Computer help
 

So I'm replacing my old PC finally, and I just got a new Dell yesterday. I need to know what the best way to transfer my files (mostly music files, some documents and programs) to the new computer. Is there a cable I just connect between them, or do I need a network switch/router thingie? I suck at computers, so basic english is appreciated. Thanks guys.

Start kissing Deans ass and Digging up Roundtable coupons he also likes this pink frozen drink mix not sure what it is but you need find out its pretty good :D

OK, I'll search the board for pink frozen drink. But no way I'm kissing Dean's ass!

what o/s is the new pc running?
what o/s is the old pc running?
do you have a home network?

Both are on XP home, I have Charter DSL, but only one PC is on it so I don't think I have a network.

Programs usually require reinstallation on the new OS from the original disks they came on...

Data files you created (such as music, docs, pictures, videos) are best written to data CD's or DVD's and copied that way. Alternatives include external hard drives and networking.

Email files and addresses should be exported from the email program to a file; that file written to CD, and imported into the email program on the new computer.

Settings (such as email, network, OS, and other program settings/preferences) are harder to just "transfer". You can try the Windows XP "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard", where you create a file to be written to CD and loaded using the same wizard on the new machine. I personally have had mixed luck with that wizard. Otherwise, perhaps just have both machines running and set up the new one manually using the older one as a reference.

Well the main reason I'd rather not burn everything to CD and reload it on the new PC is because my burner on the old PC works rather sporadically (one of many reasons I'm getting the new one). So is there a way to do it without using CDs? Can I buy a router or something and just transfer files over the network? I'm not really worried about the settings and stuff, I'll just redo all that manually.

What Scotty said mostly.

Having a machine directly on DSL, or cable modem is asking for trouble even with XP or other software firewall. I reccomend a router. That should also allow you to set the two machines up on a network to move the data between them.

XP "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" is ver good for anything Microsoft, so as long as you are mainstream, it should do well.

I can help as long as it isn't to painful. You do own all your software, and have install CDs, right?

You can install the old Hard Drive as a slave (secondary HD). This will allow you to access all of your old files without networking, but it renders your old computer useless and like ScottyS pointed out, you'll have to reinstall your software and everything, but there's somthing to be said for starting out fresh anyway.

Basically, (with the system turned off) you just plug your old HD into the extra plug on the IDE cable. Even if your new system uses SATA (thin red wire as aposed to the flat ribbon IDE HD's use) the motherboard should still have an IDE port for your old HD. Once you install the old HD to your new computer and plug one of the extra power supply cables into it, startup the computer, double click my computer and it should be there as the D: drive or somthing like that. If not, the jumper may need to be set on the HD to the slave postion...usually there's a little schematic on the HD that shows you how to position the jumper to make it a slave drive.

Dean,

I have nothing really, my old PC was a homebuilt job from a friend who has now moved to Florida, but he used his discs for windows and everything else on there pretty much. There's not really any software that I need, since all I do is surf on the internet and type up papers and documents for our rental. Maybe I might need MS word or something if the new PC doesn't come with it. So I guess I need a router then, any suggestions?

cody,

I had thought of that, but I'd rather not have anything from the old PC on the new PC. It has so many issues and I don't want to import any of them to the new computer.

Whatever is cheap...if you get one with a stateful packet inspection firewall, you'll be nice and secure, but that is generally thought of as an overkill for the home user. If you use a good software firewall and have it configured properly, you don't really need a hardware firewall.

To answer your question, D-Link and Linksys have never let me down. My wireless Motorolla from Walmart was only $50 and it's wireless with a "firewall", but the firewall is pretty useless on it.

I don't think you'd have anything to worry about as long as you do a full virus scan on that drive after you bring it up the first time. It would be just as safe as moving the files over by networking or CD-R IMHO.

First off, what anti-virus if any came on your computer? If they want money, forget it, and go here and install avast.

http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html

That should protect you from just about anything on the old PC, so drive to drive may be a good option assuming they are both desktops, and even if not.

If you had asked thie router question last week, I would have sent you to compUSA to pick one up for $3 after rebates. This week you are back up to $19, unless somebody has an old wired or 802.11b one they wnat to give you. or next week it should be <$10 again.

I dislike relying on software firewalls alone becasue they still place your PC directly on the internet and any significantly bad hole in the OS, driver, firewall or even possibly the interface firmware itself could open you up to attack. A hardware router is a cheap peice of mind.

OpenOffice will do you just as well as MS Word, so no reason to spend money on that. Browser, no big deal.

What is your email on? Outlook express?

I just use hotmail, which is web-based, so no worries there either. Cheap router sounds like a plan, thanks Dean.

Yeah, for me the "HDD as slave" thing is my favorite way to go. But, I figured if he knew how to do that, he wouldn't have been asking in the first place....

I like Dean's suggestion. Should be a good way to fix everything. OpenOffice is the way to go, to. Good luck.