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Is there a way to directly transfer files between laptops and PCs using regular USB cables?

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Xero@lemmy.world
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I’ve replaced my old laptop with a new one and I have over 350GB worth of data to move over, moving all of it to an external drive and then moving them to the new laptop doesn’t seem efficient and it seems like it’s gonna take forever

I know there are some special cables that can do that but I don’t wanna waste money on something that I’m only gonna use once every 5 years at most.

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vatw@vlemmy.net
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I’m pretty sure you need something called a “usb transfer cable” which can do the job. It has a special electronic chip in the middle that tricks each PC on either side into thinking the other is a usb stick. (Or something!??)

I’ve never used one, and didn’t know there was such a thing which existed until minutes ago. But like you say - probably a waste to use once.

If one happens to be an Apple brand, they do have something called Target Disk Mode, but assuming not since you say PC.

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grandel@lemmy.ml
0 points

Perhaps Syncthing?

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NoConfidence_2192@rblind.com
2 points

You probably can

Do they both have Thunderbolt ports? Windows, Mac, or Linux? Wired or wireless networking?

If they both have thunderbolt 3/4 and you have a cable you can connect both to the cable and use Thunderbolt networking. MSI has a pretty good how to

Otherwise:

  • Transfer over network (buy usb ethernet adapter if necessary $10-15 on amazon)
  • Buy USB transfer cable and use it to transfer
  • Remove HD from old laptop, buy compatible external HD enclosure, put it in external HD enclosure and connect it to new laptop
  • Copy files from old laptop to existing external drive, then connect external drive to new laptop
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flying_monkies@kbin.social
6 points

As someone else said, either a USB transfer cable or

a USB network adapter and your local network.

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ShunkW@lemmy.world
19 points
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EmergentReality@lemmy.fmhy.ml
2 points

This is the answer.

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Xero@lemmy.worldOP
6 points
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my home network is quite slow and the ethernet port on my old laptop is damaged, it only works sometimes so it’ll definitely disconnect during the process.

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ShunkW@lemmy.world
6 points
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tentphone@lemmy.fmhy.ml
11 points
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You could try getting an external hard drive/SSD enclosure, putting the hard drive/ssd from your old laptop in it, and plugging it into your new computer to copy the files over. Twice as fast as copying to an external drive and then copying that to the new PC.

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iAmTheTot@kbin.social
3 points

By home network, do you mean your internet speed? Because if you do, FYI, your computers and electronics can almost certainly talk to each other over your local network much faster than that.

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Slapplebags@lemmy.world
9 points

Buy a cheap USB to Ethernet adapter then and directly connect the two computers via Ethernet. USB to USB is possible but it’s not worth the time and effort, network will be faster and easier. Or why not just buy a cheap external hard drive? According to Amazon a 500gb external hard drive can be had for $30 USD.

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joey@lemm.ee
1 point

Do you have a router? I mean something resembling a LAN? If so the outbound network speeds wouldn’t matter.

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Xero@lemmy.worldOP
2 points

I do have a router, but I have to use wifi for the old laptop, does it affect the transfer speed?

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FiveMacs@lemmy.ca
4 points
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Then use/get a usb data stick and transfer em that way or subsequently if it’s the laptop you want to transfer off of, remove the HDD or SSD and get an adapter to plug the drive into usb.

Look for sata to usb adapters

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Fester@lemm.ee
1 point

USB drives are ridiculous these days. 512g for ~$40 USD. And USB 3 can fill it up in like a minute. Plus it’s always handy to have one. Best value option IMO.

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