Moving files from on hard drive to another with a different OS

[Herradura]

First I wanna sya why I want to do this, My internet sucks for downloading (patches,updates) it takes me more than twice as long to dl things than normal users also I dont have a dvd burner .

Ok in my other post I stated that I have a SATA drive that is on vista and contains all of my data. I also have a second drive which has XP with no data. Im currently on vista 32 but I want to install vista 64 now, since I have crappy download speeds I dont have the time to sit down, wait and dl everything again.

Anyway to just drag and drop my files from one HD to another? or just a faster way than having to dl?

 

[TallBill]

I dont fully understand the problem. Put both drives in, move the files over, then upgrade, then move them back?

 

[Herradura]

Yes, Move files from the hard disk with vista to the hard disk with XP then re-install vista in 64bit mode then move files from XP back over again to vista. got alittle confused typing this....

 

[oynaz]

Both Vista and XP use the ntfs file system, so you will not have any trouble.

 

[Herradura]

Originally posted by: oynaz
Both Vista and XP use the ntfs file system, so you will not have any trouble.

thats good to hear but I still dont know how I would go about tranfsfering the files.. is it as simple as plugging both drives in then booting vista then drag and drop? Im still not sure..



btw thanks for the help guys .

 

[RebateMonger]

Moving DATA files (.mp3, documents, videos, etc.) is just a matter of drag and drop between two hard drives. Grabbing documents in "My Documents" and on the Desktop will likely require that you take ownership of those folders and files.

You can't normally move programs back and forth. Those need to be re-installed afresh on the new operating system.

 

[corkyg]

"Horseshoe," you don't really have to move data files around unless you want to for redundancy. I have 4 systems - 2 laptops and 2 desktops, 2 Vista and 2 XP Pro. I have themn all linked on a LAN. I have all my data files on external drives that can be accessed by any machine. It's not complicated, but it works very well, and the external drives are also duplicated for backup redundnancy.

You can easily drag and drop files from one place to another on the LAN.

 

[Herradura]

Originally posted by: corkyg
"Horseshoe," you don't really have to move data files around unless you want to for redundancy. I have 4 systems - 2 laptops and 2 desktops, 2 Vista and 2 XP Pro. I have themn all linked on a LAN. I have all my data files on external drives that can be accessed by any machine. It's not complicated, but it works very well, and the external drives are also duplicated for backup redundnancy.

You can easily drag and drop files from one place to another on the LAN.

Since you know what my name is im guessing you speak spanish? Its also my last name not horseshoe.

Anyways I get what your saying with the lan thing but in order to do this I must have a second pc to hook my XP HDD, correct?

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Herradura

Originally posted by: corkyg
"Horseshoe," you don't really have to move data files around unless you want to for redundancy. I have 4 systems - 2 laptops and 2 desktops, 2 Vista and 2 XP Pro. I have themn all linked on a LAN. I have all my data files on external drives that can be accessed by any machine. It's not complicated, but it works very well, and the external drives are also duplicated for backup redundnancy.

You can easily drag and drop files from one place to another on the LAN.

Since you know what my name is im guessing you speak spanish? Its also my last name not horseshoe.

Anyways I get what your saying with the lan thing but in order to do this I must have a second pc to hook my XP HDD, correct?

It's simpler than that. Get the new system up and running and stick the old hard drive in as well.

 

[corkyg]

Yes, I am fully bilingual. Sorry - couldn't resist.

No, you don't need a LAN. The simplest solution is like Rogue said - put it in as an internal 2nd drive, or a USB external case. You can drag and drop files easily then in either direction.

(My ancestry includes Lorenzana, Sanchez, Rodriguez, Cota, and Parra.)

 

[Roguestar]

In fact if you've got the new system up and running and you put the old hard drive in, you could just keep it there and not even need to transfer the files over!