How do I Transfer My Files From My Old Computer to My New Computer With an Ethernet Cable?

Transferring files from your old computer to your new one can be complex and time-consuming, especially if you're trying to burn them onto a writable disk or trying set up a network to complete the transfer. The easiest way to transfer your files is to connect the two computers using an Ethernet cable. You will need a special type of Ethernet cable called a "crossover cable." You can find crossover cables in any electronics store.

Mac

Step 1

Plug one end of the crossover cable into the Ethernet port on one computer and the other end into the Ethernet port on the other computer. It doesn't matter what order you do this in.

Step 2

Turn on both computers, click on the Apple menu and select "Control Panels" on both computers.

Step 3

Open "Appletalk" and select "connect via Ethernet" on both computers. Close the window.

Step 4

Open the "File Sharing" control panel on the old computer and click "Start" in the "File Sharing" section.

Step 5

Click "Hard Disk" from the Finder on the old computer, click on the "File" menu and select "Get Info."

Step 6

Click on "Sharing" and select "Share this item and its contents." Close the window.

Step 7

Open the "Chooser" on the new Mac, select "AppleShare" and click on the old computer that is listed. The hard disk from the old computer will appear on the new computer's desktop.

Step 8

Open the hard disk, find the files that you'd like to transfer, copy them and paste them to a new folder or the desktop.

Windows

Step 1

Plug the ends of the crossover cable into the Ethernet ports on your old and new computers.

Step 2

Type "Network and Sharing Center" in the search dialog box of both computers' Start menus. Click on the Network and Sharing Center icon, wait for a new window to open and ensure both computers have "File Sharing" and "Network Discovery" turned on. Click "OK" on the new computer and close that window only; leave the old computer's Network and Sharing Center open.

Step 3

Click "View Computers and Devices" on the old computer, which is located on the left side of the Network and Sharing Center window. Double-click on the new computer's hard drive icon, which will be listed, and open the folder where you want to place the files from the old computer's hard drive.

Step 4

Find the files on the old computer's hard drive that you'd like to transfer, copy them and paste them into the folder you have open on the new computer's hard drive.

References

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Mac to Mac File Transfer
• Indiana University: Directly Connecting Computers and Sharing Files

About the Author

Jordan Whitehouse began his writing career in 2004, publishing fiction and poetry in "Ultra-violet Magazine" and "Generation Magazine." He has since moved to Toronto, where his writing, photography and editorial clients have included HarperCollins, Katherine Govier, "Eye Weekly," "The Grid," Cruickshank Construction and "The Complete Engineer." Whitehouse studied English literature and psychology at Queen's University.

Photo Credits

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