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Dick
Lv 7

New Computer & File Transferring?

A question for you IT Support folks.

I am attempting to transfer files from my old PC to my new PC. Both PC's are desktops.

Windows XP has instructions but it involves using a Serial cable between the two PC's.

My old PC has an available serial connector. My new PC does not. It only has USB ports and a 10/100 NIC connector.

My Question: Can files be transferred from the old PC to the new PC using a Cat 5 cable between the two NIC connectors?

If so do I simply use the XP wizard and proceed using the Cat 5 cable as if it were a Serial cable?

Your Help is greatly appreciated.

Update:

I am only trying to copy over my personal files and all my music.

Update 2:

Thanks to all for your help. I asked a few other folks and finally opted for copying my files (5+ Gig) to CD and brought them over that way. It took about 2 hours and I didn't have to purchase cables, etc. Thanks again!!

4 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    you are likely to have a quicker time burning your data onto CD's or transferring it to a free mail account such as yahoo mail or gmail and then downloading it to the new computer, than you are setting up a crossover ethernet connection

  • 1 decade ago

    I have the same kind of problem, the old computer does not have all the bells and whistles but it has a serial port.. while the new computer makes the Geeks at the store drool over themselves but it has no serial port.. the network connector on my laptop is auto-configure, I don't know if the desktops are.. so I copied all of the files onto a USB flash drive and moved them over...

    Fortunately for us, the majority of the important files are kept in storage on the Internet instead of here on the computer...

    You can connect the two desktop computers together using two network cables and a bridge or multiport expander with no problems normally. you may have to go through the trouble of setting up a "home network" through the wizard though.. Once everything set up you can copy whole directories easily.. You should not copy programs over, you should just do a clean install of them on the new computer.

  • 1 decade ago

    Yes the Category 5 cable is a serial cble and u will have to make the computers talk to each other.

    Call this nuimber and they can help U further: 866-487-8724 or you can visit their web site at http://www.gurus2go.com/

  • 1 decade ago

    If you are not using a router or a switch, you will need a special cat5 called a Crossover cable. You can get these at an electronics store. Once you have one, you can IM me at JT114881 (yahoo or aim) and ill walk you through it.

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