Help Migrate Data from Ancient Machine

February 7, 2007 8:56 AM

Help me transfer selected files from a computer running DOS to an XP machine via a parallel cable, and let's see if we can do it for free.

One of the partners at my company has been using a DOS based machine since 1992 for some number crunching(that, incidentally, also has Windows 3.1, if that's any help at all).

The only files I will need off of the old machine are several thousand ASCII files (space-delimited text files), so the file sizes will be small.

The machine has a CD-ROM, but no ethernet or USB. I am hesitant to pull the hard drive out and put it in the new machine because I will probably get fired if the data is lost! It's pretty important stuff.

I have a Laplink parallel cable and I would like to know what software I may need on both machines to handle this. Is there any kind of DOS utility that will work like InterLnk or something?

posted by chitlin to computers & internet (7 comments total)

This program might work: LinkMaven. Supposed to be Win 3.1 and up compatible, for transfer of files via parallel port using a Laplink cable. $29.95 with a free trial. Looks like the trial is limited to 25 uses (assuming that is 25 individual executions and not 25 individual files, you should be good - otherwise find an old copy of WinZip and package those ASCII files into one archive prior to the transfer attempt).
posted by caution live frogs at 9:11 AM on February 7, 2007

Excuse me: DOS and up, Win 3.1 not required!
posted by caution live frogs at 9:12 AM on February 7, 2007

Does the DOS machine have a floppy drive ?

If so, I would zip up the files with the old DOS version of PKZIP, then copy to a floppy, spanning multiple disks if you have to.

Another alternative would be to get an old DOS terminal program like PROCOMM, and use a null-modem serial cable and Hyperterminal on the XP machine and do a ZMODEM transfer.
posted by rfs at 9:21 AM on February 7, 2007

Here's another vote for zmodem via serial cable.
posted by SpecialK at 9:50 AM on February 7, 2007

There haven't been backups? The same hard drive's been in use for 14 years? No one should be shocked if some files have gone rotten.

Not free, but an old parallel port zip drive (that can be had used for nearly we-pay-you prices) would take care of this if the cleverer solutions above don't work out.

I'd recommend finding a program that can run directly on the old machine and make a checksum for all of the files. Move the file full of checksums over too; rerun the checksum program on the new copy and compare and contrast.
posted by Zed_Lopez at 10:01 AM on February 7, 2007

To Zed_Lopez:
I honestly can't believe it's been used for this long without serious problems. I guess it's a testament to the simplicity of using DOS and DOS-based programs. Windows is used only once a year or so on that machine. I can't believe it hasn't gone out yet.

I am going to try the LinkMaven first, and I'll post a follow-up.
posted by chitlin at 10:59 AM on February 7, 2007

Well, today I used LinkMaven and successfully transferred all of the needed data. LinkMaven has a free trial with 25 runs, and I only needed one.

I will now try to get our firm to shell out the $30 to buy LinkMaven since it was so helpful!
posted by chitlin at 1:59 PM on February 8, 2007