Second hand computer

[lankeela]

I am being given a new (but second hand) computer. Whats the best way of getting all of my stuff from this one on to the new one? In simple terms please.

[Cmitchell]

For small/smallish amounts of data then I suggest you use a USB memory stick (some people call them pen drives). You can buy them from PC world (the ones that can store more will cost more). You can't do this if you haven't got a usb "socket" on your old machine though.

Next option is to burn all your data to CD and then transfere it to new PC. Have you got the software to do this? Ours is called Nero (but there are others).

You could guy an external disk drive but again this would probably need a USB "socket".

If all of the above are not possible then I would try emailing it all to yourself. I've done this myself and never had a problem, but obviously it depends on how much data you have and how much time you've got!

Hope all of this makes sense and some of it helps

Good luck : ) Mitchell

[lankeela]

Thanks for that. Are there different types of memory stick, and roughly how much would it cost?

[Cmitchell]

Go
www.pcworld.co.uk

Data storage
Portable Data Storage

You'll see lots on there. The more expensive generally means the more data they'll hold. I guess you've not used one before. Remember you could copy across say, 2 or 3 folders of stuff at a time, put it on new PC and then delete it from the memory stick and then go and copy the next bits and repeat the process.

Be warned though. NEVER EVER get tempted to keep stuff on memory sticks. Always keep a "back up" on home or work PC. They can corrupt, you'll think you've lost all your work etc and then you'll have to buy VERY EXPENSIVE software from the US to "retrieve" your stuff (that will still need renaming, re-organising into folders etc and reformatting etc etc!) Trust me - we learn from our mistakes.

Hope all this makes sense.

[Ethel]

You won't be able to transfer programs from one pc to another if that is what you are thinking of doing - only documents, music, photos and so on.

[wildwood]

To transfer your passwords, mail and accounts, personal setting that take ages to set up, XP has a handy little utility called the Files and Settings transfer wizard which you can find in the START/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools.
With this you can elect to put all your any of your files in a transferable form to put on your new computer. Depending on how much stuff you have to shift, you need a flash pen or external hard drive big enough to store it on.
Any program you've installed in addition to Windows have to be re-installed from the CD they came on. Any downloaded program should also be kept on a spare CD in its downloaded state.