Transferring Files from Windows 7 PC to Windows 7 PC

[Snaeper]

Hey guys, I just finished my new build and I was hoping to save some time and effort by transferring files from my old PC to my new one, specifically in the Steam department.

I was wondering if anyone has ever done this and what method you recommend. Sadly, my portable hard drive which could've greatly helped me through this was fried quite awhile ago after my mother borrowed it one too many times.

I've heard of Windows Easy File transfer (or whatever it's called), but every reference seems to be suggesting that it's for those upgrading from an old windows to a new version. I'm wondering if, since I'm using two computers with identical operating systems, I can't just connect them?

Would it also be possible to use the local connection through my router to move the files?

Or as another alternative, could I remove the hard drive from my old PC and temporarily plug it into my new one and then remove things? My new PC has windows on an SSD, so if I connected my HDD to the OS in my old systems HDD, would that allow it?

I'd like to hear your opinions and advice on this matter, and would greatly appreciate the assistance.

 

[Grayfox]

The best thing to do is do the following.

Start>Computer
Double click on C:\
Double click on the Users folder.

There should be a folder with your profile name inside, copy it to a portable HDD as it will be large since it contains everything.
And by everything I mean, Music, Videos, Pictures, Documents, Settings, Temp files, browser cache, browser cookies and so forth.

On your new PC go to the Users folder and drop in the folder(if they have the same name), if the new profile has a new folder name, just change the name of the old profile folder.

This is what is pretty much inside your "profile folder"

 

[Snaeper]

The best thing to do is do the following.

Start>Computer
Double click on C:\
Double click on the Users folder.

There should be a folder with your profile name inside, copy it to a portable HDD as it will be large since it contains everything.
And by everything I mean, Music, Videos, Pictures, Documents, Settings, Temp files, browser cache, browser cookies and so forth.

On your new PC go to the Users folder and drop in the folder(if they have the same name), if the new profile has a new folder name, just change the name of the old profile folder.

This is what is pretty much inside your "profile folder"
View attachment 304553

That's great and all if not for this:

...Sadly, my portable hard drive which could've greatly helped me through this was fried quite awhile ago after my mother borrowed it one too many times.

If getting an external hard drive is my only option, though, then I understand.

 

[BobK]

Should be fairly straightforward if both machines are on the same network. Just set up sharing as appropriate.

 

[Grayfox]

That's great and all if not for this:

If getting an external hard drive is my only option, though, then I understand.

Get another portable HDD or large USB drive.

The users folder can get very large and USB drives that can store alot are expensive

 

[Rickster]

I could do it for you over team viewer via DC++, very simple.


PM me if you interested.

 

[Snaeper]

All is well, my uncle is willing to lend me his hard drive.

Thanks guys.

 

[Snaeper]

All is, apparently, not well. My uncle, bless his well-intention'd heart, severely underestimated how much space I needed and handed me a 60GB external hard drive... of which 57GB's were filled.


Back to square one.

 

[Grayfox]

60GB Drive?

Is it an IDE?

Would be faster to go to the store and get a basic 500GB portable HDD for $80 or so.

 

[Snaeper]

At this point I'm considering it.

I would like to know if there are other ways to move things, though, out of pure curiousity. I wish Homegroup allowed me to do it

 

[Exorcet]

Did you try BobK's suggestion?

Should be fairly straightforward if both machines are on the same network. Just set up sharing as appropriate.

With two Win 7 PC's it should be fairly simple.

You can also buy a USB transfer cable, I have one called Wormhole Switch

http://www.j5create.com/our-products/wormhole-switches.html

It links two computers together and lets you mouse between the monitors of each.

 

[Snaeper]

I actually did some looking and ended up pulling the old PC apart to get the Hard Drive out. While I was in there I pulled an even OLDER PC out to confirm whether or not the Hard Drive went and put it in my less-older PC. Anyways, I found out that HP hooked me up with a Western Digital Green, so I've plugged that into my new PC and am transferring files off of it and onto my WD Blue via Sata. Once I have everything removed I'll try reformatting the WD Green and using it as my backup drive as well as spare storage.

Thanks for all the help, though guys!

All in all, it took less than an hour to move my (admittedly small) Steam folder over to the new drive! Great success.

 

[BobK]

Hey, whatever works! Glad you got it sorted.

@Exorcet's idea of a USB transfer cable would also have been a good suggestion.

 

[Egspriinn]

Get another portable HDD or large USB drive.

The users folder can get very large and USB drives that can store alot are expensive

You can U disk to do it.If your data not large on pc,you can transfer window's data to U disk,then transfer data from U disk to another window.

 

[DQuaN]

Microsoft has an 'Easy Transfer' utility built in to windows. It's painfully slow but it does the job. You just need both machines on the same network, ideally with network cables, wifi will take days!

 

[crooky369]

Microsoft has an 'Easy Transfer' utility built in to windows. It's painfully slow but it does the job. You just need both machines on the same network, ideally with network cables, wifi will take days!

Or a similar method could be to have two PCs connected via ethernet cable then share the folders you want to copy over.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=aa4cbcc6-74e5-40f2-9f8a-b080bbf03f64

I'm guessing that it would be pretty quick that way.