Transfer Data From Old Computer To New Computer

There many different ways to transfer data from old PC to another, we will state a few of them:

Method 1:

• Using a crossover cable or a Switch/HUB, configure the network cards on both machines; share your folders using CIFS in case of Windows OS or NFS in case of Linux.
• Detailed steps are as follows:
• Make sure both of the computers have NIC card (i.e. Network Interface Card) and Network interface is enabled (to enable Network Interface, go to Start-> Control Panel and click on Network Connections then Right Click on Local Area Connection and click on Enable).
• Make sure you have Cross over Cable with you (It is different from Straight through Cable and can be available at the same computer store where you get Straight Cable).
• Connect both computers with cross over cable (i.e. connect crossover cable to Ethernet Port of each computers). You have to assign permanent (Static) IP address. Here are step-by-step instructions showing you how to set permanent IP address and other network information:
• Go to Start and click on Control Panel.
• Control Panel window will appear. Double click on Network Connections.
• Network Connections window will appear. Right click correct Local Area Connection by identifying correct network card and click Properties.
• Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on Properties.
• Click on the Network Protocol (TCP/IP) -> Properties and then Click Use the following IP address. After that, enter the values shown below for each of the computer described as computer A and Computer B and then press OK.  (The following values are for demonstration purposes only).

Computer A:
IP Address: 192.168.100.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: Leave it blank
DNS Servers: Leave it blank

Computer B:
IP Address: 192.168.100.2
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: Leave it blank
DNS Servers: Leave it blank

Test the connection:
Since your configuration is over so lets test the connectivity between two computers. Click on Start->Cmd and then Type ping 192.168.100.2 from Computer A and check to see if you are getting reply or not. It should be like “Reply from 192.168.100.2: bytes=32 time<1ms ttl="64”.

Now Share the file in Computer A:

• Right click on the folder you want to share and click on Sharing and Security.
• Select Share this folder and click OK. You will see hand underneath the folder if it is shared correctly. (Note: If you don’t see the Share this folder after you click on Sharing and Security, then you have to run Network Setup Wizard. Go to Start->Control Panel and click on Network Setup Wizard. Run the Wizard and enable the Print and File Sharing.) Search the Shared Folder on Computer A from Computer B:
• Go to Start -> Search -> Click on Computer or People -> Click on Computer on the Network -> Type 192.168.100.1 in Computer Name search Box.
• It will search the computer and display that in the right pane. Click on that and you will see your shared folder in that.
• Now copy your files and folder from that shared folder to Computer B.

Method 2:
Saving all your data into a USB flash drive or DVD and copy over to new PC.

Method 3:
Connect an External Hard Drive to old PC, copy all data into it and then connect to new PC.

Method 4:
Another alternative would be to take the hard drive from one computer and connect it to the other, copy everything and then return it. Definitely the cheapest option (nothing to buy!) but also the most technically demanding.

Depending on your skill level, choosing one of these paths should make transferring data from your old computer to your new computer a piece of cake.