dual at the moment - one 24" and one 19". It's great to have the big one for doing work on and my browser in the smaller one.

[vectro]

Yeah, I've used Win7 a bit on my mates laptop in uni and it seems much better than Vista. I love the whole snapping to the side of the screen to resize windows...

Still not sure if I want to upgrade my new laptop (came with XP) to Win7 or not though. Probably will.

If you have two computers, use both XP and 7, since you have that option. That's what I want to do. Remember, 7 is new and some drivers still need to be developed. I'm behind in getting 7. I need to so I can learn stuff about it for my customers who need support and also to write a Windows 7 blog to accompany my XP blog.

[Sami4u]

Hi,

I use one for work and the other to watch movies on. I have no TV set or cable.

When you get Win 7 fingered out let me know. I still don't understand a few things.

Sami

[tsdesigns]

If you have two computers, use both XP and 7, since you have that option. That's what I want to do. Remember, 7 is new and some drivers still need to be developed. I'm behind in getting 7. I need to so I can learn stuff about it for my customers who need support and also to write a Windows 7 blog to accompany my XP blog.

Everything I need works on Win7 (programs, etc). I know all the hardware I have has compatable drivers so I don't see why I shouldn't upgrade to it.

[vectro]

Everything I need works on Win7 (programs, etc). I know all the hardware I have has compatable drivers so I don't see why I shouldn't upgrade to it.

I guess upgrade since you don't have a special need for XP.

[pctec]

I guess upgrade since you don't have a special need for XP.

Just a note: I discovered last night when I tried to go from XP to W7... You cant because it will not let you. The options available are fresh install only...

More info... (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135440/FAQ_How_to_upgrade_XP_to_Windows_7)

My opinion after a few hours running W7?
I find it slow and dramatically different from XP and its going to take me a lot of time to get used to it because I am a creature of habit. I suppose I will have no choice to get used to it as well because most of the new systems are coming with it...

[tsdesigns]

Just a note: I discovered last night when I tried to go from XP to W7... You cant because it will not let you. The options available are fresh install only...

More info... (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9135440/FAQ_How_to_upgrade_XP_to_Windows_7)

My opinion after a few hours running W7?
I find it slow and dramatically different from XP and its going to take me a lot of time to get used to it because I am a creature of habit. I suppose I will have no choice to get used to it as well because most of the new systems are coming with it...

Yeah I knew about this already. You can upgrade from Vista but XP requires a reformat. Not exactly hard to do though :/

You find Win7 slow? Really? I'd have thought it was faster...but I guess anything after using vista would seem fast...

[pctec]

I ended up doing a dual boot, XP, W7...

I find XP twice as fast easily. Like I said, I am not impressed with W7 but being in the comp bizz I have to get used to it...

[vectro]

I ended up doing a dual boot, XP, W7...

I find XP twice as fast easily. Like I said, I am not impressed with W7 but being in the comp bizz I have to get used to it...

That's what I put in a blog entry that I wrote about it. Making the switch doesn't have to mean getting rid of XP. XP still has over 60% of the market share of desktop operating systems. Dual boot between one or two hard drives is an option. If someone has two computers they can use two operating systems. I just hate to automatically advise people to ditch their current OS and install a new one before the new one has really become tried and tested, especially considering the XP market share stats.