How to Transfer Files From One Hard Drive to Another

The need to transfer files from one hard drive to another is common when restoring from backup, to make more room on a drive by archiving files or to copy or move files to a portable hard drive. Whether the destination drive is an installed second or third hard drive or is a portable hard drive, the procedure to transfer files from one hard drive to another remains the same.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Windows PC
• Windows formatted destination hard drive

Instructions

1. Plug the destination hard drive into the computer if the drive is portable, and confirm that the computer has recognized the hard drive with a pop-up acknowledgment message.

2. Click the "Start" button then click "Computer" or "My Computer," and then double-click on the icon of the hard drive that contains the files to be copied. When a window appears displaying the contents of the hard drive, navigate to the location of the files to be transferred.

3. Click on each file to be transferred while holding down the "CTL" key to select all files to be copied.

4. Right-click on one of the files that has been selected and click "Copy" in the menu that appears if you wish to leave a copy of the files on the hard drive, or click "Cut" in the menu that appears if you wish to move the files instead.

5. Double-click on the icon of the destination hard drive in the "Computer" or "My Computer" window to display the contents of the hard drive in a new window. Navigate to the location on the hard drive where the files are to be saved.

6. Double-click on the destination directory to open the directory and then right-click on blank space inside the directory window and click "Paste" on the menu that appears. A window will appear and display the status of the file transfer and disappear when the file transfer is completed.

Tips & Warnings

• To ensure files are not lost, it is recommended that you use the "Copy" feature even when moving files, and then delete the files from the source drive when the transfer is completed.