Q&A for How to Transfer Files Between Laptops

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  • Question
    How do I transfer files from Windows to Mac?
    Stan Kats
    Professional Technologist
    Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals.
    Professional Technologist
    Expert Answer
    Use the built-in networking features between Windows and Mac OS. Enabling those allows you to share files directly—you just create a shared folder and grant access to the other machine, so it can pull files across.
  • Question
    What is the fastest way to transfer files between computers?
    Stan Kats
    Professional Technologist
    Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals.
    Professional Technologist
    Expert Answer
    Try using a cloud service, like Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox. In fact, Microsoft OneDrive syncs directly with your Office 365 subscription, which is handy.
  • Question
    What is a fire wire cable?
    Community Answer
    It is a data cable similar to a USB. It is a fast, data-transmitting cable designed by Apple; however, it's outdated.
  • Question
    What is a crossover cable?
    Community Answer
    It's a cable that looks very much like a standard ethernet/network cable, but it is wired "cross-over" on the inside. This allows two master devices (e.g. PC-PC) to communicate, which means that you can build a tiny local network when you use such a cable.
  • Question
    What is a display port cable?
    Community Answer
    Display Port is a widely used standard cable, akin to HDMI, that can be used for video streaming to peripherals like monitors and TVs.
  • Question
    Am I able to transfer files from Vista (HP) to Windows 10 (Lenovo) with a firewire?
    Community Answer
    You will probably not be able to Transfer data from a PC to a PC because electronic data transmitting devices use a "MASTER-SLAVE" System, whereas a hard-drive is a slave and the PC is a master device, if you want to Transfer data using a data cable, you'll need to connect a master device (your VISTA PC) to a Slave device (External Hard drive) because you cannot connect a Master (Vista PC) to a Master device (Windows 10 Lenovo)
  • Question
    Do files get a new name when transferred to another computer's program?
    Community Answer
    Not unless you rename them.
  • Question
    What kind of cables should I use for this?
    Community Answer
    You could use a use a USB, but this may cause damage to the ports and computers. When transferring regular files, save it onto a flash drive, put that into a computer and saving that onto the other computer.
  • Question
    How do I transfer files from a laptop with a broken screen to another laptop?
    Community Answer
    Most laptops have an HDMI, DVI, or some other video port. The easiest solution so far is buying a monitor and plugging it in one of above mentioned ports. You can then use your screen and freely transfer the files! You can also hook up an external keyboard and mouse and continue to use the laptop with the broken screen as a desktop computer.
  • Question
    How can I transfer a 25GB file between two different PCs in a small amount of time?
    Fluffy Fennekin
    Community Answer
    To transfer that big of a file in a short amount of time, you should get yourself a high-transfer speed USB, or get yourself an SSD.
  • Question
    Can I transfer files between laptops via BlueTooth?
    Fluffy Fennekin
    Community Answer
    Yes, you're able to transfer files between the client machine receiving the files, and the host machine delivering the files to the client computer.
  • Question
    How can I transfer files between a laptop with desktop by USB and a type-C cable? I have done it but it is nothing.
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    It would perhaps be better for you to transfer your files from one computer to the next by using a USB memory stick rather than a type-C cable.
  • Question
    How do I transfer all my files between my old laptop and my new one? Can I use a USB 2.0 cable?
    Community Answer
    Instead, try using a USB memory stick rather than a USB 2.0 cable. They come in GB's and are quite cheap.
  • Question
    How can I transfer data files (in folders) from a Sansung Netbook running Windows XP SP3 to a Dell Inspiron 1545 running Windows 10?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    There are two ways to do the job. You can use a USB memory stick with the capacity of 32 GB and transfer your files in the folders too to the memory stick. That can be your backup too, since your files on your computer are the master files. And the other way is to burn a CD known as a "Data Disc," to make a transfer. By then you will have another backup copy that will be on a disc.
  • Question
    Am I able to do it on a broken laptop that can't get into the files?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    Try running your laptop in "safe mode." You should have made a backup copy of your personal files since the master is now damaged. Since the laptop is broken, seek repairs for it, if those files are really important to you. The labor is costly to fix your laptop and not the parts. Get an estimate from the repairer and look at other new laptops and compare the two prices.
  • Question
    What type of cable is needed to transfer from one laptop to another?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    It is not a cable, like tethering. What you use is a USB memory stick of 32 GB type to transfer your files from one laptop to another and that memory stick is a back-up in case anything happens to the master files in the hard drive.
  • Question
    Can I transfer file between a laptop using WiFi direct? And if I can, is it faster than USB, Ethernet, Crossover cable, Fire Wire, FTP?
    Rudy Toth
    Community Answer
    WiFi is a receiver, not a transmitter like a radio station. You can only download apps/updates through a WiFi connection which is faster than USB, etc. You just can't transmit from it.
  • Question
    Can I use an old transfer cable (6-7 years old) to transfer files from an old Dell to a Dell Inspiron 15 3000?
    Top Answerer
    As long as both computers have the same port type as the cable, and any necessary drivers are available for both operating systems.
  • Question
    Can programs, such as Excel or Word, be transferred?
    Top Answerer
    Technically, nothing stops you from transferring programs, but most programs will not run without the proper registry settings being present, and they're difficult to find if you weren't actively tracking them. Smaller programs, or programs designed to be "portable", will work.
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