Moving large files between Windows machines

windows networking ethernet

10,231

Solution 1

Yes, you can join both PCs with a network cable and copy the file.

To do this you must set up the network, and your file shares.

Plug each end of the crossover cable into a network port on the back of each computer.
Open Network and Sharing Center (Start, Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, Network and Sharing Center)

In the network map at the top of Network and Sharing Center, double-click the Unidentified network‍ icon.

In Network, click the Information bar containing the following message:

Network discovery and file sharing are turned off.
Network computers and devices are not visible. Click to change...

and then click Turn on network discovery and file sharing.

Do this on both computers. With any luck, this is all the network set up you will need to do.

On the PC with the file, do Properties/Sharing/Share as you mentioned in a comment.

As r0ca says, the PC that wants the file can then connect with

\\name-of-pc-with-the-file\name-of-network-share

Solution 2

Modern ethernet cards will do the crossover for you, so there's no need for a "special cable". Just connect to the two machines, set an IP for them and transfer files.

Solution 3

I'd rather use a portable media device like a USB HDD or USB key. You can also create a network share and then, transfer your files. It's quite easy.

Start - run: \\IP-or-computername\"Shared"

And then, paste your files.

Solution 4

When copying large files do NOT use windows explorer. Start a command prompt and use the copy/xcopy command.

View more solutions

10,231

Wesley Lalieu

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

Wesley Lalieu almost 2 years

I need a regular expression that accepts everything except numbers and ( & ). I'm trying but I can't seem to get it. Can anybody help me with this regex hell?

Example:

Hans Pedro (23123123) should be Hans Pedro. But the format can be different anytime.
- Josh K over 14 years
  
  How large of a file?
- sblair over 14 years
  
  See also: superuser.com/questions/6557/…
- yogeshhkumarr over 14 years
  
  @Josh K, larger than any pen drive I have on hand. I think it's about 10 gigs.
- RJFalconer over 14 years
  
  What version of windows?
- Wesley Lalieu about 12 years
  
  Example: Hans Pedro (23123123) should be Hans Pedro. But the format can be different anytime.
- npinti about 12 years
  
  Do you want the regex to reject the entire string or just extract Hand Pedro?
- Michael Berkowski about 12 years
  
  The example changes the question fundamentally. Does Hans Pedro (998abc00) match? Is the abc accepted or rejected? Do the numbers always appear inside the ()?
- Wesley Lalieu about 12 years
  
  If you have a string: "Jan d'es sol (3242) Erik" After regex: Jan d'es sol Erik
sblair over 14 years

You don't necessarily need a crossover cable; many Ethernet cards and switches will auto-crossover, so either type of cable should work.
yogeshhkumarr over 14 years

Why? Is it faster that way? More reliable?
yogeshhkumarr over 14 years

What's the difference between that command line and doing Properties/Sharing/Share this folder?
yogeshhkumarr over 14 years

How do you set an IP?
RJFalconer over 14 years

That command connects to an existing share. It does not actually create one, as your GUI approach does.
Satanicpuppy over 14 years

Yes to both. That stupid little flying document causes all kinds of trouble.
RJFalconer over 14 years

(Specifics of the instructions apply to Windows Vista. I will change it if you need instructions on a different version of windows)
Kiaurutis over 14 years

I do weekly backups of 60Gb+ using copy and paste in Windows Explorer. This is from a remote system, over network, to a USB 2.0 external HD. Never had a problem yet.
Admin over 14 years

@sblair - my apologies ... had to be just another drive-by downvote. :)
somebody over 14 years

The easiest way is to set it from TCP/IP properties. For example, on machine #1 - Set the IP as 192.168.1.1, Netmask 255.255.255.0 You can leave the gateway blank, it doesn't matter. Machine #2, set the IP as 192.168.1.2, Netmask 255.255.255.0 Then go to Start > Run, //192.168.1.1 and you should be able to see the shared folders on Machine #2 and similarly from Machine #1, Try //192.168.1.2
Christopher Creutzig about 12 years

It accepts anything that contains any number of characters not in this list. E.g., it matches a12345. It even matches 12345 …
Wesley Lalieu about 12 years

I see this one works but when i do this: System.Text.RegularExpressions.Regex.Match("qwertyuiop (55A55) POI", @"[^\(\)0-9]+").Value I get this as result: qwertyuiop
Rich McCollister about 12 years

In your above example "qwertyuiop (55A55) POI", would the A in the ( ) be returned or ignored?