Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of
transferring data from my old one to the new? |
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
Broadback explained on 20/11/2016 :
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Remove the HDD from the old PC and plug it into the new one, you can then copy files and directories across as and when you find you need them. |
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
"Broadback" wrote in message news
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Something like this maybe: https://www.amazon.co.uk/CiT-3-5-inc.../dp/B00647A4KY |
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote:
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Usually by installing the hard disk from your old pc into the new one and giving it a new reference. If it was C: in your old computer (with everything chucked into a single drive) then it will be D: in your new computer. Problems arise when the old disk used the parallel ATA interface and the new one only allows for serial ATA. Then there is the problem of creating partitions on the new computer. Years ago Partition Magic and its sister product for backups, made this a doddle, but there doesn't seem to be much out there now that can resize and create partitions on the fly. Does Win10 have this functionality built in these days ?. |
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 13:12, Andrew wrote:
On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote: I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Usually by installing the hard disk from your old pc into the new one and giving it a new reference. If it was C: in your old computer (with everything chucked into a single drive) then it will be D: in your new computer. Problems arise when the old disk used the parallel ATA interface and the new one only allows for serial ATA. Then there is the problem of creating partitions on the new computer. Years ago Partition Magic and its sister product for backups, made this a doddle, but there doesn't seem to be much out there now that can resize and create partitions on the fly. http://gparted.org/ FWIW I disagree with removing the original HD and using that as the source of the data to transfer. Assuming the desktop computer is working ok, I would copy the files to memory stick(s) or another external HD in a case via USB. If anything goes wrong when removing the original HD or connecting it up you're screwed. You've quite possibly lost the data. It would be a rare occurrence, but then who doesn't believe in Sod's Law? Also it instils the idea of creating backups on external media. How many times have we heard "You have got a backup, haven't you?"... -- Jeff |
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 13:27, Jeff Layman wrote:
If anything goes wrong when removing the original HD or connecting it up you're screwed. What could honestly go wrong? You drop it in a cup of coffee? The dog chews it? I suppose I should have listened to you on the 100+ times I have done this...oh hang on. That was even before the days of USB.... -- Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx |
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
on 20/11/2016, The Natural Philosopher supposed :
What could honestly go wrong? You drop it in a cup of coffee? The dog chews it? I suppose I should have listened to you on the 100+ times I have done this...oh hang on. That was even before the days of USB.... I agree. This is what I have always done, since the days of (massive full height) 10Mb HDD's. Never a single failure. |
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 15:45, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
on 20/11/2016, The Natural Philosopher supposed : What could honestly go wrong? You drop it in a cup of coffee? The dog chews it? I suppose I should have listened to you on the 100+ times I have done this...oh hang on. That was even before the days of USB.... I agree. This is what I have always done, since the days of (massive full height) 10Mb HDD's. Never a single failure. Once I even got a non functioning disk to start working long enough to get the data across. -- Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the people. But Marxism is the crack cocaine. |
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On Sunday, 20 November 2016 15:42:16 UTC, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 20/11/16 13:27, Jeff Layman wrote: If anything goes wrong when removing the original HD or connecting it up you're screwed. What could honestly go wrong? You drop it in a cup of coffee? The dog chews it? I suppose I should have listened to you on the 100+ times I have done this...oh hang on. That was even before the days of USB.... People love to invent reasons why one can't do things. NT |
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20 Nov 2016, Jeff Layman grunted:
On 20/11/16 13:12, Andrew wrote: On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote: I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Usually by installing the hard disk from your old pc into the new one and giving it a new reference. If it was C: in your old computer (with everything chucked into a single drive) then it will be D: in your new computer. Problems arise when the old disk used the parallel ATA interface and the new one only allows for serial ATA. Then there is the problem of creating partitions on the new computer. Years ago Partition Magic and its sister product for backups, made this a doddle, but there doesn't seem to be much out there now that can resize and create partitions on the fly. http://gparted.org/ FWIW I disagree with removing the original HD and using that as the source of the data to transfer. Assuming the desktop computer is working ok, I would copy the files to memory stick(s) or another external HD in a case via USB. If anything goes wrong when removing the original HD or connecting it up you're screwed. You've quite possibly lost the data. It would be a rare occurrence, but then who doesn't believe in Sod's Law? But the OP has already got his original HD backed up anyway (hasn't he); so no problem if Sod did do his stuff... -- David |
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 20:48, Lobster wrote:
On 20 Nov 2016, Jeff Layman grunted: On 20/11/16 13:12, Andrew wrote: On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote: I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Usually by installing the hard disk from your old pc into the new one and giving it a new reference. If it was C: in your old computer (with everything chucked into a single drive) then it will be D: in your new computer. Problems arise when the old disk used the parallel ATA interface and the new one only allows for serial ATA. Then there is the problem of creating partitions on the new computer. Years ago Partition Magic and its sister product for backups, made this a doddle, but there doesn't seem to be much out there now that can resize and create partitions on the fly. http://gparted.org/ FWIW I disagree with removing the original HD and using that as the source of the data to transfer. Assuming the desktop computer is working ok, I would copy the files to memory stick(s) or another external HD in a case via USB. If anything goes wrong when removing the original HD or connecting it up you're screwed. You've quite possibly lost the data. It would be a rare occurrence, but then who doesn't believe in Sod's Law? But the OP has already got his original HD backed up anyway (hasn't he); so no problem if Sod did do his stuff... Not from his OP - there was no mention of a backup, hence my cautionary approach concerning the HDD, and the (snipped) paragraph about creating backups. -- Jeff |
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 22/11/2016 08:17, Jeff Layman wrote:
Not from his OP - there was no mention of a backup, hence my cautionary approach concerning the HDD, and the (snipped) paragraph about creating backups. A new computer is an opportunity to test the backups in anger. An opportunity that shouldn't be missed. Take the latest backup and restore all the data onto the new machine and check it. Then start the backups on the new machine and check them before you do anything to the old machine. |
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote:
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Using your backup of the data. That way you know know you have the data on your new PC and on the backup media before you touch the old PC. And you also find out if you really do have an up-to-date backup that can be read -- Robin reply-to address is (intended to be) valid |
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
"Robin" wrote in message
... On 20/11/2016 12:54, Broadback wrote: I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Using your backup of the data. That way you know know you have the data on your new PC and on the backup media before you touch the old PC. And you also find out if you really do have an up-to-date backup that can be read If you want to play it safe, make a *new* backup (rather than a series of incremental backups over time) to be sure that all the files are good copies of what's on the old PC. It's one thing to make sure that the list of pathnames and the timestamps match but that doesn't check that the contents of the files match. I suppose to be really sure you'd back up the PC to the backup drive then do a WinDiff between the two. Then copy that backup to the new PC and WinDiff the backup with the new PC. If you're paranoid! This assumes that you use backup software that creates an copy of the files/folders (as if you'd done a normal copy), such as MS SyncToy, rather than using a package that merges all the files into one huge backup file that needs proprietary software on both PCs to write files to and to read files from the single backup file. I must admit I usually remove the hard disc and connect it to a USB-SATA interface and copy the data that way - but I can see that there is a very remote possibility of damaging the filesystem on the donor disc. It's a shame that hard discs don't have a write-protect switch so you can be sure that when you are reading from a HDD its contents won't be accidentally changed in any way. There is another way. Share the drive (or some folder and its subfolders) on the old PC with read-only permission, then copy from \\oldpc\sharename to c:\users\newuser\pathname - maybe using backup software such as SyncToy so you can break off and resume the copy process without having the hassle of answering all the "file already exists" questions if you resume the copying. Do this over Ethernet rather than wireless, as the latter will be much slower... |
#16
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
NY wrote
Robin wrote Broadback wrote I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Using your backup of the data. That way you know know you have the data on your new PC and on the backup media before you touch the old PC. And you also find out if you really do have an up-to-date backup that can be read If you want to play it safe, make a *new* backup (rather than a series of incremental backups over time) to be sure that all the files are good copies of what's on the old PC. But that assumes that he has got something that can contain a full backup of the computer being replaced. Plenty dont have that. It's one thing to make sure that the list of pathnames and the timestamps match but that doesn't check that the contents of the files match. I suppose to be really sure you'd back up the PC to the backup drive then do a WinDiff between the two. Any decent backup app will verify the backup after its done. Then copy that backup to the new PC That assumes its running the same version of the OS, rash assumption. And even if it is, you can't necessarily just restore the full backup to the new computer if the hardware detail is rather different, as its likely to be. and WinDiff the backup with the new PC. If you're paranoid! This assumes that you use backup software that creates an copy of the files/folders (as if you'd done a normal copy), such as MS SyncToy, rather than using a package that merges all the files into one huge backup file that needs proprietary software on both PCs to write files to and to read files from the single backup file. But those have their own verify systems. I must admit I usually remove the hard disc and connect it to a USB-SATA interface and copy the data that way - but I can see that there is a very remote possibility of damaging the filesystem on the donor disc. It's a shame that hard discs don't have a write-protect switch so you can be sure that when you are reading from a HDD its contents won't be accidentally changed in any way. There is another way. Share the drive (or some folder and its subfolders) on the old PC with read-only permission, then copy from \\oldpc\sharename to c:\users\newuser\pathname - maybe using backup software such as SyncToy so you can break off and resume the copy process without having the hassle of answering all the "file already exists" questions if you resume the copying. Do this over Ethernet rather than wireless, as the latter will be much slower... Makes more sense to use the files and settings transfer wizard if its a reasonably current version of Win. |
#17
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
In article ,
Broadback wrote: I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? If they are both PCs, Windows makes it pretty easy for them to be on a Home group or whatever. Make the files you wish to swop shared, and simply copy them. Obviously removing the HD and installing it in the new machine will give quicker transfer speeds - but not everyone will find this easy. Or you could get a portable storage device and copy them to that. Then copy to the new machine. You'll have an additional backup that way. -- *Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot at them? Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#18
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 12:54, Broadback wrote:
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Stick the old disk in the new computer, and copy. -- How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don't think. Adolf Hitler |
#19
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
On 20/11/16 12:54, Broadback wrote:
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Arrange two access paths to the Internet (ADSL, 4G). Install strong client security software (AV, AntiMalware). Reach out to the cloud (public, private), enforce 2FA/certificates for access, and keep your data on neither device. -- Adrian C |
#20
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
Broadback wrote
I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Depends on how things are organised on the computer you are replacing. If you are running a reasonably current version of Win, the files and settings migration wizard does a decent job of doing that. If you are running an ancient version of Win it gets more complicated, but still possible. I wont bother to spell out how unless you say thats the case. If you are running linux its also not that hard, but again not worth spelling out the detail unless you say that is your situation. |
#21
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
In article , messageboards@j-
towill.co.uk says... I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Spend some time & think about what you have on the old machine. You have data - files you have created - and a range of applications. Copying your data files across should be fairly easy - most of the methods mentioned here should work. The applications are more of a problem since they need to be installed on your new machine - not just copied across. Have a look at all the applications you currently have. (There might well be some you no longer want or need) Make a list of the wanted ones. If your new machine has a newer OS (e.g. Win 10) then some older applications might no longer work. Google Win 10 compatibility for any questionable ones. Check you have the installation discs - or if free downloads - make a note of the download addresses. This way you should end up with a 'clean'[1] install on a new machine which should be better in the long run than cloning your old HDD. [1] You might have to remove all the cr@p bloatware that PC manufacturers like to stick on their machines. |
#22
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Possibly OT computer replacement
In message , Broadback
writes I am considering replacing my desktop computer. what is the best way of transferring data from my old one to the new? Quietly ignoring the doom mongers, and assuming (1) you are using windows and (2) you mean data only, just set up your new PC as you like it, instal your favourite programs then copy data across using a USB stick. That way, assuming the stick is big enough, you will also copy the various folders, sub folders etc. Windows will update any ini files it doesn't like. Alternatively, copy across using a home network. -- Graeme |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Computer Accessories | Computer Stores | UK diy | |||
(OT) Computer monitor V/S HDTV with Computer input | Home Repair | |||
Could it POSSIBLY be something else? | Metalworking | |||
OT possibly? | UK diy | |||
O.T possibly | UK diy |