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Flash Drive?

15 years ago

My daughter just got a new laptop, but wants to save all her pictures and music from her old laptop. There is over 10GB of 'stuff' according to my computer guy. Is a flash drive the best way to do this? I'm sure she shouldn't put all this stuff on her new computer, but she would like access to it somehow.

What do you think of the drive in the link?

Here is a link that might be useful: Verbatim USB flash drive

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Comments (8)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
That is one way to do it with a flash drive or burn it to DVD. Any name brand flash drive should be fine, I generally go with Kingston, have personally never used Verbatim but they are a well known brand.

Be sure she scans all of that stuff well with an updated antivirus program and malwarebytes prior to moving to a new pc so she knows everything is clean and safe.
mike_kaiser_gw
15 years ago
The least expensive way to do with is to simply connect both computers to the same home network, share the folder(s) that contain the files she wants to keep, and simply copy the files from the old machine to the new.

Certainly you could use a flash drive as well. You don't need a >10 GB drive to copy the data unless it's one big file. Just copy the first 100 files, then the second 100, etc. A 4 GB drive should be under $10 and 8 GB under $15. For occasional use, it really doesn't matter what drive you buy.
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Gene, I never noticed or heard of that before. If these pictures are special to you may I recommend multi-copies over various media with a disk and a thumb drive at a minimum. The estimated life cycle of storage media is still in its infancy stage and are only approximations/estimates/guesses. No one really knows what the future may bring. So why not give yourself a little insurance by doing so. You may consider free on-line storage also. DA
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I vote for azinoh's approach. Using Windows Explorer, select the unwanted files and push the delete button. Reformatting a drive simply to remove files isn't a good idea, it's like going fishing with a depth charge. Reason being - there could be firmware or other software files that a reformat could remove and make the drive inoperable. Why take the unnecessary risk?
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Yes, a flash drive is essentially just like any other drive, and as pkponder says, just use Windows Explorer to drag folders and files into and out of it. Make sure your different groups of files - say photos - stay in their own Photos folder on the Flash drive, so things don't get all mixed up. Make new folders when necessary. When you get to the new computer, just drag files to the places that you want them - probably similar locations as in the old computer. Also I always use a two pane Windows Explorer view so I see the folders on the left, and folders and files on the right. Open up as many Windows Explorer windows as you like, and drag from one to the other. You can even do copy and paste. Try experimenting a little bit - you'll probably find it's not that difficult. By the way, Microsoft has an Easy Transfer Tool which started with XP but I believe is builtin starting with Vista. That would probably do it all for you : http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-using-easy-transfer-to-migrate-data-between-xp-vista-windows-7/ and the following . . . It looks like you have to start with XP, but I believe it works just as well starting with Vista. Here is a link that might be useful: Migrate XP to Windows 7 with Easy Transfer and a USB Drive
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susieq07
15 years ago
Very good price for a 16 gig...they work great!
DA_Mccoy
15 years ago
Regardless of your choice of media since you apparently consider thi data important you should consider a double backup on different media. All media has a projected life-cycle, but that is what it is exactly, projected. No one knows for sure and all media have some history of failure. I personally like the idea of drive and DVD in cases like this.

DA
susieq07
15 years ago
There are several online storage sites, most give 50gigs. free, I have loads of photo's, videos etc. at dropbox.com you simply go there, login and see your storage box, and you get a dropbox on your desktop too...
DA_Mccoy
15 years ago
Nothing wrong with on-line storage if that is what a user wants. However, if the data is important to the user I have to repeat a double backup is advisable.

If a .com pulls the plug one day or it is shut down by a creditor or governmental entity, what would the user do?

DA
lydia1959
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone, the input has been very helpful!
susieq07
15 years ago
Let me clarify.. in addition to other back up methods, I use many, I also use online storage... drop box is doing well, will be around a long time, I figure? and there are others also.

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