How Do I Transfer Old Information From an Old Computer to a New Computer?
Switching from an old to a new computer will mean transferring some of your old files--like your email messages, important documents and music downloads--to a new hard drive. You use a storage device, like a USB memory device, for sending over small files of about 4.8 Gbps or less. That, or in the event that the data will be too large, you will need to network your old computer with the new one by using a file-transferring wizard.
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Instructions
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With USB
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See if your new and old computers both have a USB socket, which is a small rectangular insert usually found in the front or back of a desktop computer, or on either side of a laptop computer. Flip open your computer manual for help locating your USB sockets.
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Plug a high-speed USB memory device into the USB socket of your old computer to transfer smaller files, under 1 GB of memory storage capacity. This data transfer is well suited for Word files and MP3 music files--especially if you have a select number of files you want to transfer to your new computer.
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Find your USB storage device on the computer network and open it. You will most likely find it in "My Computer." Double-click the USB storage device icon and open this application.
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Drag and drop or copy select files and place them here. This is convenient because you can see which files have been transferred to the storage device--usually with file name and description in tact.
With Networking
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Network your old computer to your new computer to import larger files--especially when dealing with multiple gigabytes, such as mass photographic files and music downloads. This large file transfer is most reliable with a "Files and Transferring Wizard" to create a backup of your files and send them to a new computer.
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Plug the network cable into your serial ports. Most PCs use a nine-pin serial port where you can plug a "null modem serial cable" into the socket. Macs require a Firewire like an Ethernet cable. Make sure your cable is right for your computer and long enough to connect both computer ports. You computers should automatically detect and configure the ports from here.
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Start the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on your new computer. Most PCs will allow you to configure the wizard by clicking "Start," "All Programs," "Accessories," "System Tools," and the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard." Do the same on your old computer.
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Use "Migration Assistant" if you're transferring files from an old Mac to a new Mac. Set up the Migration Assistant by clicking on "Applications," "Utilities" and "Migration Assistant." Follow the step-by-step procedures from there.
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Complete the setup directions. In the end, this process will give you a chance to select what files you'd like to transfer, including carrying over specific settings, documents and programs. Both file transferring wizards usually pick up everything. If the wizard doesn't, save the remaining files onto your USB storage device.
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