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General discussion

Transferring data and pix from old computer to new one

by Jim Brunner Sep 15, 2005 11:59PM PDT

I have an old IBM computer, circa 1994, that I have replaced with a new computer. Old OS is Windows 98SE, new is Windows XP. Old computer has floppy drive and new one doesn't. New computer has USB ports, old one one doesn't. The old computer was also used for many years by the person who gave it to me, and has a lot of his "stuff", along with possible virus contamination. Can I transfer what I want off the old computer, leaving the "junk" behind? I don't want to take the chance of transferring viruses, trojan horses etc, but also don't want to give up my pictures.

Discussion is locked

11 Posts
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One way, I would think,
by TONI H Sep 16, 2005 12:40AM PDT

would be to install a networking card into the old computer, then hook it up to the XP system and set up a network. Then run your XP virus scanner on the W98 system to make sure it's clean.....then just drag and drop what you want from the IBM unit to the XP unit (or use the XP file transfer program...which I've never used and don't know if you can pick and choose like you can with drag and drop).

Hooking up a networking card is a simple procedure and I'm assuming that there isn't a LAN already built into the W98 system motherboard. If there actually IS one on that motherboard, just get the cable and save the cost of a card. If you need a networking card, I have many pci and ISA slot types with drivers that I can send to you if you email me through my profile. This would save you some money on a 'one-shot' networking problem by not having to buy a card you may not use again. Include your email address in your message to me if you decide to contact me as it won't be included automatically and I would have no way to contact you/reply without it.

TONI

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Transfer
by Jim Brunner Sep 16, 2005 12:43AM PDT

Toni: Thank you for your prompt reply AND knowledge. I think the old machine has an LAN built in. Now, what kind of cable do I get?

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Jim...
by jackintucson Sep 16, 2005 3:43AM PDT

You need a CAT5 or CAT6 cable. It looks like an overgrown telephone wire. The connectors are RJ45s. You can get a short one (6ft) for a couple of bucks. Follow the instructions on the XP machine and you're set to go. (I jumped in on Toni because I don't know when he'll be able to get back to you. As usual there are more ways to skin the cat here.

and life goes on...

Jack

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(NT) (NT) Last time I looked, I was still a 'she' lol
by TONI H Sep 16, 2005 3:55AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) ooops!...sorry
by jackintucson Sep 17, 2005 4:43AM PDT
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Oops?
by taboma Sep 20, 2005 2:57PM PDT

?Jack, don't worry about calling Toni one of the guys.
I made that mistake a number of months ago also.
Grif clued me in.
I still like to think of Toni H., our Mod.,
as "One of the good guys."

-Kevin

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It's bad enough that
by TONI H Sep 20, 2005 8:47PM PDT

lots of people over the years have mistaken me for a male because of my name, but I get many phone callers who call me "Mr" because my natural speaking voice is also very low like a man's. LOL

I've gotten very used to this error over the years and it doesn't bother me at all.....most times I don't even correct it here in the forums.

I really like being in the same company as 'the guys' here so much that there doesn't seem any need to distinguish myself as 'different' from them. They were all my mentors and teachers when I first found these forums 10 years ago and such a total ignorant 'newbie' that nearly every post asking for help or information came from me. Their patience with me was amazing.....and still is....as I continue to ask and don't hesitate to do so since I know I can't get any better help and information anywhere else on the net. For somebody who was afraid to touch the keyboard out of fear for 'breaking' my son's computer, it's a real honor for me to be 'one of the guys'.......

TONI

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The "I"...
by jackintucson Sep 21, 2005 4:13AM PDT

in TON(I) should have given it away but I just wasn't thinking (no comments please Wink ). Only 10 yrs? Let's see.. I was 10 then... or was I 11. Been sooooo long I forget Wink

Jack

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RJ-45 crossover cable
by TONI H Sep 16, 2005 3:52AM PDT

I got 10' of that cable for about $6....pretty inexpensive.

Now.....go to Device Mgr of the two systems and make sure the LAN drivers are installed already....otherwise look at the motherboard driver cd if you have one and install the drivers for it. You should also make sure that the LAN for both computers is ENABLED in the bios. XP will probably go ahead and install the drivers for it on a reboot....W98SE might not have the drivers in its database and will balk during the install asking you to locate the drivers.

That's when you will have to get online and look at the make and model number of the LAN 'card' so you can go to the mfr site or the vendor maker of your computer (such as Dell, Gateway, etc) and get the drivers from there. Make sure you get the version you need for each of the different versions of windows.

If you are having difficulty getting that maker and model number....go to http://www.belarc.com and download the small free file they have available and use somebody else's computer who has a floppy disk (or the library computer) and save the file there. The XP system you can run the same program directly from the website for free. The floppy disk, take to the W98 system and run it from there.

This program not only will identify all of your hardware by maker, model number, and version number of the drivers, but will also give you product information for programs along with code keys for installation/registration/licensing. It will also list all the hotfixes installed for MS products. You can print it out for handy reference as log of these items in case you need this information at a later date.

You will now have the maker and model number of the LAN for both systems......

Once you have all that information and the drivers, and the cable, you can use the XP system to set up the network between the two computers......once the W98SE system is seen by XP, you can visibly see it in Windows Explorer just as if it was another harddrive installed inside your case and can drag and drop everything you want from one computer to the other. Make sure you run your anti-virus program from the XP system on that W98SE computer before bringing the files in.

TONI

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The cable looks like
by TONI H Sep 16, 2005 3:53AM PDT

a fat telephone cord that you plug into a phone to a wall outlet...twice the size though.

TONI

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transfer hard drive into a standalone case
by bbcamp2 Sep 16, 2005 9:30AM PDT

Remove the harddrive from the old computer and install it into a USB external drive box (about $30 to $40), then hook the box to your new computer. Run all of the usuall anti-virus scans, then copy everything you want to save to your new harddrive. Once you've jot everything, format the old harddrive, and use it for a backup drive.

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