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    Easiest Way to Transfer about 150GB of data from old desktop to new laptop?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by vestibule1443, Jul 16, 2008.

  1. vestibule1443

    vestibule1443 Notebook Evangelist

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    i have a 2GB USB key... but that would be a ridiculous hassle. what is the easiest way to transfer this stuff when moving to a new machine? the desktop will then be sold, i need to move all the data!
     
    vestibule1443, Jul 16, 2008
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  2. redrazor11

    redrazor11 Formerly waterwizard11

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    -Buy an external HD/IPOD, and then copy all of your data/clone your HD onto that.
    -Buy a transefer cable, and then transfer data though USB
    -Connect them both over a network, and share the files/copy them to your laptop.

    Although, It'll be much less of a hastle to just keep your files on the desktop, and only transfer what your going to use most often over.
     
    redrazor11, Jul 16, 2008
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  3. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    The easiest way is to buy an IDE/SATA to USB 2.0 adapter..!!
    Connect your old drive to the IDE/SATA adapter (depending upon the HDD socket) and connect it through USB to your laptop....and data will be transferred at USB 2.0 compliant speed....!! The HDD will show up as an external mass storage device..!!
     
    Andy, Jul 16, 2008
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  4. vestibule1443

    vestibule1443 Notebook Evangelist

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    so basically make it an external hdd without an enclosure? how much does a sata to usb adapter cost?
     
    vestibule1443, Jul 16, 2008
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  5. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    crash, Jul 16, 2008
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  6. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    There ya go....get the first one..!! It should do the job.... :)
     
    Andy, Jul 16, 2008
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  7. vestibule1443

    vestibule1443 Notebook Evangelist

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    yikes thats pretty expensive. i dont suppose there is a way to transfer it over a wireless network is there?
     
    vestibule1443, Jul 16, 2008
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  8. Anomaly10

    Anomaly10 Notebook Evangelist

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    Sure...you can just copy the files over your wireless network by sharing whichever folders you need. Of course, expect to lose about a day or so while it copies.
     
    Anomaly10, Jul 16, 2008
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  9. Peter Komar

    Peter Komar Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just do it while your sleeping, a couple of nights and you'll be fine.
     
    Peter Komar, Jul 16, 2008
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  10. PocketAces21

    PocketAces21 Notebook Evangelist

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    Yep, copying it over the network is the easiest method.
     
    PocketAces21, Jul 16, 2008
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  11. r0k

    r0k Notebook Evangelist

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    I picked up a program called Syncback that can run nightly to copy stuff to a network drive. I also picked up a NAS drive (Buffalo Linkstation). When I went from one machine to another, I merely had to connect to the NAS and grab the files that had been backed up the night before. I turned off the old machine without giving it a second thought. The first copy takes forever, especially over wireless. I also invested in gigabit wiring and it helps immensely when moving large files. For small incremental backups, wireless dot n is ok, but for large amounts of data, I plug in the ethernet and disable the wifi.
     
    r0k, Jul 16, 2008
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  12. bigozone

    bigozone JellyRoll touring now

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    the easiest & cheapest way (IMO) is using an RJ45 crossover network cable... and enabling file sharing on both PCs.... share the HDDs,,, then drag and drop
     
    bigozone, Jul 16, 2008
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  13. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Yeah what you just said.

    The put it simple

    Take a LAN cable (the one that goes from your modem/router->router/pc,) plug one end on the laptop and the other on the desktop. I was getting ~28MB/s.
     
    JCMS, Jul 17, 2008
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  14. knightingmagic

    knightingmagic Notebook Deity

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    Copy it to a hard drive and carry it to the other computer. Wi-Fi will be painfully slow.
     
    knightingmagic, Jul 17, 2008
    #14