Transfer files from ME computer to Vista over home network

[Indiana627]

Hello,

I got my new Vista home premium computer today and now need to transfer the files from my old ME computer to it. I have both connected to my router and both can get on the internet. I was planning on just sharing the C drive of my ME computer and then transfering the files to the Vista over the network. BUT, I don't have the ability to share my ME C drive (no option when I right click > properties on it) AND when I go to the Vista's network folder, I do not see my ME computer.

So, is there a way I can make this work? Or am I going to be forced to burn to CD or use a flash drive to transfer my files?

(Gesh, you think I was trying to transfer files from a Mac - these are 2 microsoft OS afterall!) Thanks for the help.

[Indiana627]

OK, I ran the home network wizard on the ME machine and changed the workgroup name from MSHOME to WORKGROUP (which the default in Vista). I had to restart and then I shared the ME C drive but still cannot see the ME machine in Vista nor the Vista machine in ME. What next? Thanks.

[BobaBird]

I've got a similar problem between XP Home and XP Tablet (superset of Pro). Workgroup name is the same, but not seeing each other. A program I launched on the 2nd machine shut down on the first (software licence enforced for one use at a time), so there is some networking.

[Indiana627]

I should also mention that each computer can see my router and each can get online, but I can't see either computer in the Network view from the other.

Also, I tried turning off Password Protected Sharing in Network and Sharing Center under Control Panel on the Vista machine, and then I could not view the network while on the ME machine. As soon as I turned the password protected sharing back on in Vista, I could again view the network on the ME machine. So it appears they are talking to each other somehow to some extent, but not enough so I can transfer the files from ME to Vista.

Any ideas?

[Indiana627]

Some more progress, but still not all the way there yet. On the ME machine, I created a user account with the same name as the user account on the Vista machine. I then had to restart ME and logged in as that new user. Now when I go to My Network Places on ME, I can see the Vista machine listed. But when I double click on it, I get this error:

"\\name is not accessible.

Windows cannot find the computer or share name. Make sure the computer or share name is valid and that you are connected to the network and then try again."

I'm not sure what to try next. The Vista machine still does not list the ME machine in the network. Both are on the network and each can see the router.

Ideas? Thanks.

[dmspen]

For all the time you spent, it would have been much easier to pull the drive from your ME machine and hook it up on your Vista machine and transfer files. Still worth considering

ME was terrible with networking.

[Indiana627]

I've probably only spent about 45 minutes so far. I've got a few tips from some MS MVPs in the MS Newsgroups that I'll try tonight. They make it sound very doable.

[aim2pls]

make sure you have :
netbios
ipx/spx
and file and printer sharing
installed ..... wizard doesnt always install these

[plasmacat]

In the Vista Welcome Center (in Control Panel) there is Windows Easy Transfer Wizard. This is what I used to transfer files from my XP computer when I got my Vista computer. Setting up a network was not necessary. I don't remember if I had to copy this to CD and install it on my old computer also - maybe I did.

[Indiana627]

In the Vista Welcome Center (in Control Panel) there is Windows Easy Transfer Wizard. This is what I used to transfer files from my XP computer when I got my Vista computer. Setting up a network was not necessary. I don't remember if I had to copy this to CD and install it on my old computer also - maybe I did.
This isn't compatible with ME, only XP and 2000 I believe. Nice of MS to give older OS users the shaft. You'd think I was trying to move files from a Mac or something. But what can I do? I'm resigned to using CD-RWs and/or flash drives.

[Munkey]

For all the time you spent, it would have been much easier to pull the drive from your ME machine and hook it up on your Vista machine and transfer files. Still worth considering

ME was terrible with networking.



I agree. Install the hard drive from the old pc into the new one as a slave. Then, unless you still plan to use the old pc or sell it or something, you can format the old drive and use it as storage in the new pc.

[EVAC41]

Hello,

I got my new Vista home premium computer today and now need to transfer the files from my old ME computer to it. I have both connected to my router and both can get on the internet. I was planning on just sharing the C drive of my ME computer and then transfering the files to the Vista over the network. BUT, I don't have the ability to share my ME C drive (no option when I right click > properties on it) AND when I go to the Vista's network folder, I do not see my ME computer.

So, is there a way I can make this work? Or am I going to be forced to burn to CD or use a flash drive to transfer my files?

(Gesh, you think I was trying to transfer files from a Mac - these are 2 microsoft OS afterall!) Thanks for the help.

I just got a new computer with Vista home basic.. I got rid of it and put Windows XP on and all the components work. Some of the programs that we use to program radios in our rescue squad don't like vista at all. The CD will not even do an autostart with Vista. Plus I put in a 1gb ram stick with 512k on board before the upgrade and it still ran slow. Now with windows xp it screams..

[leww37334]

To transfer files I would recommend buying an external usb hard drive.

1. Hook it up to ME, transfer files hook it up to Vista move them back.

2. After all this is done use the USB external drive for backup ( you need a backup system anyway).


3. I recommend the Western Digital MYBOOK series, simply because of the bundled Retrospect software, OR if you are really cheap get a cheap IDE drive and buy a USB external enclosure.

[leww37334]

Another thought, buy a usb hard drive enclosure, take the hard drive out of the ME machine and put it in the USB enclosure, Hook that up to the Vista machine. ($30 solution)

[Indiana627]

I figured it out last night. The Norton firewall was blocking Vista from seeing ME over the network. As soon as I turned it off, ME showed up on Vista's network, so I was able to move all the files over my network as I originally had hoped. Thanks for all the advice though. I was ready to go buy a flash drive.