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    Moving files/software?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by fishcube, Nov 28, 2007.

  1. fishcube

    fishcube Notebook Evangelist

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    What is the best way to move files/software etc from one notebook to another. Keeping in mind the old notebook doesn't have a working CD drive.

    I know you can buy a cable that will move personal files (photos/videos etc), but need to move other files.

    Should we get a portable harddrive and transfer over files to it and then onto new notebook?

    Can one transfer full programs this way? We don't want to copy our whole hardrive over, just certain programs/files etc.

    SK
     
    fishcube, Nov 28, 2007
    #1
  2. Skye2

    Skye2 Notebook Evangelist

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    The best way to copy files is to get an external drive. USB or firewire. Copy the files to the external drive and then copy them to the new computer. You cannot transfer programs over unless it is the .exe (executable). And you need to re-install the programs on the new computer.
     
    Skye2, Nov 28, 2007
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  3. vespoli

    vespoli 402 NBR Reviewer

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    The external drive will be the easiest way. Another option would be a crossover cable.

    As mentioned, programs are iffy.
     
    vespoli, Nov 28, 2007
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  4. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Crossover cable. Cheap and fast.
     
    Budding, Nov 28, 2007
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  5. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Anyone know approximate speed range comparing USB 2.0, firewire, eSATA, and crossover cable? Let's say for a large set like 10GB data, a mix of some big (ie. avi) files and a mix of some small (ie. txt) files?
     
    sgogeta4, Nov 28, 2007
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  6. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    USB2, although with the possibility of transferring data at up to 480Mbps (Mbits, not Mbytes) will rarely achieve that speed as it is heavily CPU dependent. Firewire 400 can transfer up to 400Mbps but is not CPU dependent, so it will be faster than USB2. eSATA is much faster than both, but you will need an eSATA expresscard/cardbus adaptor.
    Crossover cable would depend on the network card on your laptops. New laptops have gigabit ethernet cards, allowing transfer rates of up to 1Gbps, although the majority of laptops will support 100Mbps ethernet. Do remember that if you use a crossover cable, you only have to copy once. If you decide to use an external, you will have to copy files onto the external first, then over to your other laptop, which is why I would recommend a crossover cable.
     
    Budding, Nov 28, 2007
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  7. Clutch66

    Clutch66 Notebook Consultant

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    Backup your OS onto an external hard drive then "restore" it on your new notebook.

    Easiest way to move all of your programs.
     
    Clutch66, Nov 28, 2007
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  8. prashanthm

    prashanthm Notebook Consultant

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    USB 2.0 - 480 Mbps
    Firewire - 400 Mbps/800 Mbps
    eSata - 1.5 Gbps/3 Gbps (But when you say it is an old notebook you wouldn' have the eSata interface anyway)
    Crossover Cable - 100 Mbps/1000 Mbps (Depending on the Ethernet cards on the 2 systems)....
     
    prashanthm, Nov 29, 2007
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  9. Skye2

    Skye2 Notebook Evangelist

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    Clutch66 -

    You can't back up an OS on one system and restore it on another unless the two systems have identical hardware or nearly identical hardware.
     
    Skye2, Nov 29, 2007
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