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Computer networks. Quickly set up a network for file sharing. How to share files over Wi-Fi. Setting up a home network between PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones

Below is a list of different methods that you can use to copy information from one computer to another.

Review each of the options below to decide which will work best for you.

Note: When copying information, copy only the data files. For example, do not copy the Microsoft Word program, but only the Word documents, and then install Microsoft Word on the new computer.

Tip: Windows users can find most of their data files, pictures, and documents in the My Documents folder.

Net

If you have a home network or plan to create a network, then you can transfer and share files over a local network.

A network is the fastest way to transfer files between computers, and once you create one, you can immediately start exchanging files.

Clouds

Nowadays, cloud services make it easy to move and share data between multiple computers and other devices.

Now the best online cloud services are Google Drive and Dropbox. Once your data is in the cloud, any device with internet access can access it.

USB

USB ports and devices such as flash drives also make it quick and easy to transfer files from one computer to another. Use any of the USB options below.

Method one

USB flash drives and USB hard drives are another easy way to transfer data between computers and are a good backup solution.

After the information is copied to the device, it can be transferred to another computer.

Method two

USB allows you to transfer information from one computer to another via a USB cable.

This solution is sometimes easier than installing a standard Ethernet network and still provides unlimited data sharing.


If both computers are Windows based (Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8), you can use Windows' built-in "Easy Transfer" program to perform the data transfer.

Only you need an “Easy cable” to transfer files for this process to work effectively. It can be found online or at most major computer retail stores.

Internet and email

Today, there are dozens of online services that allow you to move and copy files from one computer to another.

On the other hand, if you only have a few files that need to be copied, you can simply send them via email.

CD and DVD

If you don't have any USB drive, you can copy your information to a CD or DVD, which is another good solution for moving files from one computer to another.

Floppy disks

For older computers that do not have disc burning, USB, or Internet capabilities, copying files to a floppy disk may be the only alternative.

However, if you need to copy large amounts of data from one computer to another, you should try other solutions; floppy disks do not have much space to accommodate the information.

Connecting computers

Direct serial connection between computers is a method of connecting older computers using a serial port and a serial cable.

Although this is a very slow solution, connecting computers to each other may be the only solution for devices without Internet access, disks or USB ports.

Transferring files via hard drive

If you have a computer where the hard drive has stopped working, remove it and place it in a working one to transfer the information.

For example, you can remove the hard drive from your laptop and connect it directly to your desktop computer.


To do this, you need to purchase an enclosure kit that is designed for portable hard drives.

Such enclosure kits will allow you to use the hard drive as an external hard drive and connect it to any computer using the included USB cable.

After this, you will be able to transfer files from your laptop’s hard drive to any other computers.

The article describes ways in which you can transfer data from one computer to another with a guarantee of data safety and without much effort. Transferring files, settings and programs to a new computer can be difficult and intimidating for the user, especially if he does not know how to do it correctly and where to start.

Often it all comes down to the user copying the most necessary and important data from the old PC to an external storage medium, and then copying it to the hard drive of the new computer. This method also exists, but it is associated with the risk of data loss during the process and/or as a result of information transfer. But what about applications and operating system settings?

In fact, there are several ways that will help you transfer data from one computer to another with better quality and with less effort, and, very importantly, with a guarantee of safety.

Content:

Data Migration Tools

There are many utilities for transferring data, settings and programs to a new computer. To use them, you just need to install such a program on both computers and use them to transfer your files, applications and settings.

A tool with this functionality is also provided free of charge by Microsoft - Windows Easy Transfer. And although, starting with Windows 10, it is no longer available as a built-in utility in the operating system, Microsoft offers to use another third-party application - PCmover Express.

The principle of operation of the program is as follows: connect an external storage device to your computer and launch the application; transfer your data from your computer to an external drive and then connect it to another PC to which you need to transfer the data; run this application on a new computer and transfer data from external media to this computer.

Backup and restore files

The system's built-in File Backup and Restore tool also allows you to transfer files and system settings to another computer.

Using this tool you can create a system image. This will be a complete image of the operating system, including system files, installed programs and personal files. It is enough to simply deploy the system image that was created from the old computer on a new computer.

Just copy the files

Also, do not forget about the possibility of copying files manually, this way you can transfer personal files from computer to computer. To do this, connect an external storage medium of sufficient capacity to your computer (for example, an external hard drive) and copy all the files that need to be transferred to it. After this, connect this drive to the new computer and transfer the necessary files.

If all your files on your computer are well organized and you know their location on your hard drive, then you will not have any difficulties implementing this method.


This way, you will be able to transfer files, but not settings. If you also need to transfer browser bookmarks, you will need to export/import them using the functions of the browser itself. All modern browsers also have synchronization functions, with which you can import all settings.

Cloud storage

Cloud storage services can store user data, settings, and other data, and do a good job of it. To do this, just install the service client on your computer and configure data saving with its help. On another computer, it will be enough to install the same client and log into the account you created earlier, and you will have access to all the data saved in it.

There are many such services at the moment, the most popular of which are Dropbox and Google Drive, as well as Microsoft OneDrive integrated into Windows. You can use any one convenient for you.


If your computer crashes

If the transition to a new computer is due to the inoperability of the old one, then the user’s personal data can also be transferred from it.

To do this, connect the hard drive of the old computer to the new one and check how it is detected by the operating system (it all depends on the reasons for the failure of the old PC). If it is recognized by the computer as another hard drive and all files are available for use on it, then it is enough to carry out the actions described in paragraph "Just copy the files". You can only copy them directly to the hard drive of your new computer.

If the hard drive files from the old computer are not displayed, then you can recover them using the hard drive data recovery program - Hetman Partition Recovery. To do this, launch it and scan your hard drive. Save all files detected by the program to a new computer hard drive.


Switching to a new computer should not be difficult for the user. Some tools even provide the ability to transfer installed programs and applications. But the most important factor in data transfer is the user's personal files, which should not be damaged or lost during the process or as a result of the data transfer. The methods described above should help the user avoid such unpleasant consequences.

Into a single network. It is best to use a network cable for this. This will significantly reduce your costs compared to buying a Wi-Fi adapter. Another advantage of a cable connection is the high data transfer speed (up to 100 Mbit/s). Purchase twisted pair cable of the required length. Connect its connectors to the network adapters of your computer and laptop.

Turn on both devices and wait until they boot up. Open Network and Sharing Center on your computer. Select the "Change adapter settings" menu. Go to the properties of the network card connected to the laptop. Open the TCP/IPv4 Internet Protocol settings. Set this network card to a static IP address.

Perform a similar setup for the network adapter of your mobile computer, changing the last segment of the IP address. Now configure your sharing options. This is necessary so that the computer can access certain folders on the laptop.

Open the Network and Sharing Center, select "Change sharing settings." Select the profile you are currently using, for example "Home or Work". Expand its menu and activate the “Enable network discovery” item. Now in the “Access to shared folders” sub-item, select the “Enable” option. Click the "Save Changes" button.

Open the local drive to which you will copy the files. Create a new folder and share it. Select Read & Write. Go to your computer and press the Win and R keys. Enter the line \\100.100.100.2 in the field that opens. In this case, the numbers symbolize the IP address of the laptop. Open a public folder and copy the information you need there.

Sources:

  • how to transfer files from computer to computer

Files transferred from computer to a computer in order to use them on a computer that does not have them, as well as for editing and more convenient presentation or viewing. To transfer files from computer to a computer, you need to copy it using data transfer technology. This is possible both with the help of removable media and with the help of CD. If copying using these methods is not possible, the Internet is used.

You will need

  • - Computer No. 1
  • - removable drive
  • - CD-R/CD-RW
  • - Internet
  • - Computer No. 2

Instructions

Video on the topic

Helpful advice

If there are too many files, split them into several archives.

Compact disk different from flash drive or hard drive disk but the fact that it cannot be transferred to it files by simple copying. Files on disk need to be recorded using a recordable optical drive.

Instructions

If a few years ago an optical recording device was a curiosity, then any modern one is equipped with one. In addition to the ability of such drives to record any information on disk and, you can mark some burn image on the top disk a.To take advantage of the recording option disk, make sure your optical drive is writeable. Such drives will definitely have an icon in the form of two letters: RW.

A window will open into which you should transfer the required files by dragging them with the mouse from another window.

Now click in the upper left part of the optical drive window on the inscription “Burn files on compact disk" The Recording Wizard will open. disk ov that will prompt you to enter the name of your new disk and will perform the recording process. Thus, files will be transferred from to disk.

Skills such as transferring line or making a space, relate to the very basics of working in a text editor and on the computer in general. Without knowing them, it will simply be impossible for a novice user to move on to more serious tools for writing and formatting text. This is almost the same as typing a document without knowing the keys.

You will need

  • Mouse, keyboard
  • text editor

Instructions

In order to transfer line below, place the cursor at the place from which you plan to perform this operation. You can move the cursor either with the mouse or with the arrows. Press the "Enter" key. The blinking cursor will be at the beginning of the next line. Together with him on line the remaining one will be transferred below.

If you are planning to transfer line above and somewhere else, then it should be copied. Highlight line, then right-click on it. Select "Copy". Move your cursor to the place where you will be line. Right-click again and click “Paste.”

Sources:

  • Navigate through a document

In large offices, installing an operating system on computers takes quite a long time. However, installing Windows itself does not take as much time as setting up parameters for each user. Moreover, the parameters are similar, and in some cases completely identical.

Instructions

The developers of the Windows operating system have added the ability to copy and move profiles. user, and, accordingly, all the settings of these profiles. Rename the Default User folder.
This folder is located on the system disk. Go to your system drive (drive C: by default). And go to the "Documents and Settings" folder. This is where the “Default User” folder should be located. Left-click on this folder and select “Rename” from the drop-down list. Then give a new folder name.
Note: The “Default User” folder is , so you must first enable the display of hidden files and folders.

Rename the folder by user, profile which needs to be transferred. To do this, follow the following path “C:Documents and Settings”. Left-click on the name of the old profile, select “Rename” and enter the folder name: “Default User”.

Create a new one user Windows and log in under his account. In this case, all settings for the new profile user will be taken from the “Default User” folder, and as you remember, profile it is this folder that you needed to move. Note: all of the above actions must be performed from an administrator account and this should not be the one whose settings you need to transfer.

note

If you need to copy the necessary information from one device to another, there are many methods. Some will seem complex and intricate to inexperienced users, while others will seem quite simple. This introductory article will tell you about each of the methods, and you can choose the method yourself according to your capabilities.

First method and the simplest one is normal copying all necessary information. You will need an empty disk or flash drive. You move all the necessary files, for example, to a flash drive and from it to a second computer.

Second method represents copying data directly from HDD drive. To implement this method, you will need to connect an external HDD to one computer and copy all the information to it. After that, just connect it to a second device and transfer the data.

A more complex method for an inexperienced user is third method. Copy is also carried out using a hard drive. You need to remove the hard drive from one device and put it on another. Now you can safely copy all the data without fear of data loss. After a complete copy, install the hard drive back on your “native” computer. Although the method is quite complicated, it is also the most profitable. If this is your first time wanting to remove a hard drive yourself, we recommend watching a training video on the Internet or reading a useful article to avoid unpleasant incidents.

The essence fourth method represents using a special cable and setting up network cards on both computers. This method is described in more detail below.

Transferring data using a network cable and setting up network cards

Before starting work, you must enable the network cards on Device1 and Device2. Click “Start” (the icon is located in the lower left corner of the Workbar). Next, select “Settings Panel”, click on “Network Settings” once, then click “Enable” on “Network Connection”. The process of connecting the network card is completed. Next we need a special crossover cable. If you don't have one, you need to purchase it at a specialized computer store; be careful when purchasing, it differs from a standard cable.

The next step is connecting the purchased cable. It must be connected between two devices. On the back panel of each system unit, find a special port called “Ethernet”. After this, a so-called static IP is assigned, which is also called a permanent address.

Let's move directly to setting up the network on computers and setting a static IP. Go to “Start”, select “Settings Panel”.

Next, a special window will open in the “Settings Panel”, in which you need to double-click on the “Network Connection” icon. There will be a window again, in it select “Connect to a network”, we have created a map of the required network. Next, click on the icon and select “Properties”. “Internet Protocol” and similarly select “Properties”. Select “Network Protocol”, click “Properties”, in which select “Use required IP”.

After going through all the above steps, you need to register data for each device. Let us remind you that we call them Device1 And Device2. After entering all the data, confirm your choice. Please note that the values ​​given below are for demonstration purposes only.

So, the data for Devices1:

  • IP address field: 192.168.1.1;
  • Gateway field: do not fill in;
  • DNS server field: do not fill in.

Values ​​for Devices2:

  • IP address field: 192.168.1.2;
  • Subnet mask field: 255.255.255.0;
  • Gateway field: do not fill in;
  • DNS server field: do not fill in.

After filling in the data and confirming your choice, all you have to do is check the connection between the devices.

The response should look like: “Response from 192.168.1.2: number of bytes=32.”

If it works properly according to the principle described above, all you have to do is send all the files from one personal computer to another.

Select the required folder with the contents and click on it, select “Sharing” in the window and configure the “Security” tab, confirm the choice. A “hand” should appear under the required folder, if this happens, then congratulations, the whole process was completely correct.

It is impossible to imagine the modern world without electronics. Every day people use smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers and other digital equipment. Network technologies and the steady increase in the quality of Internet connections are increasing the ease of interaction of gadgets with each other, but it is too early to talk about complete integration. The easiest way to do this is with desktop PCs. Equipped with full-fledged Ethernet adapters operating at speeds up to 1 Gbit/s, they are easily combined into a common infrastructure via a local network. It’s more difficult with portable technology: a wired connection between a laptop and other devices requires a cable line and negates the advantage of mobility. And tablets and smartphones are completely devoid of wired network interfaces: the RJ-45 connector, even theoretically, will not fit in a case less than 1 cm thick. The only cable connection option is the USB bus, the decoding of which name, although it contains the word “universal,” is not entirely so in practice.

The main task, the solution of which may require a high-speed connection of several gadgets, is the exchange of large files. The most common example of this situation is the need to copy photos and videos from a smartphone to a PC, or the need to download a movie to the memory of a mobile device to watch on the go. To solve this problem, as a rule, a USB cable or card reader is used (if the smartphone or tablet is equipped with MicroSD).

A cable connection is not always convenient, especially if the PC is busy or there is no appropriate cord at hand. In addition, not all mobile devices support connection in flash drive mode. Some require searching, installing drivers and auxiliary software for correct connection. To remove a MicroSD memory module from a smartphone, you often need to remove the cover and take out the battery or look for a thin, sharp object to remove the side tray. These actions are tiring and cause discomfort, even when the need for them is rare.

Few people know that you can exchange files between laptops, mobile devices and computers via Wi-Fi. The wireless interface frees you from worries in the form of searching for a suitable cable and appropriate connectors, and installing drivers. In addition, you do not need to release the second device to use it.

For example, if you urgently need to transfer photos from your smartphone to your home PC or laptop, which is occupied by another family member, you don’t need to ask him to free the car. It is enough to establish a Wi-Fi connection to your home network.

How to share files over Wi-Fi

There are several ways to share files via wifi between laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets. Some are universal, others are feasible only under certain conditions. The most convenient of them will be discussed below.

The local network

Using a local network is a universal way to share files between a wide variety of electronics. Computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones on Windows and Android platforms can be combined into a single infrastructure. The only requirement is that the devices have wired or wireless interfaces (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

Before you exchange files via Wi-Fi from your phone to your computer (or between laptops), you need to ensure that they are connected to a common network. Usually there are no problems at home; difficulties sometimes occur in office networks.

In the average apartment, access to the network is organized by connecting to a dedicated line via cable or optical fiber. On the subscriber side, a universal router is usually installed, equipped with wired (from 1 to 8) and wireless (for dozens of simultaneous connections) interfaces. When using “default” (or close to them) hardware and operating system settings, all devices connected to the router end up physically on the same network.

How to send files over Wi-Fi to a PC, laptop or Windows tablet from an Android device

Setting up on a computer

Before sharing files via Wi-Fi from your phone to your computer, you should make sure that your smartphone is on the same network as your PC. If there is one router installed in the house, connected to a PC via cable, and a smartphone is connected to it via Wi-Fi, the additional setup consists only of allowing access to the computer from other devices. To do this, you need to go to the “Control Panel” and select “Network and Sharing Management” there. In the menu that opens, you need to go to the “Change advanced sharing settings” item and check the “Enable network discovery” and “Enable file and printer sharing” checkboxes.

If only trusted users are connected to the network, and the Wi-Fi connection is password protected, in the same menu you can select the “Disable password protected sharing” checkbox. This will eliminate the need to constantly enter your PC username and password when connecting.

The next step is to open access to the computer disk. In Windows Explorer, right-click on the hard drive partition and select Properties. In the “Access” tab, click “Advanced settings”, assign a name and set read and write permissions. After this, you can freely write files to the disk from a smartphone or another PC on the network.

Setting up on a smartphone or tablet

Before you can share files over Wi-Fi from your phone to your computer, you also need to set up your smartphone. Built-in file managers usually do not have network functions, so third-party programs are needed. X-Plore (further illustrations are based on its example) or ES Explorer would be perfect for this role.

On the main screen of the program (where the list of drives is displayed), you need to click the settings icon and check the “Show local network” checkbox.
Next, open the LAN item and click the “Add Server” button, selecting the “Search” sub-item. The program will scan the network and display available computers.
To connect to one of them, click on its name, and in the window that opens, enter your username (account on your PC) and password. This list will display a list of all the locations (drives and folders) on your computer that are shared. You can work with them in the same way as with sections in the memory of a smartphone.

Now you can exchange files over Wi-Fi whenever the devices are on the same network. If password protection is disabled, you don’t even need to enter a password to connect.

How to share files over Wi-Fi between laptops

In order to exchange Wi-Fi between laptops, the built-in functionality of Windows is sufficient. The entire procedure for setting up sharing does not differ from that when enabling access to a PC from a smartphone. The only thing is, if they are not in a common home group, they need to create one. To do this, open the “Manage networks and sharing” item in the “Control Panel”, select the “Home Group” submenu on the left and follow the OS recommendations. To connect a second computer, you need to select the same item on it, connect to the created group and enter the password that was generated by the first PC.

To work with files from a second computer, you need to right-click on the “Computer” icon (on the “Desktop” or in the “Start” menu) and open “Map network drive” in the pop-up context menu. Clicking the "Browse" button opens a list of available networks and computers connected to them.
Having selected the one you need, you should log in to it with the password of its account in order to get into the list of available resources. Once you specify a location, you must assign a letter to it. Now you can work with the disks of this PC in the same way as with the partitions of your computer.

Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi Direct is a data transfer protocol designed to directly connect two devices without using a router. In theory, it is supported by most modern Android smartphones. But in practice certain difficulties arise. Many smartphone manufacturers do not fully support this feature in their devices. The very possibility of turning it on is present in the settings. To do this, select the “Wi-Fi” item, go to “Advanced settings” and select “Wi-Fi Direct” there. This must be done on both devices simultaneously. In practice, the function is fully present on some Samsung and, possibly, smartphones from other brands. When they turn on “direct” in the “Transfer” context menu, called up by holding your finger on the file icon in the file manager, the “Wi-Fi Direct” sub-item appears. Asus has changed it and renamed it to “Share Link”, Xiaomi uses an analogue of Mi Drop. The situation is similar with products from other companies.

How to Share Files via Wi-Fi Direct

Before sharing files via Wi-Fi Direct between smartphones of different brands, you need to make sure that the function is fully supported. If this is the case, after establishing a connection in any file manager, you need to open the context menu of the file that you want to transfer, select an item like “Transfer” and find Wi-Fi Direct in the list of options.

If this is not possible, third-party software comes to the rescue. There are programs SuperBeam, WiFi ShooT and others that have transmission capabilities. But not everyone will like this method: keeping an application that performs one function is not always convenient. The already mentioned X-Plore is a more universal solution with richer options, so the choice fell on it. The program has a “Sharing via Wi-Fi” item, which works using a similar protocol. It allows you to connect two smartphones to a network to share files via Wi-Fi Direct.

On the first smartphone you need to open this option, click the “Wi-Fi Server” button and turn it on. On the other device you need to launch X-Plore, in the same item select “Search” and go to the list of disk resources of the found smartphone. You can work with them in the same way as with the gadget’s built-in memory or MicroSD card.

Conclusion

Wireless file sharing is convenient, and a home local network is a universal means of combining all computers and mobile devices in the house into a single infrastructure. Wi-Fi speeds in theory reach 300 or 150 Mbit/s (there are more, but they are not supported by portable electronics), which is enough to transfer documents. But in practice, everything depends on the congestion of the airwaves, the power of the wireless transmitter in the smartphone or tablet, and other conditions. Often the actual speed is noticeably inferior to a cable connection, and it is better to use USB to transfer large files.

Also, before sharing files via Wi-Fi Direct, you need to make sure you have enough battery power. The active network module consumes battery capacity very quickly, and when transferring large amounts of data, you can suddenly end up with a turned off smartphone.

Don't forget about safety. If you disabled password protection before sending files via Wi-Fi from your phone to your computer or exchanging them between laptops, it is better to return it so that others cannot delete or change personal data on the disk.