Ok so I have my shiny new windows 7 pc and its all connected and running Now I need to transfer the data from my old xp pc. Can I just use an ordinary usb to usb cable or do I need to buy a special transfer cable? Both old and new pc's are also connected to the network router, could I use this to transfer the data or is the usb connection best. Thanks

 

What about a memory stick??!!!

 

If you are decommisioning the old pc, can you not just pull the old drive and install it into the new pc (assuming sata to sata) otherwise a cheap ide to usb convertor kit would be handy.

 

personally i would just get a 500gb external hard drive and back it up onto there... then once your done transferring things you also have the drive to back up your new and current work on the new pc.

the hard drive in the old pc will also be outdated and i wouldn't want to sacrifice a new drive for an old... also there could be problems finding compatible driver software to run on windows 7 with an old drive

External HD would be my choice, always good to regularly backup anyway

 

Just share the root of the C drives if you have set up a home network.

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...dows-7-and-xp/

 

Well I already have a network connected 1GB external hard drive connected so I am now making sure everything is backed up to this ready to re-install on the new PC. Yes I will be decommisioning the old PC but not until I am sure that I have everything on the new PC.

 

Wot he said

 

Thanks for that web link it was most helpfulI was able to network the two computers and transfer the data that way. I have also been able to network the printer at the same time.
I can now slowly run down the old XP machine safe in the knowledge that it is still there for the time being.

 

If you were transferring a large amount of data, the obvious solution would be to use a network crossover cable and bridge the two computers, you can get them for a couple of quid.

 

I'd have gone for one of 2 solutions... in this order

1) external hard drive caddy - stick your old hard drive in a ide caddy that plugs into your usb and simply copy them across. If it's a decent size the old drive, it's worth paying a tenner for a caddy and having it as a mobile storage solution anyway

2) network (cos network shenanigans can me many and plenty)

 

Might be a bit late now but if you have them networked, or even USB storage, use Windows Easy Transfer (built into Windows 7)....

It will take a copy of all your docs, e-mails settings etc etc from your XP PC then pulls it into W7. Simple's

 

Yes that's what I did in the end After I had networked the two PC's I found the Windows 7 easy transfer and it pulled everything across very quickly. From what I've seen so far Windows 7 is far superior to XP or Vista.