Data transfer - desktop to laptop

zhen_rogue

Hello H/A:

I'll be getting a new laptop soon to replace my dinosaur of a desktop.
I have about 10gigs of data on the desktop that i'd like to directly transfer to the laptop.

I'm wondering what the easiest and simplest way to do the transfer is (keeping in mind i'm fairly computer stupid).
Note: the desktop does not have a cd/dvd burner, so a physical transfer via disc is not possible/cost effective.

Both machines have winXPpro as the OS.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/help!

Ruckus

Peer to peer network cable, or a 10/100 switch, or a direct cable connection.

There are many options, what is your budget?

Munacra

this should be fairly easy if you get an ethernet cable and put them both in your LAN, right?

zhen_rogue

Ruckus wrote:

Peer to peer network cable, or a 10/100 switch, or a direct cable connection.

There are many options, what is your budget?

Ease of use is my primary concern, budget being second.
I'd love to spend $35 or less here, just as a ballpark cost figure.

Munacra wrote:

this should be fairly easy if you get an ethernet cable and put them both in your LAN, right?

You are speaking greek my friend, I know what an ethernet cable is but i'm not set up as a network to my knowledge.
It's just my dell desktop connected to a cable modem, that's it.

Septus

I seriously hate setting up a network through a router. I've done it 4 or 5 times now, and every time I do it, I have a problem. At least one of the times, I'm sure it wasn't working at first, and then I either went through the exact same steps in the network setup wizard or rebooted or something that shouldn't have made a difference, and it started working.

I don't suppose there's any really simple, good guide to look at for setting up a network? That would most likely be your best bet, Zhen. Either use a router if you have one, or get a cross-over cable(I can never tell the difference) to directly connect the two and set up the network.

Septus

Anyone?

tony_important

Septus wrote:

Anyone?

Umm the XP wizard is easy enough that my grandfather was able to do it.

Just make sure you enable file and printer sharing on both computers and use the same network name on both computers.

You can then move files from one computer to the other on the network files (they show up in "My Network Places").

It's not that hard, good luck.

Septus

tony_important wrote:

Just make sure you enable file and printer sharing on both computers and use the same network name on both computers.

That could possibly be the problem. I always ran the XP network set-up wizard, and I don't remember the file and printer sharing as one of the options.

tony_important

it's close to the end of the process if I remember correctly