[Strawberry]

Keeping in mind that I am 'technically challenged' especially where computers are concerned, I have a question about computers. I bought a new desktop computer in May 2011. I kept the old one because I have a lot of files, mainly pictures, recipes and other files that are important to me.

I did not transfer any of these files to a flash drive because that is something I don't know how to do - or if it is even possible. I thought of paying someone to do it for me, but since they would not know exactly which files to put on the flash drive, I think I probably have to be the person who does this job.

Is it possible to do this, and are there instructions on how to do it. The old system was Windows XP Professional and my new system is Windows 7.

Thank you for your time.

 

[John.in.France]

Keeping in mind that I am 'technically challenged' especially where computers are concerned, I have a question about computers. I bought a new desktop computer in May 2011. I kept the old one because I have a lot of files, mainly pictures, recipes and other files that are important to me.

I did not transfer any of these files to a flash drive because that is something I don't know how to do - or if it is even possible. I thought of paying someone to do it for me, but since they would not know exactly which files to put on the flash drive, I think I probably have to be the person who does this job.

Is it possible to do this, and are there instructions on how to do it. The old system was Windows XP Professional and my new system is Windows 7.

Thank you for your time.

Short answer - yes - piece of cake!
Doing it manually isn't difficult but Windows 7 offers a migration tool which automates the job for you. Does your old machine still run? If so, it should be easy.
Look in your new machine's start menu - Accessories - System Tools. You should see a program "Windows Easy Transfer" run that and follow orders!
John

 

[Strawberry]

Thank you John. I looked on my new machine and apparently the only thing I need to buy is the "transfer" cable. I'm going to give it a try.

 

[canadiandude]

I've never used a migration tool in my life to transfer files, especially non-essential files like pics, vids and documents 8(recipes, etc...). I simply plug in a USB flash drive or an external HD into the old system, and start transfer files onto the USB or HD. Most everything I want to transfer is located on C: in my documents or downloads folders since I make sure to organise my computer so everything is saved there from day 1. Mind you, I build my own computers so my knowledge of them is quite extensive.

 

[Strawberry]

I've never used a migration tool in my life to transfer files, especially non-essential files like pics, vids and documents 8(recipes, etc...). I simply plug in a USB flash drive or an external HD into the old system, and start transfer files onto the USB or HD. Most everything I want to transfer is located on C: in my documents or downloads folders since I make sure to organise my computer so everything is saved there from day 1. Mind you, I build my own computers so my knowledge of them is quite extensive.

I definitely agree with you. I should have backed up my files from day 1. However in my defense, or maybe I should say - in defense of my own ignorance at the time, I don't know how to do this. My younger son, who lives at least 3 hours away from me, built my computer and then gave it to me as a Christmas gift. When the holiday was over, he returned to his home leaving me to try and remember all of his instructions from the time he installed said computer in my home.

Sadly I remember lots of things he told me, but not the part about how to back up files. Basically what I know at present is but a "thimble full" of what I should know. I guess I need to read the book "Computer for Dummies"

 

[skb]

You could also install the hard drive from the old computer into the new one and continue to use the old files.

 

[silvertiger]

You could also install the hard drive from the old computer into the new one and continue to use the old files.

Or pay a tech to do that for you, which means you'd have all your files for sure. Only downside is you'd have all the junk too, but disk space is relatively cheap.

 

[John.in.France]

If it were my own machine, I'd simply add the old hard drive myself - in fact that's what I did.
If the new machine couldn't use it, for instance because it had only SATA ports and the old drive was IDE - I'd copy the files I really wanted using a USB stick or CD/DVDs - that way I'd just take the files I really wanted (and no doubt overlook one that I found I needed three months down the track)
I don't like the Microsoft routine that everything is on the C drive. I deliberately try to keep as much of my data on a separate device. But that's my personal taste and it certainly makes moving the files to a new machine very easy.
I did try the Windows 7 migration tool just out of interest. It does work quite effectively.