Show Need to transfer files from one computer to another? To transfer data to a new computer? To move all files from an old computer to a new computer? This tutorial covers several ways to do that. There are several ways to transfer files to another computer. Here are the options that we will cover in this tutorial: Of course, if you are transferring to a new computer (replacing your old one), you would typically want to transfer more than just a few files. Ideally, the goal is to transfer all documents, pictures, the whole user profile, accounts, favorites, bookmarks, emails, everything you have and use. You could even want to transfer the actual programs from your old computer. All of this is covered below. Let’s go over the options.
Transfer files using a USB stick / USB external driveOne of the simplest ways to transfer files to another computer is to use a USB stick (or a USB external hard drive). You simply connect the USB drive to the computer and copy files to it, same as you would copy them to any other folder. Pros:
Cons:
To summarize, a USB stick / external drive is a great way to transfer a bunch of files from one computer to another.
Transfer files using Cloud – Dropbox / OneDriveAnother way to transfer files manually is using a Cloud sync tool, such as Dropbox or OneDrive. Most of these tools work in a similar fashion. You have a folder on your computer that syncs with all other computers you have. If you put a file into that folder, it eventually appears on the other computer. Pros:
Cons:
To summarize, using Cloud is a good way to transfer small amounts of files files from one computer to another, without paying for software / hardware. It gets slow and more expensive when you need to transfer a larger amount of files. It is not a good way to transfer all files from one computer to another, since that quickly becomes cumbersome or impossible to do manually. See below for the way to automatically transfer files from one computer to another.
How to transfer ALL files from one computer to another, automaticallyWhen you need actually transfer all files from one computer to another (such as when you are replacing your computer with a new computer), the right way to do that is to use a dedicated transfer tool. On a typical computer, there are 3 types of data that are important in terms of its day to day use:
All of that can be transferred automatically, using a tool called Zinstall WinWin. It requires no technical knowledge to use, too. If you know how to download a file from the internet, you know how to use it – and can save a lot of time and avoid a lot of frustration when you transfer files to a new computer. How to transfer all files from one computer to another
That’s it! This kind of tool is not suitable for when you just need to transfer a few files (and you have cheap / free alternatives for that, as described above). But when you need to transfer to a new computer, it is irreplaceable. Ready to transfer all of your your files from one computer to another? Get Zinstall WinWin and Start Your Transfer Video tutorial – how to transfer files from one computer to another{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T21:13:08+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T21:13:08+00:00","timestamp":"2022-06-22T19:27:56+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Technology","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33512"},"slug":"technology","categoryId":33512},{"name":"Computers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33513"},"slug":"computers","categoryId":33513},{"name":"Basic Skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"},"slug":"basic-skills","categoryId":33514}],"title":"For Seniors: How to Move a Computer File or Folder","strippedTitle":"for seniors: how to move a computer file or folder","slug":"for-seniors-how-to-move-a-computer-file-or-folder","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Sometimes you save a file or folder in one place on your computer but in reorganizing your work, you decide that you want to move the item to another location. ","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>Sometimes you save a file or folder in one place on your computer but in reorganizing your work, you decide that you want to move the item to another location. Fortunately, in Windows 7, moving files and folders around on your computer is an easy task.</p>\n<p>To move a file or folder to another location on your computer:</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Right-click the Start menu button and choose Open Windows Explorer.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The Windows Explorer window opens.</p>\n<img src=\"https://sg.cdnki.com/move-from-one-place-to-another-in-computer---aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZHVtbWllcy5jb20vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIxMjM0NC5pbWFnZTAuanBn.webp\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Double-click a folder or series of folders to locate the file that you want to move.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If, instead of moving the file, you actually want to create a copy of a file or folder in another location on your computer, right-click the item in Windows Explorer and choose Copy. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the location where you want to place a copy, right-click, and choose Paste or press Ctrl+V.</p>\n<img src=\"https://sg.cdnki.com/move-from-one-place-to-another-in-computer---aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZHVtbWllcy5jb20vd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIxMjM0NS5pbWFnZTEuanBn.webp\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click and drag the file to another folder in the Navigation pane on the left side of the window.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you right-click and drag, you’re offered the options of moving or copying or creating a shortcut to the item when you place it via a shortcut menu that appears.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the Windows Explorer window.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows Explorer closes.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","description":"<p>Sometimes you save a file or folder in one place on your computer but in reorganizing your work, you decide that you want to move the item to another location. Fortunately, in Windows 7, moving files and folders around on your computer is an easy task.</p>\n<p>To move a file or folder to another location on your computer:</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Right-click the Start menu button and choose Open Windows Explorer.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">The Windows Explorer window opens.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212344.image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Double-click a folder or series of folders to locate the file that you want to move.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If, instead of moving the file, you actually want to create a copy of a file or folder in another location on your computer, right-click the item in Windows Explorer and choose Copy. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the location where you want to place a copy, right-click, and choose Paste or press Ctrl+V.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/212345.image1.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click and drag the file to another folder in the Navigation pane on the left side of the window.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you right-click and drag, you’re offered the options of moving or copying or creating a shortcut to the item when you place it via a shortcut menu that appears.</p>\n </li>\n <li><p class=\"first-para\">Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the Windows Explorer window.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Windows Explorer closes.</p>\n </li>\n</ol>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33514,"title":"Basic Skills","slug":"basic-skills","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33514"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":248604,"title":"How to Run a Scan on Your Windows 10 Laptop with Windows Defender","slug":"run-scan-windows-10-laptop-windows-defender","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248604"}},{"articleId":248601,"title":"Understanding Windows Update Options","slug":"understanding-windows-update-options","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248601"}},{"articleId":248598,"title":"Understanding Security Threats to Your Windows 10 Laptop","slug":"understanding-security-threats-windows-10-laptop","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248598"}},{"articleId":248595,"title":"How to Go Online Using Your Laptop’s Cellular Network","slug":"go-online-using-laptops-cellular-network","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248595"}},{"articleId":248588,"title":"How to Use Microsoft’s Discussion Board","slug":"use-microsofts-discussion-board","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248588"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":true,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281671,"slug":"computers-for-seniors-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119849605","categoryList":["technology","computers","basic-skills"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119849608-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119849608/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://catalogimages.wiley.com/images/db/jimages/9781119849605.jpg","width":250,"height":350},"title":"Computers For Seniors For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><p><b><b data-author-id=\"9025\">Faithe Wempen</b>, M.A.,</b> is a Microsoft Office Master Instructor and the author of over 150 books on Windows, Office, and computer technology. <b>Bill Dyszel</b> is an author, consultant, and speaker on the topic of technology.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9025,"name":"Faithe Wempen","slug":"faithe-wempen","description":" <p><b>Faithe Wempen, M.A.,</b> is a Microsoft Office Master Instructor and the author of over 150 books on Windows, Office, and computer technology. <b>Bill Dyszel</b> is an author, consultant, and speaker on the topic of technology. 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Sometimes you save a file or folder in one place on your computer but in reorganizing your work, you decide that you want to move the item to another location. Fortunately, in Windows 7, moving files and folders around on your computer is an easy task. To move a file or folder to another location on your computer: Right-click the Start menu button and choose Open Windows Explorer. The Windows Explorer window opens. Double-click a folder or series of folders to locate the file that you want to move. If, instead of moving the file, you actually want to create a copy of a file or folder in another location on your computer, right-click the item in Windows Explorer and choose Copy. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the location where you want to place a copy, right-click, and choose Paste or press Ctrl+V. Click and drag the file to another folder in the Navigation pane on the left side of the window. If you right-click and drag, you’re offered the options of moving or copying or creating a shortcut to the item when you place it via a shortcut menu that appears. Click the Close button in the upper-right corner of the Windows Explorer window. Windows Explorer closes. |