New Laptop

[tamborine]

What is the best & cheapest way to transfer my files on XP to W8.

[Buenchico]

I'd simply copy them all onto a USB memory stick and then copy them onto the laptop.

[bhg481]

Well I'd buy an external hard drive, copy your data files onto that from your laptop, safely disconnect it, connect it to your new computer and copy the files onto it.
Depending how much data you have it will probably be cheaper than memory sticks and more reliable for making regular backups from your new machine.

[tamborine]

Bhg am trying to avoid the HD extra cost; my files are too large for above suggestions and sooo time consuming to break down.

Bruv suggested I attach both lappys by cable with USB on both ends and move/drag over files. Have ordered same & will report if it works.

[barney15c]

surely xp recognise pen drives over 2gb, my 16gb sticks are recognised on my xp netbook with no problems.

[tamborine]

They are recognised but all I get is 'file is too big, remove some data'.

[bhg481]

Tamborine - how do you back-up your files at the moment? PLEASE don't say that you don't. If you do, you can just copy the files from your back-up medium onto the new laptop. If you don't back-up then I hope you don't keep anything important on your computer.

[barney15c]

how is your memory stick formatted, I think if they are formatted as NTFS you should be able to transfer larger files than if they are FAT32

[barney15c]

what about burning them to rewritable dvd's