Potential PC issue , copying hard drives

[yosshimura]

Let me see.... I have

My old,old Emachine with files / pics I need
My old HP with programs I need and files also
My newer Compac, with files, MSoffice, and lots of pics and files...

When I got the Compac I was going to copy my emachine files to it,and never got to it; then the HP I needed some software from it and never got to it...

I was going to install a new HD on the Compac to copy the other two machines' stuff on to it, and not mess with my Compac.

1. What's the easiest/ fastest way to transfer files / software to the COmpac? I don't have the software to reinstall, so need to copy it over.. I have an idea: buy some cable to plug each machine to each other, get software to copy over items... that easy?

2. The HP items I want to keep seperate from my other items. So, how can I create a new drive(?) within the new pc's hd? You know, I have C drive, but split that in two drives? Is there such a thing or just need to create different directories?

3. Zip drive? how about copying my HP's items to a seperate HD? It wouldn't fit in a lap top, so that would need to be a zip drive?? something that would be easilily accessible when needed.

Man what a mess

[KirkVining]

It depends on what operating systems these PCS are running, 98, 2000, XP etc.

[yosshimura]

Originally posted by KirkVining
It depends on what operating systems these PCS are running, 98, 2000, XP etc.

F!!! The EMachine WIndows 95 probably, maybe 98. Have to double check. This one would not be a problem, as I just have my pictures and about a 1K music files to transfer.... no sofware to transfer.

The Compac - THis machine is about 1-2 years old, running Windows XP for home.

The HP - Windows 98... This is the most important, as the sofware I need to transfer is about $3K or more ... Calyx (mortgage software)... and some excel / word docs...

Oh... on the compac and HP there are deleated files, I need to try and recover prior to tranfering.. THey were deleted about a year ago, so not sure if that would be possible..

The new machine? Whatever they are coming with nowadays. I am probably going with the Dell... so XP I guess.

[KirkVining]

The only way you can do it is to network them together. XP has functionality built in that will allow you to transfer programs etc from one machine to another. The instructions on how to do the transfer are in the XP manual that should come with your PC.

First thing is to check your old PCs and see if they have a network card built in. I am not on an XP machine right now, so I am working from memory here, but I believe you should have a network icon in ctrl panel - click on it and it should list the network hardware on the machine. Most late model computers should have them. After that, you have to buy a hub, about 30$ , and some network cables, Cat5 "patch" cables, about 5$ apiece - buy them at a "geek" type store, the Best Buy types places will rip you off for them.

Plug all the PCs into the hub with the cables. Then go to Ctrl panel, System, Computer Name and look for the button called Network Identification Wizard. Make sure each PC has a unique PC name, and that they all have the same Workgroup name. When running the wizard, make sure you always answer any question on whether your PC is part of either a workgroup or domain with "workgroup". Once this is done, just follow the instructions in the XP manual on how to run the transfer programs.

The only warning is that after the transfer, some of your programs from the old PC still might not operate properly unless you re-run the install programs. If you don't have all the original disks you might have problems.

[yosshimura]

thanks for the info. I got those geek type stores by my office. THere is a street that is like a geek store strip..... like a hub of them. Will pay a visit one day this week.

thanks

Now just have to decide if keeping the compac or going w/the laptop at this time.

thanks again!