Transferring Files Between Computers

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My friend has this same need, and we’ve discussed but not yet executed…

Installing the hard drive as a second drive in the new computer, if possible, seems the best, cheapest, and fastest solution. If that doesn’t work, it gets more complicated.

Finding Win95 drivers for a network card might be a challenge, but Win95 was used for networking in its day. It even came with a browser!

While a Zip drive compatible with Win95 might be limited to 100MB and operate only over the parallel port, if you or someone you know has one, it would be a fallback option.

Because Win95 didn’t have USB support built in, and even Win98 (First Edition) didn’t have very reliable USB support, the “easy” option of using an external USB hard drive is not promising. But perhaps some of them might work.

I believe you could find a parallel-to-parallel solution (pcAnywhere?) to transfer the files, but that likely would involve an extra purchase.

Hope this helps.

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I got several good suggestions on transferring files from Windows 95 to XP. Although I would have no problem pulling the old drives and slaving them to the new computer, I decided the more sensible approach was to get the Flashpoint Floppy Drive Adapter with Smart Media Card. Thanks for the tip. I have ordered it and think it will be very useful for transferring other files between our newer machines without having to burn them on a CD or other solutions. Thanks everybody for your excellent advice.

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Pulling the drives is certainly a way to get it done and probably easier than networking them together and using a crossover cable. I don’t know how friendly 95 is to do it that either.

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Pulling the drives is certainly a way to get it done and probably easier than networking them together and using a crossover cable. I don’t know how friendly 95 is to do it that either.

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I’d also agree do the old HD into new PC route is probably the easiest. If that didn’t work (and I don’t see why it wouldn’t), I’ve had success with a null-modem cable, using the “direct cable connect” option on a Win95 to Win98 setup — I’m sure something like that must still exist in WinXP. It may even be a network type of connection.

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I’d also agree do the old HD into new PC route is probably the easiest. If that didn’t work (and I don’t see why it wouldn’t), I’ve had success with a null-modem cable, using the “direct cable connect” option on a Win95 to Win98 setup — I’m sure something like that must still exist in WinXP. It may even be a network type of connection.

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Considering the time, effort and possible risk of damage by opening up 2 PCs and moving a drive between them, compared to the slow but fairly cheap (Belkin) Direct Cable Connection cable (//port to //port) and the ‘free’ Windows software (albeit not installed by default in a Windows installation), I would say that DCC is the safest method. There are other alternatives that I’ve found useful in the past, working on old Win95 machines when the users couldn’t afford to upgrade!

1) If the source PC has a PCMCIA slot, then you could try a PC Card Adapter (eg Lexar) for either SmartMedia or Compact Flash cards. No driver required even in Win95.
2) My preferred solution is the FlashPath Floppy Disk Adapter (for SmartMedia) by SmartDisk which works with Win95 through to XP and will accept at least a 128MB card. The SmartDisk installation files will also fit on a floppy (very useful on prehistoric machines with no CD-ROM drive).

I’m assuming that your modern XP machine has an internal or external media reader though. (These are also very useful).
HTH and Good Luck.

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Tony,
———————————————-
Considering the time, effort and possible risk of damage by opening up 2 PCs and moving a drive between them
———————————————
I guess that is in the eye of the beholder, as to time, risk and effort involved. But slow and fairly cheap are negatives to me. There is also no additional expenditure of cash for the gadgets by using the substitution method.
Whatever you are most comfortable with is the way.

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Hi Bob,
No argument with your logic – all fair points. I was just going for the cautious approach as sometimes users are nervous about ‘lifting the bonnet’ (or ‘hood’ to you – at the risk of starting another thread about two peoples divided by a common language!) of their PC.
BTW – Am I going crackers or has Tao99 edited his original post since we started replying?

PS – At this 60th anniversary of D-Day, I would like to salute the USA and its people, and long live the friendship between our nations.

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Tony,

I think you are right. There does seem to have been some editing of the original.

As to D-Day ( a solemn & historic day ) may we ALWAYS be friends and keep the friendship between our nations a strong one.

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Tony,

I think you are right. There does seem to have been some editing of the original.

As to D-Day ( a solemn & historic day ) may we ALWAYS be friends and keep the friendship between our nations a strong one.

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And as you can see from the attendees at Normandy, we also salute you, Canadians and all other nations. I was very pleased to see the dignitaries in attendance, in spite of the occasion being saddened by our loss of President Ronald Reagan. I daily see and socialize with a number of veterans of that era and this weekend, my arm was getting kinda sore from saluting

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And as you can see from the attendees at Normandy, we also salute you, Canadians and all other nations. I was very pleased to see the dignitaries in attendance, in spite of the occasion being saddened by our loss of President Ronald Reagan. I daily see and socialize with a number of veterans of that era and this weekend, my arm was getting kinda sore from saluting

Reply | Quote

Hi Bob,
No argument with your logic – all fair points. I was just going for the cautious approach as sometimes users are nervous about ‘lifting the bonnet’ (or ‘hood’ to you – at the risk of starting another thread about two peoples divided by a common language!) of their PC.
BTW – Am I going crackers or has Tao99 edited his original post since we started replying?

PS – At this 60th anniversary of D-Day, I would like to salute the USA and its people, and long live the friendship between our nations.

Reply | Quote

Tony,
———————————————-
Considering the time, effort and possible risk of damage by opening up 2 PCs and moving a drive between them
———————————————
I guess that is in the eye of the beholder, as to time, risk and effort involved. But slow and fairly cheap are negatives to me. There is also no additional expenditure of cash for the gadgets by using the substitution method.
Whatever you are most comfortable with is the way.

Reply | Quote

Considering the time, effort and possible risk of damage by opening up 2 PCs and moving a drive between them, compared to the slow but fairly cheap (Belkin) Direct Cable Connection cable (//port to //port) and the ‘free’ Windows software (albeit not installed by default in a Windows installation), I would say that DCC is the safest method. There are other alternatives that I’ve found useful in the past, working on old Win95 machines when the users couldn’t afford to upgrade!

1) If the source PC has a PCMCIA slot, then you could try a PC Card Adapter (eg Lexar) for either SmartMedia or Compact Flash cards. No driver required even in Win95.
2) My preferred solution is the FlashPath Floppy Disk Adapter (for SmartMedia) by SmartDisk which works with Win95 through to XP and will accept at least a 128MB card. The SmartDisk installation files will also fit on a floppy (very useful on prehistoric machines with no CD-ROM drive).

I’m assuming that your modern XP machine has an internal or external media reader though. (These are also very useful).
HTH and Good Luck.

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The folks are right about what you’ve done to the context of this thread. May I suggest for the future that you post a reply rather than edit the original post. Even if the reply is to yourself, at least it allows future Loungers to see what the original question was.

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The folks are right about what you’ve done to the context of this thread. May I suggest for the future that you post a reply rather than edit the original post. Even if the reply is to yourself, at least it allows future Loungers to see what the original question was.

Reply | Quote

I got several good suggestions on transferring files from Windows 95 to XP. Although I would have no problem pulling the old drives and slaving them to the new computer, I decided the more sensible approach was to get the Flashpoint Floppy Drive Adapter with Smart Media Card. Thanks for the tip. I have ordered it and think it will be very useful for transferring other files between our newer machines without having to burn them on a CD or other solutions. Thanks everybody for your excellent advice.

Reply | Quote