whats the easiest(and cheapest!!) way of linking 2 computers to transfer files over? got a new pc coming and just need to tranfer some stuff across

cheers
phil

 

if they both a lan card then the easiest thing to do is buy a cable and setup a pier to pier network.

iF no lan card, then a memory stick from maplins is ur best bet if they both have usb ports

 

probably the best way withougt havingto buy anything or install anythig would be to (with the poweer switch off to both of them) plug the old pc's hard disk in the new one where the cd (dvd) drive is plugged in - dont remove the cd drive just the cables. when windows boost up afterwards it will see both hard disks and you can then just drag and drop them from the (propbably drive D) to you rnew C drive in windows explorer.

 

cheers. dont fancy stripping them down, would only blow something up! how can i check if i have a lan card fitted? cable link sounds the least dangerous for me!!

 

look at the back. should look like a telephone socket.


As the other bloke said changing hdd is easiest way but as its a new pc you would probably void the warrenty thus why i didnt suggest it.

 

burn it to CD? if you have a CD burner!

 

its not a "new" pc but its still under warrant, well both are actually. would they know though? just looked on the back, i have 3 telephone sockets. one marked phone, one marked line and a 3rd with 3 pc's linked together, i take it its the latter one i need?

 

yep - but as i found the other week - u cant just link 2 pcs together like this unless you have a special crossover lead for tehm - alterateivly if they are plugged into a network using a router - then you can

 

files are to big for cd.
will just link the 2 up via the cd drive.
cheers again
phil

 

yep thats the lan connector....

you just get a cable (crossover cable, not normal one... they cost the same tho) and plug the 2PCs into each other with that socket.

if all works well and theyre on decent operating systems the other PC should appear in network neighbourhood (or my network places as its now called)

worse case scenario you'll have to press a few buttons to get them talking to each other

 

would pc world have the connector cable mate. both on xp sp2.

 

should do, but theyll probably charge you a tenner for it

fookin ripoff merchants in that place

 

dont mind a tenner, saves me hunting around. so its a cross over cable i need then. saves me blowing the fookers up

 

yep... all it is is a normal cable, but 2 of the wires are swapped round internally... identical cost to make... but some places charge more money for them