Transfering Files from old to new laptop.

I know, this sounds easy - but maybe not in my case.

I just pulled the trigger on a new laptop. My old laptop from 2003 died, but not completely. The computer itself works, but the screen generally doesn't work for longer than 3-5 seconds. Goes black - but the computer stays running!

If I were to get the Belkin transfer cable, would I be able to "view" my old computer's files from my new computer, or do I need to see the screen on both computers?

If you have bad news for me from that question - then I ask - what is the best, easiest way for me to transfer my files to my new computer?

The old is a DELL 5150, the new is a HPdv6500t soon to be built...

 

Did you try hooking up your Dell to an external display?

Anyway, I suppose you can try taking out the hard drive and use an USB enclosure or something to transfer the data to the new laptop.

 

Yes, I did. I borrowed a roommate's desktop monitor. It wouldn't even recognize that it was plugged into the laptop.

 

The easiest way (in my opinion) to transfer files from your old computer to your new one is to take out the hard drive from the old, pop it in an external case (you can purchase one for ~$10-20 on ebay - it'll come complete with USB cables etc) and connect it to your new computer.

 

yeah... I don't see any other way considering that you can't see anything on the screen.

 

Most likely, until you press one of the function keys (F7 on my three Sony laptops but varies by manufacturer) the external video port on you old laptop won't be active. Look at the row of Fn keys, one probably has an image of a Video screen. Or maybe someone with the same model can tell you which Fn key enables the port.

Gary

 

why don't you try with an ethernet cable. if you can see it for just long enough to set it up and create all of your files as shared then just copy them across. Either that or via wireless network.