New computer - how to transfer old system across?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bazzer Smith
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Bazzer Smith

Hi all,
I am getting a new computer :O)
However I am not to sure how to transfer my old system onto
the new system.
My old system is W98 the new one will be windowsXP.

The first problem I would like to address is how to connect
to the internet with the new system (so I can ask for more help!!)
I am with NTL and on a cable modem and I assume it is more
of a case of just plugging the new computer into the modem!

I was thinking of installing my old harddrive as a slave on the
new system (or maybe as a master??) to get me started.
But it seems I could run into all sorts of problems alonog the way.
Can anyone give me any advice here?

I was thinking I could just put my old drive in the new system (as master)
to immediately benefit from the increased speed but I feel sure
I would run into loads of problems (All the drivers would be wrong??).

Anyway I would really appreciate some help here, I am sure a lot of
you have had to deal with a similar situation in the past so I would
be glad of any advice.

To be honest it sounds like a bit of a nightmare of a problem!!!!

TIA.


PS. Both systems probably will have came pre-installed with out
too much of the original installation disks etc...
Obviously I can transfer data across on CD's.
It seems like a mammoth to me at the mooment!!!
 
Bazzer Smith said:
Hi all,
I am getting a new computer :O)
However I am not to sure how to transfer my old system onto
the new system.
My old system is W98 the new one will be windowsXP.

The first problem I would like to address is how to connect
to the internet with the new system (so I can ask for more help!!)
I am with NTL and on a cable modem and I assume it is more
of a case of just plugging the new computer into the modem!
Click to expand...

<snip>

install the old drive as slave, then copy over any data you need.

you will need to reinstall any apps you need also
 
philo said:
<snip>

install the old drive as slave, then copy over any data you need.

you will need to reinstall any apps you need also
Click to expand...
What I most want to knowhow to do is get my internet access up and running.
I would have no probs if it was a dial up connection but it is a cable modem
and I am not sure how to proceed.
I needed help the first time cos the installation disk was a big dodgy
(could not
read all of it).

Basically I am unsure how the cable modem works regarding 'logging in'
because obviously you don't have to log in it is sort of done automaticaly
Would appreciate some help in this area. Thanks.
 
What I most want to knowhow to do is get my internet access up and running.
I would have no probs if it was a dial up connection but it is a cable modem
and I am not sure how to proceed.
I needed help the first time cos the installation disk was a big dodgy
(could not
read all of it).

Basically I am unsure how the cable modem works regarding 'logging in'
because obviously you don't have to log in it is sort of done automaticaly
Would appreciate some help in this area. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Do you have a router? It is advisable, for security as well
as multi-pc internet access capability.

With one, set up and working already, a fresh clean windows
install will already work, have access through the router
with zero config except some trivial thing lke answering the
popup wizard that asks if you have an existing network to
use.

If a usb modem connection instead, plug in modem and if it
doesn't work, install modem driver, isp soft from their cd.

Get the router though if you haven't already, one with wifi
capability can be had cheap and be quite better than none at
all.
 
Bazzer Smith said:
Hi all,
I am getting a new computer :O)
However I am not to sure how to transfer my old system onto
the new system.
My old system is W98 the new one will be windowsXP.

The first problem I would like to address is how to connect
to the internet with the new system (so I can ask for more help!!)
I am with NTL and on a cable modem and I assume it is more
of a case of just plugging the new computer into the modem!

I was thinking of installing my old harddrive as a slave on the
new system (or maybe as a master??) to get me started.
But it seems I could run into all sorts of problems alonog the way.
Can anyone give me any advice here?

I was thinking I could just put my old drive in the new system (as master)
to immediately benefit from the increased speed but I feel sure
I would run into loads of problems (All the drivers would be wrong??).

Anyway I would really appreciate some help here, I am sure a lot of
you have had to deal with a similar situation in the past so I would
be glad of any advice.

To be honest it sounds like a bit of a nightmare of a problem!!!!

TIA.


PS. Both systems probably will have came pre-installed with out
too much of the original installation disks etc...
Obviously I can transfer data across on CD's.
It seems like a mammoth to me at the mooment!!!
Click to expand...

If the NTL cable modem is like the one I had you just plug in into the
ethernet port and it is pretty much pre set up.
 
kony said:
Do you have a router? It is advisable, for security as well
as multi-pc internet access capability.

With one, set up and working already, a fresh clean windows
install will already work, have access through the router
with zero config except some trivial thing lke answering the
popup wizard that asks if you have an existing network to
use.

If a usb modem connection instead, plug in modem and if it
doesn't work, install modem driver, isp soft from their cd.

Get the router though if you haven't already, one with wifi
capability can be had cheap and be quite better than none at
all.
Click to expand...

Only have the modem NTL gave me.
 
Boscoe Pertwee said:
http://www.home.ntl.com/page/faultsbroadband#cablemodem
Click to expand...


It's OK I am up and running on my new computer :O)


Turned out to be easier than I though it would, just a case of
sticking the original disk in really (not even sure if I needed to do
that!!).

Seemed to be a lot easier than when I originally set it up
(but my old compputer had problems reading all of the
original disk). Also I plugged the modem into my new
computer after it had booted up, I don't think my old
computer would have liked that (IIRC eiether plugging
or unplugging it whilst running cause a lock up).


Anyways I am up and running on my new computer
which is great!!
I have made as quantum leap from a Cyrix MII 300
to a 939 pin Sempron (gonna need a software
prog to find out more about it, but I can't remember the
name!!). I have probably also made and even bigger leap
in the ammount of resources the operating system uses too!!
 
Bazzer Smith said:
Hi all,
I am getting a new computer :O)
However I am not to sure how to transfer my old system onto
the new system.
My old system is W98 the new one will be windowsXP.

The first problem I would like to address is how to connect
to the internet with the new system (so I can ask for more help!!)
I am with NTL and on a cable modem and I assume it is more
of a case of just plugging the new computer into the modem!

I was thinking of installing my old harddrive as a slave on the
new system (or maybe as a master??) to get me started.
But it seems I could run into all sorts of problems alonog the way.
Can anyone give me any advice here?

I was thinking I could just put my old drive in the new system (as master)
to immediately benefit from the increased speed but I feel sure
I would run into loads of problems (All the drivers would be wrong??).

Anyway I would really appreciate some help here, I am sure a lot of
you have had to deal with a similar situation in the past so I would
be glad of any advice.

To be honest it sounds like a bit of a nightmare of a problem!!!!

TIA.


PS. Both systems probably will have came pre-installed with out
too much of the original installation disks etc...
Obviously I can transfer data across on CD's.
It seems like a mammoth to me at the mooment!!!
Click to expand...


Thanks to everyone who replied, it was less trouble than
I thought and I am now up and running!!
I have got the connection running with internet access,
mail news etc but most of the stuff is on my old computer
still, I will probably just download from the net the stuff
I need and make a 'fresh start', I will transfer the data
on CD I think cos I don't want to start poking around in
my new computer just yet!!!

Just found the DVD drive wont seem to read CD's
I make, so I will maybe but CD drive into new machiine
or use one of my old hard drives to transfer the stuff.
 
The CORRECT and headache avoiding way to do it is to take the time to forget
your Win 98 installation and do a fresh install of XP and your software
programs, and then transfer your old data over from backup CD's.
Yes it looks like a lot of time spent, but I assure you that the amount of
time you would spend trouble shooting your system if you started by using
your old Win 98 would be horrendous.
 
I have done that effectively, I am using the new machine with it's
fresh installl of XP and have configured my internet, mail and
news accounts on it (so far).
However I do have a bit of a problem with CDs as the new machine
won't read any new CD's I make (will read some older ones though),
seems to depend on the brand. So I am thinking of putting the old
CD player/recorder in the new machine to see if that reads them.
Another idea is to put my old drive in the new machine as a slave
to get the drive data accross, I could also read the CD data onto my
old drive and copy it across with it as a slave but that involves a lot of
drive swopping.
I just want to avoid buggering up my new machine within the first 24 hours!!
I am a bit unfamiliar with XP (never used it before) so I am not too
confident yet,
but hopefully I will sort it all out eventually!!!
 
Anyways I am up and running on my new computer
which is great!!
I have made as quantum leap from a Cyrix MII 300
to a 939 pin Sempron (gonna need a software
prog to find out more about it, but I can't remember the
name!!). I have probably also made and even bigger leap
in the ammount of resources the operating system uses too!!
Click to expand...

Belarc advisor
Freeware, 605kb, Windows XP
www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Belarc Advisor scans your PC and displays, in an easy to understand
web-page format, the minutest details about your PC and all of the programs
stored on it, including most licence and registration codes. Use it to take
a 'snapshot' of your system while it is running smoothly?

HTH
 
The CORRECT and headache avoiding way to do it is to take the time to forget
your Win 98 installation and do a fresh install of XP and your software
programs, and then transfer your old data over from backup CD's.
Yes it looks like a lot of time spent, but I assure you that the amount of
time you would spend trouble shooting your system if you started by using
your old Win 98 would be horrendous.
Click to expand...


Actually, NO.

Leave BOTH systems alone, there is no new OS installation
needed for this, except what was already planned for running
the system day-to-day already.

The best way to do it is with a router. That is, the
typical dirt cheap routers available anywhere that have
integral switch. Modem connected to router, both systems
networked through the router to the modem and each other,
and the files from the old system shared to the new. It is
much easier, much faster, and is the "correct way".

You have no clue about troubleshooting Win98. Win98 works
fine within it's limits. IF the use of the system doesnt'
exceed those limits, there is the same important criteria as
with XP, to have stable drivers and stable software. It's
funny how when XP came along everyone started thinking it
was so much more stable but the truth is, the drivers and
software became more stable for both OS. If you have a bad
driver or software for XP, XP can't magically cure your
problem, you still have to get a better driver.
Unfortunately too many people just thought "oh that's
Win9x", it isn't stable. Wrong! Win9x can't handle faults
well, but choosing XP to handle faults instead of removing
the source of the faults is incredibly misguided.

Not that there's anything wrong with XP, as a whole it is a
lot better OS, though not needed for all the urban myth
reasons so many people cite rather than the real differences
inherant to each by design.
 
kony said:
Actually, NO.

Leave BOTH systems alone, there is no new OS installation
needed for this, except what was already planned for running
the system day-to-day already.

The best way to do it is with a router. That is, the
typical dirt cheap routers available anywhere that have
integral switch. Modem connected to router, both systems
networked through the router to the modem and each other,
and the files from the old system shared to the new. It is
much easier, much faster, and is the "correct way".
Click to expand...


That sounds like the best way butI am unfamiliar with routers.
Acually I am a bit surprised you cannot do something like
just connect up two computers via a USB cable and send the
data through that. It might require some software to comtrol the
link but itis the kind of thing which sounds feasible to me.

How much does a 'dirt cheap' router cost, what kind of figure
did u have in mind? had a look on ebay and there was huge range
on ebay. It looks like I am looking at about £20?

It would be a handy thing to have as I have 2 computers now :O)
but only one monitor so far!!
I am using my CDRW drive to transfer data already on CD but I am
having some probs, the CDRW seems to work much better in the old machine.
In the new machine it only reads about 40% of the disks it reads when in
the old machine for some reason. I found the DVDRW drive in the new
machine will read some too. I can't get both to work at once (unsure of
jumper settings) so I just use one as a master. I could try installing
the software which came with the CD Drive but I fear I might screw up the
DVD drive.
 
That sounds like the best way butI am unfamiliar with routers.
Click to expand...

A router becomes the host "computer" which the typical ISP
assigns a IP # to, so the router is the "computer" on the
internet. Systems then make the internet requests and have
been told the router is their gateway, that they send the
requests to it, then the router does network address
translation, to make the requests to and from internet look
like they come from this router "computer".

For the most part the modern operating systems are set up to
use one already, the router comes out of it's retail box set
to use DHCP, which means when the computers are connected,
networked with cabling, they receive the information they
need to use the router for internet access. With a new
windows installation for example, at most the computer needs
to be told to use the existing network for access instead of
"creating a new account" (or however it's worded, I seldom
read all those windows dialogs anymore).

The router will need a minor bit of configuration too, but
this is pretty basic and described in the owner's manual as
well as several 'sites on the internet easily found with a
Google search. They all set up pretty much the same except
for special features which will also be described in the
manual.

Acually I am a bit surprised you cannot do something like
just connect up two computers via a USB cable and send the
data through that.
Click to expand...


Why be surprised? That is, why would you assume you could?
USB is a host-client protocol, not a peer-peer protocol, it
was never meant to be able to do something like this as it's
only target was a cheap easy way to connect peripherals.

You can get what are essentially network adapters or bridges
build with a USB cable on both ends, but it's just
coincidence then that it's using USB to get the job done...
and there is no need or good use for them if you already
have the network adapters as that is exactly, precisely what
the network adapter is designed to do, it's a misson
specific designed piece of hardware to do this very thing.
It might require some software to comtrol the
link but itis the kind of thing which sounds feasible to me.
Click to expand...

Why kludge something inferior together instead of doing it
the best way? Even if you didn't have network adapters,
they'd about $5 each if not free.

How much does a 'dirt cheap' router cost, what kind of figure
did u have in mind? had a look on ebay and there was huge range
on ebay. It looks like I am looking at about £20?
Click to expand...

In the US they've been free-after-rebate. You can spend up
to $100 USD, even more for corporate and/or managed gear but
for basic uses that's overkill, a typical price would be
about $30 USD w/o rebate or $15 with rebates.

It would be a handy thing to have as I have 2 computers now :O)
but only one monitor so far!!
I am using my CDRW drive to transfer data already on CD but I am
having some probs, the CDRW seems to work much better in the old machine.
In the new machine it only reads about 40% of the disks it reads when in
the old machine for some reason. I found the DVDRW drive in the new
machine will read some too. I can't get both to work at once (unsure of
jumper settings) so I just use one as a master. I could try installing
the software which came with the CD Drive but I fear I might screw up the
DVD drive.
Click to expand...

Once you have them networked and using a router, you will
never want to do it any other way. It's just that much
better you will hate yourself for not having done it
already.

For transferring a lot of files, avoid wireless and just use
wired CAT5 or CAT6 cables. Wireless is fine for internet
access but even with the theoretical max bandwidth looks
similar to wired ethernet, it's still significantly slower
in actual use. However it is just as well to get a router
that has the wireless features as that may not increase the
cost of the router much if any, and then you have that
feature should you ever need it, but if you don't need it
now the feature is easily disabled.
 
kony said:
A router becomes the host "computer" which the typical ISP
assigns a IP # to, so the router is the "computer" on the
internet. Systems then make the internet requests and have
been told the router is their gateway, that they send the
requests to it, then the router does network address
translation, to make the requests to and from internet look
like they come from this router "computer".

For the most part the modern operating systems are set up to
use one already, the router comes out of it's retail box set
to use DHCP, which means when the computers are connected,
networked with cabling, they receive the information they
need to use the router for internet access. With a new
windows installation for example, at most the computer needs
to be told to use the existing network for access instead of
"creating a new account" (or however it's worded, I seldom
read all those windows dialogs anymore).

The router will need a minor bit of configuration too, but
this is pretty basic and described in the owner's manual as
well as several 'sites on the internet easily found with a
Google search. They all set up pretty much the same except
for special features which will also be described in the
manual.




Why be surprised? That is, why would you assume you could?
USB is a host-client protocol, not a peer-peer protocol, it
was never meant to be able to do something like this as it's
only target was a cheap easy way to connect peripherals.
Click to expand...

Well maybe so however essentially it is a data communications
channel. As far as I can see all it would take is a software utility
which would make one computer (the one you intend to send
the data to) appear as a peripheral to the other computer.
For example it might make it appear as a printer so you would
'print' the files you intended to transfer across.

You can get what are essentially network adapters or bridges
build with a USB cable on both ends, but it's just
coincidence then that it's using USB to get the job done...
and there is no need or good use for them if you already
have the network adapters as that is exactly, precisely what
the network adapter is designed to do, it's a misson
specific designed piece of hardware to do this very thing.


Why kludge something inferior together instead of doing it
the best way? Even if you didn't have network adapters,
they'd about $5 each if not free.
Click to expand...

Network adapter is a pretty vague term. It's not inferior if
it does the same job. And if I could just download some
software, connect the two computers via USB and transfer
my file accross then thats all I need to do and I would
be very happy with that. Such software would probably
be freeware so it would be real easy. Would mean
I don't have to go on a big learning currve learning about
networking, network adapters etc...then going out and
buy a nework adapter or buying one online and awaiting
for it to arrive.

Anyway it sounds like it can and has been done
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread19721.html
but I will need to look into it futher.

Just had a look I and this might be the sort of thing
http://filevan.com/usb.html
but its not free :O|
I will have to scour some 'free'ware sites


In the US they've been free-after-rebate. You can spend up
to $100 USD, even more for corporate and/or managed gear but
for basic uses that's overkill, a typical price would be
about $30 USD w/o rebate or $15 with rebates.
Click to expand...

I am unfamiliar with the term "free-after-rebate" although
I have heard it quite a bit from people I presume are in the
USA (I'm in the UK)
Sounds like you get it free when you pay (over the odds)
for something else?
Once you have them networked and using a router, you will
never want to do it any other way. It's just that much
better you will hate yourself for not having done it
already.

For transferring a lot of files, avoid wireless and just use
wired CAT5 or CAT6 cables. Wireless is fine for internet
access but even with the theoretical max bandwidth looks
similar to wired ethernet, it's still significantly slower
in actual use. However it is just as well to get a router
that has the wireless features as that may not increase the
cost of the router much if any, and then you have that
feature should you ever need it, but if you don't need it
now the feature is easily disabled.
Click to expand...


Well I will probably eventualy do it that way and I will
look at doing that later. I am a bit concerned about security
though with having the computer on a network (Although
I am sure it is 'easy' to set it up securely).
I would just like to get a load of CD's transfered onto DVD
so I can throw the CDs away cos they take up a lot of
space and generally hard to manage. (Can never find what I want!!).

At the moment I am planning transfering data from CD onto
a 2 gig drive then transfering that drive into the new computer
and burning the DVD's from there. The new computer won't
read a lot of the CD's, even with the old computers CD drive
(which will read them) installed in it for some reason.

I now have both the old comps hard drives copied onto the
new computer but I had problems doing that cos Norton
Antivirus kept aborting every time it found a 'virus' so I had to
switch it off (twice). It kept deleting the 'viruses' too so I was
worried the old computer might need those 'viruses' to work :O)
Anyway I have reassembled my old computer and it still works
(using it now) but I was only using its slave drive and it never
deleted anyting off the master cos I had figured how to turn off
Nortin anti-virus (completely as in twice) by then :O)
 
Well maybe so however essentially it is a data communications
channel. As far as I can see all it would take is a software utility
which would make one computer (the one you intend to send
the data to) appear as a peripheral to the other computer.
Click to expand...

You are oversimplifing things and a USB cable should not be
connected between two systems, it can damage one or both of
them. There needs be the bridge(s) inbetween the two
systems in the cable if not a separate box the two cables
plug into.

For example it might make it appear as a printer so you would
'print' the files you intended to transfer across.
Click to expand...

It would be rather silly to hack something like that
together so in the end you had the inferior USB to use.
There are USB network adapters if you are really wanting to
use USB when inappropripate.


Network adapter is a pretty vague term. It's not inferior if
it does the same job.
Click to expand...

Yes it is, because of the details.
You can haul 10 tons of bricks back and forth on a moped or
a truck and "do the same job" but would you use the moped?
And if I could just download some
software, connect the two computers via USB and transfer
my file accross then thats all I need to do and I would
be very happy with that. Such software would probably
be freeware so it would be real easy. Would mean
I don't have to go on a big learning currve learning about
networking, network adapters etc...then going out and
buy a nework adapter or buying one online and awaiting
for it to arrive.
Click to expand...


I guess you just don't get it. You would be wise to just
learn from those who have been down this road before. The
entire world does know what they're doing and does choose to
use something other than USB whenever possible.

Didn't you have the cable modem hooked up to a network
adapter? Surely the new system has one, so at worst you
need a single network adapter for the old system.

"Big learning curve"? You must be joking. The learning
curve would be trying to hack out something instead of doing
it the easy way. You still have all the issues of
networking the two systems because even with the cable,
that's what you are essentially doing.

You are just trying to be difficult, and it's a waste of
time. You asked and were given the correct answer but do
whatever you want, we don't have to live with the results.

Anyway it sounds like it can and has been done
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread19721.html
but I will need to look into it futher.
Click to expand...

There are always some nuts out there that make things hard
on themselves. Pretty ludicrous when network adapters are
as common and cheap as dirt.

I suppose I'm just perplexed that you want to go to extra
effort towards an inferior result. Makes no sense,
networking is not new and this is very easy. In my opinion,
you are the last person who should decide what to use if you
feel networking is a learning curve still. I don't mean to
be insulting with that, but rather looking at getting the
job done in a straightforward, proven effective manner that
is proven to work the best. We don't just use network
adapters for the heck of it, they really are engineered to
do this exact specific thing, it is the reason they exist.
Well I will probably eventualy do it that way and I will
look at doing that later. I am a bit concerned about security
though with having the computer on a network (Although
I am sure it is 'easy' to set it up securely).
Click to expand...

I disagree, you can't be very concerned about security if
you're not using a router. It is the first step towards
security, some would even argue it's reckless to have a
windows system on the internet at all if not behind a router
or even more layers of network.

I would just like to get a load of CD's transfered onto DVD
so I can throw the CDs away cos they take up a lot of
space and generally hard to manage. (Can never find what I want!!).

At the moment I am planning transfering data from CD onto
a 2 gig drive then transfering that drive into the new computer
and burning the DVD's from there. The new computer won't
read a lot of the CD's, even with the old computers CD drive
(which will read them) installed in it for some reason.

I now have both the old comps hard drives copied onto the
new computer but I had problems doing that cos Norton
Antivirus kept aborting every time it found a 'virus' so I had to
switch it off (twice). It kept deleting the 'viruses' too so I was
worried the old computer might need those 'viruses' to work :O)
Anyway I have reassembled my old computer and it still works
(using it now) but I was only using its slave drive and it never
deleted anyting off the master cos I had figured how to turn off
Nortin anti-virus (completely as in twice) by then :O)
Click to expand...


Networking would be a good thing for you to learn. The
world is evolving, everthing will "want" to be networked
together evermore every year. Might as well learn it when
you have a need or benefit- which is now. It's really not
hard to set up a basic 2 system network using a modem for
internet access, there are even online tutorials that give
specific directions for particular routers or ISPs'
configurations.
 
As I explained I just wanted to copy some file accross without
buying any hardware. I don't want a network at the moment,
or Rolls Royce either, although it would be nice to have one.
 
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