Switching Computer Help Please

[Morriah]

Hello Friends,

I hope this is acceptable place to post this, if not, my apologies.

I have just received the componets for building my own computer for the first time. My questions are, since I am selling my old one, before I do, how can I transfer my files from the old computer to my new one?

My old system has 2 hard-drives and I have copied some of my files from my main C drive to my secondary D drive, and now, I just picked up Norton Ghost to back up the C drive to the D drive, but before I let the computer go, is it possible to bring all that data and files over to my new system without having a lot of problems? If so, are there steps to do all this, like backing up my main drive, and so on? Also, should i just put my D drive in my new computer and copy the files from there to the new "main" drive?

Any help would be appreciated. I am learning as I go and any advice would be welcome, especially on backing up my hard drive. I play World of Warcraft and would hate to lose all the data I have stored and start all over.

Thank you

Morriah

[ron999]

look build your new computer up the way you want it to run then take out the old hard drive put it in the new computer under slave drive this way you can transfer all your data from old to new if u still have problem email and i phone you as long as u are in usa

[harry12]

I'm guessing you have agreed to sell the old one before the new bits are assembled..
Big Mistook.
Even if you are experienced pc builder you will want to get the new one working, set it running (with monitor off, overnight) to make sure it's OK.
Only then should you transfer files...and this might be a problem unless you have few files (which you can check are not corrupted, etc.). Computer building is never 100% successful - expect the "unexpected".

Put off selling the old pc - you may need it!
If time is pressing then forget the new computer and make your copies onto a new HDD, or a stack of CD's - making sure you tick "verify" - then double check you have cd's for every Project, etc.

Here's the difficult bit - when selling a PC you "should" never deliver HDD's - they might contain "material" you should keep - accounts, internet site addresses, who knows? Therefore you should obtain a cheapo HDD, format it and put a basic OS on it and sell the computer. (personally I keep them, that's when they have become stable and work with all periperals.

So I wonder what value you put on your Data? - It it really worth risking its loss by selling the HDD's? A new HDD cost under 50dollars - let the new owner invest in one - that's "probably" the best course of action....unless this is a family transfer...but my comments on reliability and personal details still apply.

You could Format the old HDD's (why more than one?)- but that does not prevent sensitive data being recovered.....the best Rule is Never give away a HDD.

(Incidently that solves the issue with your old data, doesn't it?)
Good luck, let us know how the new-build goes, also.