Transferring Data From Pc To Pc

mamazaac

You can try networking the PC's and doing a direct transfer and you can also get connectors to connect them via USB

Please would someone mind advising me on whether it is easier/cheaper to network two pcs and do a direct transfer, or to get connectors to connect them via USB? I need to back up my hard drive due to a problem with my pc before doing a system recovery.

Furthermore, I have just been emailed a special offer from Gizoo for this IDE and SATA to USB 2.0 Adapter

http://www.gizoo.co.uk/Products/PCGaming/PCGadgets/IDESATADriver.htm

which I can get as a special offer for £19.95. Is this what I need, and if so is £19.95 a good price for it please?

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

PaulK_3

It's about as good a price as you will get for it, the adaptor will allow you to take the drive out and connect it as an external USB drive. Speed wise a network connection would be quicker, taking the drive out and putting it into another PC and copying the data that way would also be quicker but for ease if use the adaptor scores highly.

albertross_2

It depends on exactly what you want to do, and what kit you have available (router etc?). A network lead is cheaper than a usb adapter. (make sure you have sata if you are considering buying that adapter).

mamazaac

PaulK wrote: »

It's about as good a price as you will get for it, the adaptor will allow you to take the drive out and connect it as an external USB drive. Speed wise a network connection would be quicker, taking the drive out and putting it into another PC and copying the data that way would also be quicker but for ease if use the adaptor scores highly.

Not sure if I want to mess about with taking the drive out - I'm not at all technical and wouldn't be very confident about doing that. I presume you mean taking the hard drive out of the old computer and connecting it as a USB drive - is there any way of connecting it and leaving it in-situ (is that perhaps the network connection that people have mentioned to me?). If that is not network connection, could you please spare the time to explain what network connection is and how I would go about doing it? Many thanks.

mamazaac

albertross wrote: »

It depends on exactly what you want to do, and what kit you have available (router etc?). A network lead is cheaper than a usb adapter. (make sure you have sata if you are considering buying that adapter).

Sorry, I'm totally dumb when it comes to techie stuff - what is a router and how would I know if I have one please? And how do I know if I have sata? I just need to back up the hard drive on my new computer as there is a problem with it (you might remember replying to a couple of questions of mine on another thread I posted - thanks for taking the time to give advice btw).

PaulK_3

A router is a device for sharing network resources (internet connections etc) and for connecting multiple PCs together. It normally looks like a small box with a group of ethernet ports in the back
pic here
Without opening the case and removing the data cable you have no way of connecting to a USB adaptor etc so that way is a no no if you aren't confident enough to go inside your casing.
If both PCs have an ethernet port on them then a cross-over ethernet cable is all you need and then you run a wizard on each PC (built into Windows) and it will help you set the network up.

albertross_2

Depending on how much data you have to backup, a usb key or CD/DVD's or an external hard disk might be easier for you if you don't have a broadband router available.

phenia123uk

How did you managed to get a special price of £19.95 - can other people get that, if so can you let us have the link - I have been looking for one of these devices but they all seem to be over £30.
I bought a new PC thinking I could use my old ide hard drive as a slave drive like I had done before - didn't realise SATA drives had different connections so couldn't connect the old drive.

mamazaac

PaulK wrote: »

A router is a device for sharing network resources (internet connections etc) and for connecting multiple PCs together. It normally looks like a small box with a group of ethernet ports in the back
pic here
Without opening the case and removing the data cable you have no way of connecting to a USB adaptor etc so that way is a no no if you aren't confident enough to go inside your casing.
If both PCs have an ethernet port on them then a cross-over ethernet cable is all you need and then you run a wizard on each PC (built into Windows) and it will help you set the network up.

Thanks PaulK, no I don't have a router, so this cross-over ethernet cable seems to be the way to go. Both computers must have an ethernet port as my broadband modem uses an ethernet cable. Have had a quick look on ebay at these and they seem quite cheap too, so even better! Are the ones on ebay much of a muchness really apart from the length, so I just buy the cheapest one? Or is there a particular one I should get or avoid please?

Furthermore, will the wizard start automatically when I connect the two computers, or do I have to select it from somewhere? And will the wizard allow me to allocate a new folder on the old computer to put everything in, or should I open a new folder on the old computer before I connect them? Sorry for all the questions, but I am completely in the dark about this!

mamazaac

phenia123uk wrote: »

How did you managed to get a special price of £19.95 - can other people get that, if so can you let us have the link - I have been looking for one of these devices but they all seem to be over £30.
I bought a new PC thinking I could use my old ide hard drive as a slave drive like I had done before - didn't realise SATA drives had different connections so couldn't connect the old drive.

Hi, not sure if I'm allowed to post the link, so have pm'd you direct.

albertross_2

Just a thought, but if you want to share the broadband with the 2 PC's, a router or wireless router is an easy way to do it, and gives you added security, so if that is something that appeals, it may be more cost effective than a crossover in the long run.

Ebuyer sell cheap routers if you are interested