How to Transfer Old Data to a New PC

Transfer old data from an older computer to your new system.

Data from older computers are typically going to be saved on a floppy disk. If you want to transfer the data to a newer computer, you need to use a floppy disk drive, unless the old computer is recent enough to have Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. If this is the case, it is possible to upload and transfer the data via USB flash drive. (USB flash drives transfer more at once, decreasing the time it takes for the file transfer.)

Things You'll Need

• Floppy disk
• External floppy disk drive
• USB flash drive

Instructions

1. Install an external floppy disk drive onto your new computer, if you are using a floppy disk to transfer the data. Connect the external disk drive to a USB port on the new computer, then power on the device and install all provided drivers onto the computer system.

2. Insert either a floppy disk or USB flash drive into the old computer.

3. Click "Start," then "My Computer," and then double-click either the "A:" drive or the removable device icon. A window appears that displays all of the data currently stored on the storage device.

4. Click and drag data from the old computer into the open window. A progress bar appears, displaying how long it will take for the data to finish transferring onto the storage device.

5. Eject the device from the old computer, then insert it into the new computer (either via the external floppy disk drive or a USB port on the computer).

6. Select "Start," then "(My) Computer," and then double-click the floppy disk drive icon or the removable device icon. Once the window has opened, click and drag the data from the open window onto the new computer. You may copy the information to any location on the new system. Repeat this process with all of the data you wish to copy over.

References

• Teac: External Floppy Disk Drive Information