File Migration

Shifter2101 · November 11th, 2004, 10:05 PM

A friend of mine just bought a new computer.
He wants to transfer some programs and files over to the new machine...
Can anyone recommend a freeware file/program migrater?

M_Six · November 11th, 2004, 10:19 PM

Programs usually can't be transferred. They need to be reinstalled. But files can be transferred fairly easily. Are these two machines networkable? If so, you can use Second Copy free for 30 days.

Shifter2101 · November 11th, 2004, 10:41 PM

I was trying to network them but...

He's got a Motorola SB5100 cablem modem. I went to the web site for it and it says that it can be configured to 'share' the internet connection... I can't get it to work...
(The modem has an ethernet port and a USB port. The ethernet port 'overrides' the other when I try networking them...)

The old machine has XP Pro, the new XP Home.
The old machine only has USB ports. The new, Ethernet, USB and everything...

I was thinking of just hooking them together via USB (as you would with an ethernet or serial cable). I couldn't get that to work either...

I've tried everything I can think of. I'm lost at this point...

M_Six · November 11th, 2004, 10:46 PM

You really can't network two PCs with USB (you can, but it's difficult and expensive). You have a few choices. You can buy a cheap hub and a network card (NIC) and network them that way, or you can pull the hard drive out of the old machine and mount it as a slave drive in the new machine to transfer files. Or if you can get your hands on an external USB hard drive, you can transfer files that way.

OuTpaTienT · November 11th, 2004, 11:02 PM

Yes you can network two PCs via USB, but you need a special USB-networking cable. I just got one myself. Will run ya about $15-$20.

If you tried to connect the two machines via USB already and you simply used a USB cable that has the type-A plug on both ends then you may have fried one or both USB circuits.

http://www.usb.org/faq/ans5/

Here's the USB cable I just got.

Shifter2101 · November 11th, 2004, 11:04 PM

well, he wants to go wireless anyway...

he'll just have to wait untill after i have him buy the equipment so i can set up a wireless network for him.

i shouldn't have any problems once i do this, right?

Shifter2101 · November 11th, 2004, 11:06 PM

thanx for the info out...

maybe we'll try that first...

M_Six · November 11th, 2004, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Will run ya about $15-$20.

Ok, so maybe not that expensive after all. Still, you can get a hub for about that much and really network.

Just as an aside, you shouldn't really be connecting the cable modem directly to the PC. You should have a cable/dsl router with a firewall. If you're going to go wireless, get a wireless router. PCs sitting directly on cable modems are sitting ducks for hackers.

OuTpaTienT · November 11th, 2004, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M_Six

Ok, so maybe not that expensive after all. Still, you can get a hub for about that much and really network.

Just as an aside, you shouldn't really be connecting the cable modem directly to the PC. You should have a cable/dsl router with a firewall. If you're going to go wireless, get a wireless router. PCs sitting directly on cable modems are sitting ducks for hackers.

Really? hmmmm. So I've been a sitting duck for approx. 5 years. The hackers must be really bad shots.

So a software firewall isn't good enough?

Shifter2101 · November 11th, 2004, 11:49 PM

Oh yes, MSix...

He is just as paraniod as I am when it comes to the net...

I plan on hooking him up in that department...

If we end up using the cable, neither machine will be on the modem... Just hooked to each other... At this point, all he wants me to do is transfer his files. He is going to live with just the one machine having access to the net until I can set up a proper network for him.