Got a new computer, now I have to transfer things from the old computer to the new computer.

I'm thinking the easiest way is to use a USB drive. The files will be easy that way.

The tricky part is how to do it for MS Office since I had to input a key after I bought it.

Any suggestions on moving my license over from the old to new?

Jumper cables.

No, pop your old internal drives out and run then as slave drives on your new machine.

Get an external hard drive. They are really inexpensive nowadays.

Copy old files to new drive, plug into new computer, and drag/drop. Piece of cake.

Plus, you now have a backup memory device (it only takes you losing your computer data once for you to really appreciate the utility of a backup device (I know from personal experience) ).

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Yup...cheap insurance right there! This particular model comes in 1/2/3 TB:

https://www.newegg.com/Product...?Item=1E8-0006-00101

And you can store that drive at a remote location or in a fireproof safe.

How old is the computer? I have an XP that I keep around to run a printer and couple older programs that Win10 will not recognize.
WinXP did not recognize the Passport portable HD I bought to transfer stuff to the newer comps.

Just throwing that out there incase.

Data is easy. Programs not so much. You will most likely need to reinstall programs on the new machine.

quote:

Originally posted by PeteF:
Data is easy. Programs not so much. You will most likely need to reinstall programs on the new machine.

This. For xferring data, buy a cat5 crossover cable and hardcode the ips for each machine on the same subnet. Cable cost maybe 10 bucks. Fast as a greased pig. No ext drives needed.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
Get an external hard drive. They are really inexpensive nowadays.

Copy old files to new drive, plug into new computer, and drag/drop. Piece of cake.

Plus, you now have a backup memory device (it only takes you losing your computer data once for you to really appreciate the utility of a backup device (I know from personal experience) ).

As the Bible says (reading a bit between the lines) "Blessed is the pessimist, for he hath made a backup".

You and I share that experience, and the resulting wisdom of external hard drives.

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:

quote:

Originally posted by PeteF:
Data is easy. Programs not so much. You will most likely need to reinstall programs on the new machine.

This. For xferring data, buy a cat5 crossover cable and hardcode the ips for each machine on the same subnet. Cable cost maybe 10 bucks. Fast as a greased pig. No ext drives needed.

Another quote(ish), "to err is human, to really screw things up requires a computer". Replacing programs may be a bit of a pain at times, and a bit costly. But some data, when lost/destroyed/corrupted, is gone, and "replacing" such data can be much more expensive, and maybe not possible at all.

Do you have the original install disc/files for office?


Try this to get the key

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/


The easiest way I move files (not programs) from an old computer to a new one is to take the old hard drive out and hook it up to the new one then just drag and drop.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
Got a new computer, now I have to transfer things from the old computer to the new computer.

I'm thinking the easiest way is to use a USB drive. The files will be easy that way.

The tricky part is how to do it for MS Office since I had to input a key after I bought it.

Any suggestions on moving my license over from the old to new?

Start here:

Article: download official ISO for MSOFFICE and Windows

If you do not have your copy of the Product Key for MS Office, you can, as mentioned, retrieve it by running the Jellybean Keyfinder utility. Just install it on the old computer, run to collect keys (Windows, MS OFFICE), and then jot those down. You can just uninstall the Keyfinder afterwards.

With your legit Key you can then download the official version of MS Office you already own and reinstall it from scratch on the new PC.

if you have a microsoft account, you can get your keys from your account. You can also download office installation files.

What I do is have a document folder labeled software CDs and downloads. I put individual ISO and installation files that I download. I also create a txt file to record product keys.

Then when you transfer your data to the USB drive and the new computer, you also have your installation files on the new computer.

Buy Macs, fire up both old and new and launch Migration Assistant in Utilities.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Buy Macs, fire up both old and new and launch Migration Assistant in Utilities.

Well, ok then.

I like to copy the folder of the program in question to a disc. Then reinstall the software in the new machine. Relevant files in the old folder can be switched to the new install.

I've only done this with Outlook (email) and older software packages. I wouldn't know where to start with a modern program (I know the programs that are important to me fairly well).

Saving a copy of the original folder is worth doing no matter which way you choose to go. It may save your bacon.

V.

Best course of action is to simply re-install MS Office (and any other programs) on the new machine. That shouldn't be too painful. Then, I'd pull the hard drive out of your old machine, and install it in the new machine. This assumes the power supply in your new computer has a spare power connection, and you'll need a short SATA cable. Then just copy your data files from the old drive to the drive on the new machine. When you're done, you can either remove the old drive, or reformat it and leave it in your new machine for additional storage.

If both are networked (Gigabit ia the only practical way) just copy from one machine to the other over the network. You will need to share a folder or folders on the new machine.

In the future store all your files on an external hard drive. Once a month copy everything to a backup external hard drive or flash drive. Store nothing in your computer but your apps/programs.
Then if the machine ever takes a dump or you buy a new one you don’t even bat an eye.

Hi Edmond

Just sent you an email.

Keyword here is COPY. As with any data recovery job, what you must do is copy. DO NOT move / transfer your contents. Copy, as increate new identical files and folders.

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