Copying hard drives

Do they both have ethernet ports?

The quickest way if there is lot of data is to put the hard disk from your old pc into the new pc and simply drag the files across from 1 hard disk to the next, this is lot quicker than using ethernet its very easy if you know a little about hardware if you don't ethernet is the best option i think.

G

YesAny risks involved?

hmmmmmmm...........what operating system was on the old machine?
if it is very old there will be problems but if it is newish there shouldn't be any problems, its very easy to do just find a spare power adapter from the powerpack plug it into the hard disk then there will probably be another ide cable going from the one already conected to the new harddisk so plug it into the old one and bobs your uncle it will appear when u go into my computer and see your drives.

Windows XP on both.

Then you're good to go.
Turn the PC completely off and unplug the power.
Change the jumper on the back of the old drive to turn it into a slave and connect it to the cable that your new main drive is connected to.
Assuming it has the other connector free that is.
If not connect it to the other ribbon cable for IDE channel 2.
Then boot the PC.
The new old drive will be on as a slave and when Windoze finally gets itself together you can open Windows Explorer and look for the old drive in there.
Copy the stuff from your documents folders etc...
Don't bother trying to copy programs from Program Files or anything like that as they won't work.
You can reinstall the programs and copy the settings though.
Don't forget your favourites and your email, game save files etc...

You might find This helpful, Neo.

Why not just connect the to via an ethernet cable and set the c: on the old as shareable and just copy?

coz originally neologist asked for the most effective way and ifs he's got a whole bunch of data its alot quicker this way.

I interpreted quick as quick in terms of human involvement (ie simple) not in terms of data transfer after dicking around to get it set up - but I wasn't sure what Neo's comfortable doing.

Thanks. This is something I do only once every 2 or 3 years. So it helps to review.

Well, now you got lotsa options. In your original querry, you asked what would be the most efficient means of effecting the file and settings transfer from one machine to another, if I'm not mistaken. It is my opinion the most efficient means of accomplishing that is via 3rd-party software designed to handle the task - it ain't free, but its fast, safe, reliable, and efficient, provided both machines are functionally operational.

Personally, I rarely take on such a job without first having been presented some variation on the "Sparks and Smoke" or "Black Screen and Scary Mechanical Noises" error messages - a circumstance in which file-and-settings-transfer software ain't likely to be of much help.

Been there.
One friend said that he had "Let the magic smoke out of the computer. Everyone knows that it's magic smoke that makes them work and so when it comes out they stop working."
Took me about half an hour to stop laughing.
And I still can't fault the logic.
:wink: