Is there any possible way to transfer files faster than grouping them onto tons of CDs?

Question

We're in the process of replacing my 8 year old desktop computer with a brand new laptop. Right now I'm trying to get all the old files off the old computer and transfer them onto the new one. However, this has been a painstakingly slow task, as the only way I see how to do it is by grouping the files into 700 MB "chunks", and transferring them using CD's, one at a time. If I continue transferring the files this way, it will take hours, if not days, to complete. 

Ordinarily, I'd have a project like this done in mere minutes, because I've got a 500 GB external hard drive that would transfer all the files right away. However, in this computer's "old age", it has lost it's ability to recognize any device connected by USB ports (the main reason why I'm chucking it). Because the external drive goes via USB, it's been seemingly rendered useless for this task. I also cannot use DVDs because the D drive only recognizes CDs, not DVDs (it's VERY OLD). There is no compatibility with SD cards, either.

So for now, I seem to be stuck with moving many GBs of files using individual 700 MB CDs. I calculate that it will take at least 12+ CDs to get everything moved; and the computer takes 20 or so minutes to write a single CD. Does anyone know of a faster way?

Alan · Accepted Answer

There are a few ways.

If you have a multi-port internet router or network hub/switch and your old desktop has an ethernet card, you can hook both computers up to the router/hub/switch, enable Windows file sharing, and copy all the files over.

Another way is to buy an external hard drive enclosure, remove the hard drive from your computer and put it in the enclosure, and hook that up to your new computer. It acts like an external drive.
You'll need something like this:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB20-SATA-BLK&cat=CSE
Probably available at your local electronics store. And then you'll have an extra external drive. Just make sure you get one for a 3.5" hard drive.

Alternately, you could buy yourself a DVD burner (or borrow one from another computer) and some blank discs, install it in the old box, and have at it that way.

? · Answer

Take the hard drive out of the old computer and get usb enclosure for it (if your PC is that old make sure it's IDE (PATA)
and NOT the SATA as Alan described.

and you can connect it to your laptop or buy a cheap usb card for your old pc which will give you a working port again for the external HD transfer.

Anonymous · Answer

Nero will decode MP3 files into CDAudio, as long as your choose to burn Audio CD and not an MP3 CD

johnnydepp1118 · Answer

Get a flash drive, or external hard drive.  check best buy online.  why keep allthose CDs memory is cheap, get a flash drive.

Mark · Answer

Open the old pc and add a addtional drive to it.  Copy your data.  Then move this drive to the new pc.

? · Answer

you could use a online backup service like carbonite, the might have free service for  a month or something like that. there's another one i forget it's name, but be careful, they might bug you with emails so uncheck buttons that say "get email from ????? about special offers"

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Is there any possible way to transfer files faster than grouping them onto tons of CDs?

6 Answers