Moving files

recovering_spendaholic

I work from home and up to now have used a desktop which runs xp. I urgently need to update it as it keeps crashing but I gave lizards of work stored on it that I need to keep and transfer to my new computer. I am not great with computers and want to know how I can move the entire contents of my "my documents" folder to the new computer?

When I ask people they just say to put it all on a memory stick or portable hard drive, but how? There are hundreds of individual files on there and I couldn't save them individually as it would take so long.

Sorry if I sound thick (I am).

coolsteel

As said a portable hard drive or pen drive provided they have enough capacity to take all your data from your my documents folder. Right click on the WHOLE my documents folder (dont open the folder) and choose copy from the drop down menu. Your portable device should be plugged in to your computer and open, simply right click anywhere in your portable device and choose paste in the drop down menu. It may take a while but it will copy to your portable device.

Geep

Install and use TeraCopy, it's a lot better/faster than the standard Windows copy facility. See http://codesector.com/teracopy for more info.

ManAtHome

If you right click as in post #2 and choose Properties it will give you the total size of all the files so's you can buy/use the appropriate memory stick or disk.

Bollotom

Right click the Documents folder and select copy then open the USB stick and right click and paste. Or am I being too simplistic? It's the way I do it with docs, music, video, photos. :cool:

aerostar

From your information it would seem you have never backed up your files !! you are lucky that the hard drive has not failed - if so you would have lost the lot !

If you are prepared to lose the lot -then never do backups - if you are not prepared to lose the lot then you MUST do backups - anything mechanical or otherwise will fail at the most inappropriate moment.

googler

You seem to be under the impression that in order to copy each file or doc, you'll have to open them individually, and Save as... That's not the case.

Do some online research, go to a library or bookshop for a book on the basics, and learn how to copy/paste a number of files in one go, or a number of folders ....

robatwork

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer

System

Hi

Consider using a DVD and burning the files to a disc.

As others have said there are lots of backup solutions.

CDBurnerXp and a blank disc. Drag and Drop. Click on "Burn."
5 minutes later you have a poratable backup disc.

DonnyDave

Depending on whether opening the box will void the warranty or not, just fit the hard drive from the old machine into the new machine (perhaps just temporarily, in order to copy files).

The new computer's hard drive should be C: and the one you fitted should be . Browse to the relevant "My Documents" (the one with your documents in) on and copy them into the My Documents on the profile on your new computer.