Completed. How to transfer info from an external Hard Drive to Windows 7 please?

[Barbara348]

Hi, I've recently been on the board looking for and receiving help re my new PC.

I'm now after some advice re transferring info from an External Hard Drive to my new PC, which is Packard Bell(PB) Windows 7 64 bit.

The information I want to transfer from the External Hard drive is the backup of all My Documents which was copied from my old PC,
 a Packard Bell Windows XP 32 bit.

Because I've only had my new PC 4 days and already had to do a System Restore after a programme installation went all pearshaped, I want to ensure that I do this next stage correctly.

I have printed off the  PB User Guide but I wondered if anyone out there had had a similar task and could give me a lead please.

It seems to be much easier to follow advice from someone who has already done it than reading from a Manual.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you

Barbara.

[Nick29]

If the external drive connects via a USB cable, then all you need to do is to plug the drive in, then wait a while for the Windows 7 computer to load the drivers for the external drive.  When this is complete, you should be presented with a box giving choices of what you want to do next.  You should probably choose 'Open Folders to review contents', or something similar.  Then all you need to do is copy and paste the contents from one place to the other.

The only difficulty you may come across is that Windows 7 may not be able to find a 64-bit driver for your external hard drive, in which case you will have to contact the manufacturer or the supplier.

[Barbara348]

Hi Nick, thanks for that.

The External Hard Drive is a 320 Seagate Expansion Portable Drive, USB 2.0 Plug & Play and System requirements are Windows XP,Vista & Windows 7.

Hopefully that means that there won't be a problem finding a 64 bit driver.

Nick, when you say I can Copy & Paste, do I just Highlight the folders on the Ex Drive, hit 'Copy' then open the Documents folder in Windows 7 and then hit 'Paste'.

Sorry if that sounds daft but I'm not that clever at this sort of stuff and completely unfamiliar with the Documents etc layout in Windows 7.

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks

Barbara.

[Flattybasher9]

Since it's a while since you had a reply, on Windows 7 main screen left click "start" then "documents" then on the top bar click "new folder" and call it what you wish, "old documents" or whatever. Minimise the screen page with the " - " at the top right corner. Click "start", then "computer", then click on your "external drive", click on "open" to open the drive main files to what you wish to copy, highlight the old "documents " file and click "copy", then go back and maximise the first "documents" page that you minimised, click on the new file name which you created, this should open and show "no files", then click "paste", and the files should transfer to the new file on your hard drive.

Hope that helps

Regards

Malky

[Barbara348]

Hi Malky. good of you to respond.

My problem is on what is the best way  to transfer all the stuff I've got on the external drive.

When I copied everything to the portable drive, I just copied all the Folders listed under 'My Documents', the list included 'my Pictures' & 'My Music' etc - each folder is packed with stuff.

Do I just Copy & Paste a Folder at a time or can I select all the Folders and Copy & Paste all at the same time?and do I just paste them into 'my Documents' on Windows 7?

Excuse what must seem to be daft questions please.

Thanks

Barbara.

[Calverley Lad]

Not wanting to disrupt you conversations Barbara, could you not copy all the contents to a CD/DVD prior to reinstalling onto your new computer?
Doing it that way you have a permanent record on disc if anything goes wrong?
 Brian

[Flattybasher9]

"When I copied everything to the portable drive, I just copied all the Folders listed under 'My Documents', the list included 'my Pictures' & 'My Music' etc - each folder is packed with stuff.

Do I just Copy & Paste a Folder at a time or can I select all the Folders and Copy & Paste all at the same time?and do I just paste them into 'my Documents' on Windows 7?"


Barbara, its not a daft question. It is a personal choice. I tend to regiment all of my folders for ease of tracability and access and therefore copying. The reason for this is due to the possibility of some of the actual files being based on a program that is not compatible with the new system. ie some Microsoft programs, graphic programs etc etc which work in XP, do not work in Windows 7. It really is up to yourself. When you look at my wife's computer, you cannot see the background screen for shortcuts. I personally cannot work like that. I have all my shortcuts under group-type headers. Whack them all accross directly into the Windows 7 documents if you wish. There should be no problem.

Regards

Malky.

[Barbara348]

Hi Malky, someone else who is an early riser.

Thanks for the advice, I've got to pull myself together and give this transfer business a shot.


I really envy people who take this sort of thing in their stride, wish I had been brought up in the Computer Generation !!

I'm grateful for your help.

Cheers

Barbara.

[roopat]

Hi Barbara
As an early riser you've probably copied it all by now  but we recently backed up everything to an external hard drive prior to getting new computer, I havent copied it all, just plug in the ext drive via USB port when I want to access anything, then if I want to change a document I can, then save it on new laptop under a slightly different name.

There are so many pictures & stuff on the drive which I won't want to use very often so no point in clogging up current computer.

Good luck - keep asking the questions, I've been learning a lot from it 

Pat