Transferring Data From Pc To Pc

PaulK_3

You will need to start the wizard manually after connecting the 2 pcs together, once you have both PCs set up on the same workgroup/ domain you can then right click the drives you want to transfer data between and use the "Sharing and security" or "Share" function (not running Windows at the moment so can't be 100% sure what it is labeled in the context menu.

mamazaac

PaulK wrote: »

You will need to start the wizard manually after connecting the 2 pcs together, once you have both PCs set up on the same workgroup/ domain you can then right click the drives you want to transfer data between and use the "Sharing and security" or "Share" function (not running Windows at the moment so can't be 100% sure what it is labeled in the context menu.

Thanks PaulK, sorry to bother you again - I am a bit dim when it comes to computer techie stuff! How would I set both PCs up on the same workgroup/domain please? Also, please can you advise whether I can buy just any cross-over ethernet cable from ebay, or should I look for or avoid any particular sort. Many thanks once again.

Chippy_Minton

For Windows XP, right-click My Computer - Properties - Computer Name tab - and the Workgroup is shown there. If you need to change it click Change and type in the new workgroup.

For connecting the 2 computers directly with a network cable, you need a Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet crossover cable - any make will do. A straight-through (or patch) cable might also work as most Ethernet ports are autosensing, so either type of cable should work, but get a crossover cable to be on the safe side.

mamazaac

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

For Windows XP, right-click My Computer - Properties - Computer Name tab - and the Workgroup is shown there. If you need to change it click Change and type in the new workgroup.

For connecting the 2 computers directly with a network cable, you need a Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6 Ethernet crossover cable - any make will do. A straight-through (or patch) cable might also work as most Ethernet ports are autosensing, so either type of cable should work, but get a crossover cable to be on the safe side.

Thank you for your help Chippy_Minton. If the two computers have different workgroups, does it matter which one I change please?

BeerBelly

Why dont you take the easy route?

Take the hard drive out of the one of the PCs and then change the small jumper from Master to Slave and put in other PC (Use connections from CD ROM) - there are only 2 connections - one is power and one is IDE (could be SATA) - not as hard as it sounds.

Would be easier and quick in long run - however if you want to do this on a regulalry basis, share some folders out on one of the machines.

BeerBelly

Also if you have no switch/ADSL router, the PCs will need to be connected using a CROSS OVER cable - normal cat 5 wont work on its own. also both PC need to have a NIC (Ethernet card).

Also the transfer rates won't be fanatastic.

Take the easy route - go on.

Chippy_Minton

mamazaac wrote: »

Thank you for your help Chippy_Minton. If the two computers have different workgroups, does it matter which one I change please?

No, you can change any one.

mamazaac

BeerBelly wrote: »

Why dont you take the easy route?

Take the hard drive out of the one of the PCs and then change the small jumper from Master to Slave and put in other PC (Use connections from CD ROM) - there are only 2 connections - one is power and one is IDE (could be SATA) - not as hard as it sounds.

Would be easier and quick in long run - however if you want to do this on a regulalry basis, share some folders out on one of the machines.

Thanks for the advice BeerBelly; someone suggested this at post number 2 on this thread, but I am a bit wary about taking the computer to bits!! What if I can't put it back together - am concerned my warranty would be invalidated (which I need as there is a problem with my computer which means I need to do a system recovery, hence the need to back everything up first). You make it sound easy but a) I'm don't know what a hard drive looks like, so might take out the wrong thing!, b) I don't know what a 'jumper' is or how to change it from Master to Slave (or even what Master and Slave mean!), and c) the cd-rom is built in so how can I use its connections? You will see from these comments how totally dim I am about the workings of a computer, so you will probably understand why I am a bit reluctant about touching it. If you still think it I can do it, would you mind giving me step by step foolproof instructions please so I can't go wrong?