Help Migrate Data from Ancient Machine
February 7, 2007 8:56 AM Subscribe
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?
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?
Excuse me: DOS and up, Win 3.1 not required!
posted by caution live frogs at 9:12 AM on February 7, 2007
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
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
Best answer: 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
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
Response by poster: 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
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
Response by poster: 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
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
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by caution live frogs at 9:11 AM on February 7, 2007