HELP! How to connect a Win98 computer to Windows XP system

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Smith
  • Start date Start date
J

John Smith

Hi there!

First off, I'm pretty computer illiterate so apologies if I'm posting to the
wrong newsgroup and/or not phrasing my questions very precisely...

I've just bought a new computer that runs Windows XP but it doesn't have a
floppy disk drive. I have files on my old Windows 98 computer (mainly Word
documents) that I'd like to transfer to my new system but I'm unsure how to
do this. Is there any way to directly connect the two machines (maybe with
USB cables?) so that I can access my old documents on my new machine? Or
would I need to buy a new version of Microsoft Word to do this?

Like I said, I'm pretty new to this so I'm probably asking a stupid question
but any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance!

john
 
Hi John,

Depending on the size of the files and the connection type, you may be
able to zip them and email them to the new machine.
 
Hi John:

If both machines have a USB port then you can buy a Flashdrive (512MB should
be sufficient) and copy the files from the Win98 computer to the WinXP
computer. The Flashdrive will be recognized as just another drive letter
and usually is noted as a USB mass storage device. If you have a large
number of Word documents you may have to do it several times to transfer all
the files. Note: Most Flashdrives need a special driver to connect to a
Win98 machine and you will find that in the instructions when you buy the
Flashdrive.
 
PA said:
Crossposting to five (5) newsgroups, how could you go wrong?
Click to expand...

If you're overly sensitive about cross-posting _to relevant groups_ like he
did, why would YOU do it too?
 
John said:
I've just bought a new computer that runs Windows XP but it doesn't
have a floppy disk drive. I have files on my old Windows 98 computer
(mainly Word documents) that I'd like to transfer to my new system
but I'm unsure how to do this. Is there any way to directly connect
the two machines (maybe with USB cables?) so that I can access my old
documents on my new machine?
Click to expand...


There are several choices. Here are a few ways:

1. E-mail the data from the old machine and read it on the new one.

2. Network the two machines and transfer the data over the network.

3. Remove the drive from the old computer and install it temporarily (or
even pemanently) in the new computer.

4. Use floppies (buy a floppy drive for your new machine--they are only
$10-15 or so) and span the larger files over several diskettes using a file
splitting program (or any standard zip utility, which can also do this).

5. Copy the files to CDs

6. Copy the files to a USB thumb drive.

Which of these is best for you depends on several things: how much data you
have to transfer, whether you plan to keep the old computer, whether you are
willing to spend a few dollars for a thumb drive if you don't have one, etc.

Or would I need to buy a new version of
Microsoft Word to do this?
Click to expand...


No, not at all.
 
Thanks a lot, everyone - and sorry about crossposting but I did say I was a
dimwit! The simplest, most elegant solution worked in the end: I emailed
them to myself! (Now why didn't I think of that sooner?)

Anyway, thanks again...
john
 
John Smith said:
Thanks a lot, everyone - and sorry about crossposting but I did say I was
a dimwit! The simplest, most elegant solution worked in the end: I
emailed them to myself! (Now why didn't I think of that sooner?)

Anyway, thanks again...
john
Click to expand...

That's why the MVP's make the big bucks.

mi
 
John said:
Thanks a lot, everyone - and sorry about crossposting but I did say I
was a dimwit!
Click to expand...

Cross-posting to relevant groups is preferred to multi-posting! What you did
is best, so ignore the detractors and continue...
 
How do you make that out, they don't get paid for helping out in here it
is all done voluntary because they like helping people and they have the
knowledge to help.
Joan
 
Hmm, I guess I should have left a smiley face for those that are humorlessly
(is that a word?) challenged.

mi
 
Cheers! Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Dozzer said:
Cross-posting to relevant groups is preferred to multi-posting! What you
did is best, so ignore the detractors and continue...
Click to expand...
 
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