Best Method for Transferring all of Data

[johnnymk]

My friend just bought one of the Dell computers from the newspaper circulars.

He would like to transfer as much info from his old computer (Windows 98,
3 GB hard drive) to the new one(80GB).

I have started from scratch making one hard drive a master and the other a slave temporarily, but haven't done what he wants, especially since there are two different operating systems.

I have Aloha Bob but have never used it and I believe I have a 2 year old version of Drive Image.

[Jeffbx]

Best way (IMHO) is to use the 'Files and Settings Transfer Wizard' in XP. Hook up both machines to a LAN, fire off the wizard, and it will allow you to easily transfer all of those tricky things like e-mail settings & favorites.

UNFORTUNATELY (and I hope MS addresses this someday) it doesn't seem to work when both hard drives are installed in the same system. The old HD needs to be in a different computer.

[johnnymk]

How do you set up a LAN?

[Jeffbx]

If you have a router for your broadband connection, just plug both machines into the router. If no router/switch, you can do the same thing with a crossover cable between the 2 machines. You can get a crossover cable at Compusa or one of those places for about $5. Use that to connect the machine's network ports to each other & you now have a 2 computer LAN. You'll need to set IP addresses for the machines to see each other, but if I remember correctly, the wizard is actually pretty good at walking you through this process.

[johnnymk]

Cat 45 Cable or USB?

[fiestaball]

Cat5 cable, not usb.

[Jeffbx]

That's the easiest way. You can do it through USB, but then you'd have to buy a USB network connecter, and the transfer rate would be really slow.

[johnnymk]

Since I will have to take the computer apart, how 'bout I just take out his hard drive and use my USB to IDE adapter with the HD? Would XP be compatible by doing it this way?

[zero2dash]

You should be able to put both HDs in the same computer and make the 3gig the slave...boot off the master (XP HD, which should boot anyway) and then just copy & paste all the files off the 3gig HD onto the XP HD. You don't really need to use the Transfer wizard (unless you *want to*).

If you have to open the computer anyway, I'd just connect the 3g as a slave and be done with it...that would be the quickest way anyhow. The only problem you *may* run into is if Dell went the cheap route (like I've witnessed before) and only put a 2 plug IDE cable (mobo -> drive) in there...which (hopefully) you've got a spare 3 plug cable (mobo -> slave -> master) laying around.

[Jeffbx]

Since I will have to take the computer apart, how 'bout I just take out his hard drive and use my USB to IDE adapter with the HD? Would XP be compatible by doing it this way?

Sure, you absolutely can do it that way, or Zero's method as well. You'll just have to move everything manually, then. Not a big deal on data files, but gets a little tricky with moving the mail file settings, address book, favorites, and things like that.

[bachviet]

Ghost

[mechmike0034]

Best way (IMHO) is to use the 'Files and Settings Transfer Wizard' in XP. Hook up both machines to a LAN, fire off the wizard, and it will allow you to easily transfer all of those tricky things like e-mail settings & favorites.

UNFORTUNATELY (and I hope MS addresses this someday) it doesn't seem to work when both hard drives are installed in the same system. The old HD needs to be in a different computer.

Use the Transfer wizard on the old computer first, before taking the drive out of it. it runs off of the XP CD. If there's enough room (big "if") have the wizard save the files being transferred to a new folder on that same (old) drive.

Then, physically move the drive to the new PC, run the Wizard, and point it to the folder you created to import the files.

[johnnymk]

Does 98 have a transfer wizard?

[mechmike0034]

Does 98 have a transfer wizard?

No, but the Wizard on the XP CD will run on 98...

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_fstw.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/crawford_november12.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/mgrtfset.mspx

Google will give you even more info...

[johnnymk]

I doubt that Dell will give the guy an XP disc, instead he will probably get a Restore disc. Can that be used on his old computer?

[mechmike0034]

Dunno, but I'd be happy to upload a copy of fastwiz.exe to my web space and send you a link to it if you need it. Or I could use yousendit if you'd like. PM me an email addy and I'll hook you up...

[johnnymk]

OK, I received fastwiz from mechmike. So I am ready to go (well, when I go to my buddy's house).

Will the drivers for various hardware which worked on 98 be deleted and/or will I have to install updated drivers on the new computer?

[zero2dash]

You'll have to reinstall Windows NT/2000/XP drivers for any devices...the Win98 drivers won't work.

[mechmike0034]

The drivers won't come into play with the Wizard - remember, it moves files and settings, not programs or hardware.

Is he moving a piece of hardware (other than the second drive) from the old to the new box?

[johnnymk]

The drivers won't come into play with the Wizard - remember, it moves files and settings, not programs or hardware.

Is he moving a piece of hardware (other than the second drive) from the old to the new box?

No, I am only concerned with the scanner and printer and possibly the modem(internal).

[mechmike0034]

No, I am only concerned with the scanner and printer and possibly the modem(internal).
XP MAY recognize them - it is really pretty good about peripheral drivers overall - but best to be prepared.

Your best bet is to go to their respective manufacturer's sites and download XP drivers (burn them to CD or put them on a flash drive) ahead of time.

[Jeffbx]

Heh - Mike, sounds like you've done this before!

:thumb:

[mechmike0034]

Once or twice...

I don't know much. On the other hand, most of what I do know about computers was learned the hard way... Also, Google is my friend.

This is my recipe for survival with regards to PCs. YMMV