How to transfer data/files from old to new computer?

[Rudy Vey]

I am getting a new computer (a Dell laptop) and want to transfer all my data from my old (now in use) PC to the new computer. What would be the fastest, easiest and safest way?? I am backing up on Carbonite all my documents. But what would be the best way for the e-mail Outlook with all the addresses and all my bookmarks on Firefox??
I am not very computer savvy, so I look for your help here.

 

[Luc]

Is your old computer on a network?

If you can access both computers in the same home then it's only a matter of copying the files.

Firefox can export the bookmarks into a single file, you need to copy that file to the other computer and import it again.

Outlook. There must be a similar feature to create a file for you to copy over but I'm not using that one so I can't help.

 

[slamjet]

1) Turn off both computers, unplug them and open them up.
2) Take out hard drive in old computer.
3) Plug in hard drive into new computer into extra SATA (or PATA) port and power plug.
4) Turn on new computer.
5) After it all boots up, click on Start > My Computer. You should see the old hard drive.
6) Double-click on old hard drive and transfer away!

It's the best way I've found to quickly transfer from another hard drive. What I'll usually do is to mount the old drive into the new computer and leave it there for extra storage.

You can also go onto tigerdirect.com and purchase one of these. I have one and it's an invaluable tool to try to recover data (and snoop around old hard drives to find "funny" pictures) as well as to transfer stuff from old drive to new.

 

[*King G*]

two words: thumb drive.

 

[82R100]

Since your new laptop probably cannot accommodate an additional drive internally, I recommend a USB external drive housing to install the hard drive from the old computer into. This can work beautifully and you can use the old drive for external storage after you've got everything you wanted off of it.

Got a Microcenter nearby? They typically have a wide variety of these available, usually for less than $25. Something like this, for example.

- Chris

 

[slamjet]

Dell's (at least the one's I've dealt with) do have a door and slot for an extra hard drive. The key to putting one in is to first, unplug it and take out the battery then unscrew the door and hope there's no funny drive adaptor a-la HP crap. It should plug right in to the second spot.

 

[timmy]

I currently use one of these to transfer data off old drive

APRICORN ADW-USB-KIT IDE/PATA/SATA to USB HDD Adapter - Retail

Can find cheaper versions here

 

[sol92258]

this is a "6 of one way, half dozen of another" type questions. Personally, portable media is my typical way, either flash drive or portable hard drive.
for Firefox, I use Xmarks. it's a bookmarking add-on that syncs your bookmarks online, and you can access them from anywhere, any computer. I love it.
It's been awhile since I used Outlook, but there is an export option. I don't know about newer versions (2003 and up), but in the prior versions you had to export the address book and emails individually. newer versions may streamline it, but I don't know for sure. go to microsoft's website and lookup backing up outlook for the best method.
all other files, simply drag and drop.

 

[perlslacker]

If you're just exporting Outlook and Firefox stuff then a thumbdrive should be fine. If you're going to be transferring large amounts of data then you need to need to get more creative; since you've said you're not particularly computer savvy, you're best off moving the files over a network since that won't require you to take your computer apart to get a drive out and play with cables.

USB to IDE/SATA converters are fine for doing large data transfers, disk imaging, and data recovery (I used to work R&D for a forensics company and I was always using 4-5 at once for one thing or another), and I couldn't live without mine, but they're not particularly useful in this case.

 

[arcman]

In terms of Outlook, go into your Outlook application on your old computer and export your mailbox as a .pst file and export your contacts as a .pab file. Save those files to whatever medium you're using to transfer to your new computer (external hard drive, flash drive, online backup, whatever). Then import those files back into the new Outlook application.