HELP! Trying to transfer files between laptops

I just got my Gateway P-173x FX in the mail. During the initial setup I was given the option to transfer files via the easyshare method. My old computer is a Acer 5315 running Vista basic. 7 hours later + $40.00 later, ain't nothing easy about the easyshare method.

The first couple of times with the transfer I got the error that a particular file timed out. I decided that file wasn't all that important anyways, so I opted to delete it off the Acer. The next few tries had a new error. It was now saying that the Gateway computer didn't have enough space. WTF, the computer has 200gb...what's the problem with transferring a measly 30gb?

I searched the forums for some easy answers since I am not savvy with computers. I don't know how to set up networks and peer to peer stuff. The only thing that I can think of is to backup and delete the recovery portion of the hard drive on the Gateway and then try to transfer again. Does anyone know of a easy fix for this? The backing up of these files are taking way to long, even with this fast laptop. I am already on my 3rd dvd. Please HELP!

 

I have no experience with the Belkin 'EasyShare' Cable/similar products. I do have experience transferring laptop to laptop. I found the easiest method a Cat 5e cable (patch or standard works due to the newer LAN cards) and it worked great. Just look up the older computer's network name on the newer laptop and it worked great. I was using the two laptops in my sig, Acer with XP and Asus with Vista. This is literally, plug and transfer Good Luck.

 

Using a Cat5e ethernet cable to connect the computers directly is one solution; another is to use an external drive or a USB drive to transfer everything via sneakernet.

Do not, however, delete the recovery partition on the Gateway just to deal with this problem - if you're going to delete that partition it should be for a valid reason that is germane to the existence of the recovery partition itself.

 

Is there a way then to just increase the size of that portion of the drive? If I recall correctly, the one portion of the drive is reading 172gb free and the other part says that it has a size of 28gb, but only a few gigs free. Unfortunately, with the easyshare cable there doesn't seem to be a way to direct where the files transferring to.

 

I've used Acronis Disk Director to resize partitions several times; however, I've not done so with a recovery partition, so I don't know if the fact that it's a recovery partition would cause any extra complications.

 

While checking on the Belkin site I stumbled upon a Q&A that states that the Easy Transfer cable doesn't work with 64bit Vista. Could this be the problem all along? I am transferring from Vista Basic to Vista 64bit Premium.

 

Yup; nail + head!