Transferring files from an old laptop

[subgenius]

My brother is trying to transfer his files from his old (and I mean old) laptop to a new desktop he bought. I don't have any experience transferring files, so I figured I'd ask for advice here. Here's what my brother told me about the two machines:

Here's the setup of the old laptop:

MAG Portable Verity VL series
OS: Windows 98(first edition)
Pentium Processor (around 250MHz)
64 MB RAM
Single USB, Floppy drive, and CD drive

He tried calling MAG portables and got a different company.There are also pin connectors in the back, I can count the pins if you need to know.

The new computer setup

Compaq Presario V4000
Windows XP Home
Pentium 1.6 GHz Processor
512 MB Ram

It has "extension ports", USB, and some other ports.

He tried using a network hub to connect the two, but they won't recognize
each other. The transfer wizard doesn't want to work on the MAG portable.

Could he buy an external drive, and transfer the files from machine to machine that way? If so, is there any special cable that he'll need that the average user wouldn't normally have?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[RBBRMADE]

Get a USB Pen Drive.

USB flash drive

Load the drivers on the lappy.
Plug it into the USB port, and drag the files to it in My Computer.
Then plug it into the desktop.
The drivers will not be needed on the desktop.

 

[Fardringle]

A USB flash drive would give you something that you can keep using for other things after you are done with the file transfer. However, if you do go with a USB drive, make sure it is one that is supported by Windows 98 first edition. Most that I have dealt with require 98SE or newer...

Another option would be to get an external 2.5" drive housing (any of these should work) and put the old laptop's hard drive in the external enclosure and connect it to the new laptop as a secondary hard drive then copy the files from there. This option would also give you a 'tool' you can use later for other tasks since you'll essentially end up with an external hard drive of whatever capacity the old laptop's drive is (assuming you don't put it back in the old laptop) and can easily upgrade to a bigger drive if you want to.

The USB pen drive option is the most convenient and easiest to do as long as the drive supports Windows 98. If you can't find a drive that will work, I would recommend the external enclosure since you won't have to worry about any Win98 compatibility issues with that one (Windows XP on the new laptop will be reading the files and doesn't care what OS is installed on the old drive...)

 

[birdpup]

Originally posted by: subgenius
My brother is trying to transfer his files from his old (and I mean old) laptop to a new desktop he bought. I don't have any experience transferring files, so I figured I'd ask for advice here.

He tried using a network hub to connect the two, but they won't recognize
each other. The transfer wizard doesn't want to work on the MAG portable.

Could he buy an external drive, and transfer the files from machine to machine that way? If so, is there any special cable that he'll need that the average user wouldn't normally have?

There are numerous methods that can be used to transfer files. Some of these methods are more expensive than others.

1) using that network hub, connect the two computers to that hub and, from within the new computer, perform a search for the laptop's IP address or computer name. The file directory on the laptop will need to be shared. When the laptop is found, go into its file directory and transfer the needed files.

2) obtain a crossover cable, or make your own, or google crossover cable. Then directly connect the two computers, search for the laptop's file directory, and transfer files.

3) purchase a laptop hard drive to IDE cable connector for less than $15. Remove the hard drive from the laptop, connect it to the desktop as a secondary drive with this new connector, and transfer files from one drive to the other.

4) purchase some storage component to act as temporary storage from the laptop to the desktop. Examples are a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, or an external USB enclosure to put the laptop hard drive into so it may connect with the desktop.

The file transfer choice is yours to make.

When transferring files, do not forget the browser bookmarks, mail, addressbooks, any contact lists from chat programs, ...