Easiest way to move all the stuff from my HD to the US?

Memnoch · 05-31-2005, 07:19 PM

OK, here's the deal. I'll most likely (ie 99.9999765%) be moving to Boston in a few months. I'm going to have to get a laptop, which I may buy here or in the US, depending on price. I currently have heaps of files (including games, but also various other things like Excel and Word files, not to mention mp3s) that I would like to bring with me. What is the easiest way to: 1) make these portable; 2) copy them from one HD to another.

My options are:

1. If I buy my laptop here - how do I copy them from my HD to the laptop HD
2. If I buy my laptop overseas - can I copy them into some kind of external USB hard drive or zip drive or something for access when I get my laptop in the US

Anyone have any ideas as to how to best do this?

shamrock_uk · 05-31-2005, 07:32 PM

No idea about the laptop part, but I wouldn't bother with zip disks and the like given their small size. You'd probably find it cheaper to just buy a DVD writer and a few DVDs.

RoSs_bg2_rox · 05-31-2005, 07:37 PM

Well you can get 2.5gb Zip Disks these days, or a 250gb external HDD from iomega. There is a program called Norton Ghost which is specialised for this type of thing. That would probably be the best option. However it can never hurt to make DVD/CD backups of important documents etc. Zip disks are infact good for this, as they are easy to use and can be overwritten up to 1 million times, which is good for day to day backups.

Vaskez · 05-31-2005, 08:02 PM

The easiest way is just to network the two comps. Just get an ethernet crossover cable and copy the files across. No problem.

Felix The Assassin · 05-31-2005, 08:04 PM

CD-R gives you about 650-700MB of storage per disk.
DVD-R or the other accolades, give you roughly 4GB of storage.
Norton Ghost gives you just the format to make Back-Ups, probably overkill for what you need.
M$ has a 'help' page for this.
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-01.html

I use the old trusty CD burner and copy the stuff that I must have, and transfer it that way. If you don't have a CD burner, then you might be limited to using the thumb drive at one clip at a time.

Also, check and see if there might be a 'power user' group in your area. They just might loan or rent you external hardware to do this one time task. I would not buy a high dollar item just to make this transfer.
Lastly or first possibly if you don't have high cap transfer capability, building a simple home-network would be way cheaper and easier than doing anything else hardware/monetary wise.

T-D-C · 05-31-2005, 08:20 PM

Just get your self a 1GB usb Flash drive. Small and easy to transport.

Vaskez · 05-31-2005, 08:25 PM

why all the hassle when you can use a $5 crossover cable?

Jorath Calar · 05-31-2005, 08:40 PM

Because through a 5$ cable it could take like a week... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Get a portable hard drive, cost like 150$ 200gb (Over here at least) and Norton Ghost. You can use it to zip up you whole hd and port it over to the laptop... and not only that, your system setup from the oldie can be set up on the new computer...

My friend did it and it took about half an hour... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[edit] I see that Ross already suggested it... so look at this as a confirmation... I have to start reading whole threads before I post... second time today this happens... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 05-31-2005, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

T-D-C · 05-31-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jorath Calar:
Because through a 5$ cable it could take like a week... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Get a portable hard drive, cost like 150$ 200gb (Over here at least) and Norton Ghost. You can use it to zip up you whole hd and port it over to the laptop... and not only that, your system setup from the oldie can be set up on the new computer...

My friend did it and it took about half an hour... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[edit] I see that Ross already suggested it... so look at this as a confirmation... I have to start reading whole threads before I post... second time today this happens... [img]smile.gif[/img]

And if you need a copy of Ghost just let me know

You know who I work for.

RoSs_bg2_rox · 05-31-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jorath Calar:
Because through a 5$ cable it could take like a week... [img]smile.gif[/img]

Shouldn't take a week. Ethernet is fast, very fast. Firewire would work too I'm sure, and that's 400mb/second. Providing you have Firewire on both computers, that is. Only trouble I have thought of with ghost is that you would likely have to buy a cable to plug the laptop HDD into the desktop.

05-31-2005, 07:19 PM	#1
Memnoch Ironworks Moderator Join Date: February 28, 2001 Location: Boston/Sydney Posts: 11,771	OK, here's the deal. I'll most likely (ie 99.9999765%) be moving to Boston in a few months. I'm going to have to get a laptop, which I may buy here or in the US, depending on price. I currently have heaps of files (including games, but also various other things like Excel and Word files, not to mention mp3s) that I would like to bring with me. What is the easiest way to: 1) make these portable; 2) copy them from one HD to another. My options are: 1. If I buy my laptop here - how do I copy them from my HD to the laptop HD 2. If I buy my laptop overseas - can I copy them into some kind of external USB hard drive or zip drive or something for access when I get my laptop in the US Anyone have any ideas as to how to best do this? __________________

05-31-2005, 07:37 PM	#3
RoSs_bg2_rox Zartan Join Date: May 20, 2003 Location: Near Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 34 Posts: 5,225	Well you can get 2.5gb Zip Disks these days, or a 250gb external HDD from iomega. There is a program called Norton Ghost which is specialised for this type of thing. That would probably be the best option. However it can never hurt to make DVD/CD backups of important documents etc. Zip disks are infact good for this, as they are easy to use and can be overwritten up to 1 million times, which is good for day to day backups. __________________ [img]\"http://img.ranchoweb.com/images/ladyzekke/dragonwater2.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

05-31-2005, 08:02 PM	#4
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	The easiest way is just to network the two comps. Just get an ethernet crossover cable and copy the files across. No problem. __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

05-31-2005, 08:04 PM	#5
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 61 Posts: 3,608	CD-R gives you about 650-700MB of storage per disk. DVD-R or the other accolades, give you roughly 4GB of storage. Norton Ghost gives you just the format to make Back-Ups, probably overkill for what you need. M$ has a 'help' page for this. http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-01.html I use the old trusty CD burner and copy the stuff that I must have, and transfer it that way. If you don't have a CD burner, then you might be limited to using the thumb drive at one clip at a time. Also, check and see if there might be a 'power user' group in your area. They just might loan or rent you external hardware to do this one time task. I would not buy a high dollar item just to make this transfer. Lastly or first possibly if you don't have high cap transfer capability, building a simple home-network would be way cheaper and easier than doing anything else hardware/monetary wise. __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

05-31-2005, 08:20 PM	#6
T-D-C Ironworks Moderator Join Date: October 26, 2003 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 43 Posts: 4,415	Just get your self a 1GB usb Flash drive. Small and easy to transport. __________________

05-31-2005, 07:32 PM	#2
shamrock_uk Dracolich Join Date: January 24, 2004 Location: UK Age: 41 Posts: 3,092	No idea about the laptop part, but I wouldn't bother with zip disks and the like given their small size. You'd probably find it cheaper to just buy a DVD writer and a few DVDs.

05-31-2005, 08:25 PM	#7
Vaskez Takhisis Follower Join Date: April 30, 2001 Location: szép Magyarország (well not right now) Posts: 5,089	why all the hassle when you can use a $5 crossover cable? __________________ Too set in his ways to ever relate If he could set that aside, there'd be heaven to pay But weathered and aged, time swept him to grave Love conquers all? Damn, I'd say that area's gray

05-31-2005, 08:40 PM	#8
Jorath Calar Harper Join Date: October 6, 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 4,706	Because through a 5$ cable it could take like a week... [img]smile.gif[/img] Get a portable hard drive, cost like 150$ 200gb (Over here at least) and Norton Ghost. You can use it to zip up you whole hd and port it over to the laptop... and not only that, your system setup from the oldie can be set up on the new computer... My friend did it and it took about half an hour... [img]smile.gif[/img] [edit] I see that Ross already suggested it... so look at this as a confirmation... I have to start reading whole threads before I post... second time today this happens... [img]smile.gif[/img] [ 05-31-2005, 08:43 PM: Message edited by: Jorath Calar ]

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