How Transfer Files From Old To New Computer

Have an OLD computer running on Windows ME. Just bought a NEW computer pre-loaded with Windows XP Home Ed. Sp1.

Suprised to see that Widows XP does not have direct cable connection --DCC- for transferring files and folders. It does have a Transfer Settings, Folders and Files--=which I understand requires a Serial Cable aa connected between the two computers.

The old and new computers both have cd burn and read drives. I have a lot of blank cd+r discs. I wish ONLY to transfer my several data folders with the files therein.

QUESTION: Would I be better off and well advised to just transfer all of my old computer data files and folders to CD's, and then read the CD's into the new computer?

This sounds more reliable than using the XP Transfer procedure since I do not wish to transfer settings nor do I wish to cobble up my new registry. Besides, I do not have a serial cable a-a. What is your advice?

BTW, if one does use the XP transfer procedure, Will that for certain leave all my files intact on the Old computer? -----Thank you for help!!

 

Lee,
I've never bothered with the files and transfer thingy in XP.
The use of a CD-R (or CD-RW drag and drop packet writing via InCD, or DirectCD/Drag and Drop) is simple, safe and you have a standalone backup.

I use a couple of CD-RW's which have the same files (redundancy). I backup programmes, updates, drivers, Favorites and data files etc using packet writing, to drag, drop and delete on the discs. I also store these same files on another drive, as well as an occasional CD-R image of one of the CD-RW's.

I'm not paranoid!

I also have some screen dumps of some setup parameters in programmes.
This is all very usefull for when the unexpected happens and you have to do a reformat, or the system is tired and a reformat is the best option. Or as in your case.

Others will have had experience with the transfer thingy if you still want to use it.

 

An alternative.

Lee Mitchell,

It all depends on the quantity of material you want to transfer.

If you're not adverse to working inside a computer, it's a simple matter to just take the disk out of the old box and temporarily attach it to the new. Properly set up, you can copy a tremendous number of folders and files very rapidly. If you're adverse to working with hardware, possibly you have an aquaintance or a local help group that can assist you.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with the other suggestions, but I've done it this way very successfully.