%$#&*@*&^ computers! or 2002: a Computer Oddysey

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Marc Lizer

Marc Lizer

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
Posts
1,545
Loc
North Hollywood, CA
My home computer is getting a bit slow and old, and filled as well as just out-dated and older programs not playing well together, so I decided to pick up a new one.

Old one: Gateway All-in-one. Good processor, decent ram (at the time) 4 gig HD, CD.Only USB for input and output. It was inexpensive at the time, as it was not “cutting edge” on the processor speed and Hz. The catch was, it was not upgradable, as it is an “allinone,” I now need a bigger HD, would like a CD burner, and maybe a DVD, as well as more ram. While I’m at it. A newer or different OS updated browser, writing programs, voice and print recognition, and the whole shebang too.

I decided to shop like I want my customers to shop at my shop, by service and quality over price.

So my new Gateway arrives (this is still not the problem part). Sets up like a breeze!

I figure I’ll get the two systems side by side, and then transfer the old data I want to keep. It can’t be that hard can it?

The new computer with XP even has a file transfer function for old to new computer system. As well as a Networking or LAN routine too.

Before I go into it, let’s ask the “keepers of knowledge” what they would do? I can tell you this much: I know what won’t work.
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Marc: Not to be a smarty pants, but my local Gateway here in Knoxville offered to transfer all the stuff from my old computer onto a new Gateway for free then guarantee everything would coexist and work together.. COuld your store do that? Or did you buy the Gateway mail order???
 
Marc,

I recently upgraded my HD from an 8.5Gb to a 40Gb and, after spending nearly 4 hours following the "directions" that came with the new HD, I finally decided to use my own common sense and background knowledge of computers to finish the job. It took about 1 hour to completely transfer all the contents of my 8.5 to the new 40 after that.

You will need to crack the case on both computers, remove the old HD from the old computer, attach it to the EIDE cable on the new HD as a "slave" drive. If you plug it into the inline plug on the EIDE cable many new computers will automatically designate this drive as a slave drive. (If not you can designate this in your BIOS setup on boot-up.). Use the software that came on your new computer to transfer all the material from one to the other.

Prior to doing the transfer I would do a full scan disk, a defrag, full virus scan, and, if you know what you are doing in the registry, a registry cleanup so you don't transfer any unneeded "baggage" onto your new HD.

Or call Ron collect and he will be glad to walk you through the process.


Framerguy
 
Please, Marc - No more collect calls!

Since both computers have USB ports, it would seem like LapLink or some similar utility would do the job with a direct cable link. The appropriate cables normally come with the software.

I've used LapLink in the pre USB days and it worked through either the serial port or a parallel port.

OR . . . . .

Maybe this is what Framerguy was suggesting. I can never understand that Southern Illinois accent. But, if you have a spare bay in your new computer, why not install the old hard drive as a secondary slave in the new computer. It would probably end up being your 'D' drive. Then the transfer would be seamless and you'd have extra space to store all those graphics files.

BTW, it's Odyssey. I only know that 'cause I drive one.
 
The idea of putting your old HD in the new computer is a good one, it's the way I'd probably go. However, it may void the warranty - check it out (the BIOSs of new computers can detect microswitches that have tripped and report "COVER HAS BEEN OPENED" !).

The other option I'd suggest is over a network. Assuming N Hollywood has DSL or Cable I'm thinking you're going to have ethenet already, so it's a simple matter of hooking both computers to a switch or hub, enabling file sharing, and transfer away.

BTW, if you go the HD way it doesn't need to be permanent - you don't even need to physically attach the second one (except with the cables, D'OH) or close the case up.

If it's just your data you want, and of course you have a current backup (???) you could just restore it to your new computer. One way of doing that if you don't have a current backup scheme (!!!) is to use an online backup service to backup your existing system and restore it to the new one. All that's required is an internet connection to both computers (not necessarily at the same time), though with dial-up it will take a while.

FWIW,
 
Marc,
#1 Do you want to keep XP?
#2 Who is the manufacturer of the Hard Drive?

Depending on the manufacturer of the HD there are programs on their websites that will allow you to copy old to new if you have half a brain.

If you want to keep XP....Forget it...Half the sh** you have already may or may not work anyway.

There is a program called drive copy that will work wonders from old to new. Let me know specifically what you want to do and I can get you there.
 
This may be a dumb question (I'm a Mac user) but most computers in the last few years come with Ethernet built in (at least Macs do), couldn't you just network your computers together and transfer your files?
 
OK,

Here goes:
Michael,
Not smarty pants at all.
I got it from SD and not the local. Local is still schlepp of a distace too.
I just thought "How hard can it be to do it?"

Framerguy,
The computer reembles an iMac in construction. Meaning there is a tube over the guts. I would be the difference of rebuilding a carb and rebuilding an electronic fuel injection system.

Ron,
The direct link thing is what has been causing me grief.

If I go printer to printer port the new system is happy, but the old one is not. If I go USB to USB the old system is happy, but the new one is not. XP wants to get direct cable file transfer only from the printer port, and does not want to know from the USB for that function.

Maybe I should call it a Computer Windstar instead?

David,
We have all the speed techie internet thingys offered, but I am fine with dialup (for now). That alsways on connection can be double edge. For instance. Boots is on broadband, and does not have a good firewall at all. Need I say more?

Jerry,
1) Yes. I actually like XP. I think Microsnots has finally made a stable and integrated system.
2) I think Indonesian slave children. But they could have been Chinese slave children?

Frank,
I would need to add an ethernet card to at least the old system, and maybe the new one. Adding to the old system is not an option. Hence, why I bought a new system and did not upgrade piecemeal.

What I really only needed is the documents, and Pix from the Digital camera. For everything else I have disks of the programs. What I wanted to do was transfer the photos, and then burn a CD of them on the new system. So insted of dismantleing the old system, I bought an exter CD-RW that was USB. I got an I-omega 8,4,4 for 60.00, and had them burnt from the old system in no time at all.

Pop the disk in the new system and bing.

It is the easier solution, but I just thought, how hard can it be to put a wire from one computer to another? Boy did I find out!

I got my flash card reader on the system just fine, without a sang. XP had the driver, self-recognized and extracted. True plug and go. I also picked up an internal DVD-rom for the new system for 60.00. This will be another adventure in computers for me to try and install.
 
It's funny -- I just happened to get my hands on a recent PC World -- and there was a review of programs for this type of function -- and, sure enough, the programs sold to help this type of transfer seem mostly inadequate.....though good in some areas.

Have fun with the new 'puter.
 
Marc,
Did you copy the Direct Cable Connection (DCC)program from XP to your old system? I have ME on my Dell notebook and 98SE on my old Gateway P133. Somewhere in the help for DCC it explains how to copy and install the program to your old computer. Once I did this it worked great for transfering files using the printer port. Also make sure you have a cross-over cable going between ports.

Denny
 
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