Help me out: Moving Data with a USB Cable?

[BrewMaster]

This may be a stupid question, but I am ok with that. I am getting a new laptop and I need to move my data to the new beast. Can I just use a USB cable? I would get one that has computer-side connectors on both ends, not the mini device connector on one end. In the past I used an old serial cable before USB existed, so can it be done the same way? And is there a "special" way to do it with XP on both the old and the new comp? And will one computer appear as a drive on the other? Any other comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Though I don't spend much time on the forums anymore, G|A? is much appreciated. Peace be with you.

[bachviet]

I think you have to get a special USB cable so you could connect one computer with another.

[BrewMaster]

yeah, that's what i mean when I say I will get a cable that has two computer-side connnectors on it. otherwise, any other advice?

[mcs328]

Yeah they have it at CompUSA. Its like a NULL something cable but it's a NULL USB cable. It'll say "Transfer Data Between Two Computers With USB" or something on the package. It's in the same area with the regular USB cables. I believe it comes in CompUSA packaging.

Or you can just buy a hub or something and network everything together and transfer over LAN.

[bachviet]

Originally posted by mcs328
...Or you can just buy a hub or something and network everything together and transfer over LAN.

Second to that idea since it's faster to transfer over 100 Mbit LAN.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by bachviet

Second to that idea since it's faster to transfer over 100 Mbit LAN.

Me too - transfer rate on the USB cable will be 11Mbps, but up to 100Mbps on CAT5. All you need is a crossover cable - don't even need a hub. Assuming you have a NIC in both machines, that's the easiest & fastest route.

[BrewMaster]

i didn't even think of busting out a cat 5 cable. good idea. how will each comp show up on the other? we use a wireless network at home, so i will just plug the cat 5 cable directly into each comp with nothing in between.

[raimin]

make sure you are using a crossover cable if you dont have a hub/switch

and give each computer a similar/but different ip address

192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2
for example

set sharing on the data to be shared

they should see each other under network neighborhood

or you can just transfer slowly using your wireless
using same method

[bachviet]

I assume you are having a wireless router thus just plub both computers into the router with CAT5 cable and set the share drive.

[mcs328]

Originally posted by bachviet
I assume you are having a wireless router thus just plub both computers into the router with CAT5 cable and set the share drive.

Yeah...I assume your wireless router must have a 10/100 4 port switch built into it right.

[BrewMaster]

yeah. we have a 4 port wireless router. so if i plug both in with cat 5 cables and re-set up the LAN so the new comp is included, it'll all be ready to go, correct?

and btw, the new laptop is an Inspiron 8500. It is screaming! 1900 x 1200 resolution. the 15.4 WUXGA is so rad. they're not fooling around with the 16:10 ratio. 2.0 Ghz, 512MB, 40GB 5400rpm, 64MB nVidia, DVD/CDRW combo drive. and the silver and blue color scheme is cool too. me likey.