Computers are great for keeping track of information, storing data, and performing complicated calculations in the blink of an eye, but sometimes we find ourselves in the predicament of needing to transfer files from one computer to another. There are many ways to do this and some methods are easier for certain people and certain situations. There is no “right” way to transfer files from one computer to another. In this article, we will go over a number of methods that allow you to move your data from one computer or device to another without too much effort.

Email

Email is a great way to send messages to all of your friends, relatives, and coworkers but it is also great for sending files to yourself that you can access from any web browser in the world. To email files to yourself, all you have to do is create or compose a new message, put your own email address in the “send” box, click on “attach a file”, and select the file that you wish to send to yourself. You can select multiple files by simply holding down the “Ctrl” button while you click on the files. There is usually not a limit to the number of attachments that you can add but the more files you attach, the longer it takes for your email client to process the message and you run the risk of it failing before it sends them. If you have a large number of files to send, it is better to break it up into several emails. Another problem with emailing files is that there is often a limit to the size of an email that you can at one time. To solve this problem, you can use a program called “File Splitz” to break the files into several parts and then put them back together once you have put them on the other computer.How To Transfer Files From One Computer To Another

Crossover Cable

It is possible to connect two computers to each other directly through the use of a crossover cable. It will cost between $15 and $35 for the cable and you have to setup a network but it isn’t that complicated. This, of course, only helps if you are able to have the two computers sitting next to each other.

CDs

Another option is to put your files onto CDs or DVDs.  For this method, you will need to download a CD burner program or use the one that comes with Windows Media Player. Once you have the program, just select your files and follow the program’s instructions. The problem with CDs is that they can get lost, broken, and scratched easily. Also keep in mind that if you want to be able to use the same disc again, you will need to buy rewritable discs.

USB Flash Drive

USB flash drives are good for transferring files as they have a good transfer rate, you can reuse them, and you can keep them in your pocket without worrying about them getting broken. Flash drives vary in size but are relatively cheap. A 4 GB flash drive costs about $12 and can be purchased in almost any store.

USB External Hard Drive

A USB External Hard Drive is also good for transferring files from one computer to another but they aren’t really good for transporting frequently as the inside pieces can get broken if the device is dropped. External hard drives, like flash drives, are relatively cheap but hold a lot more information. A 300 GB external hard drive costs about $60 while a 1 TB external hard drive costs about $120.

Online Storage

In addition to these other methods, users can also take advantage of online storage services such as DropBox. Online storage services allow users to upload files to a publicly accessible server and download them from a different computer at any time. However, this may take a significant amount of time depending on the user’s bandwidth, how many files he/she is uploading, and how large those files are.

Secondary Drive
Similar to an external hard drive, a secondary drive makes transferring files from one computer to another fast and easy. To do this, simply remove the hard drive from the computer that contains the files that you wish to transfer and connect it to the other computer, making sure that the little black pin holder on the back of the hard drive is set to “slave” rather than “master”. The secondary drive will show up in “My Computer” and all you have to do is drag and drop the files into the folder that you want. Make sure that the computer is turned off and unplugged while you disconnect and reconnect the hard drive.