using camera to transfer non-image files?

[livendive 8]

I just got a new computer and want to transfer a bunch of stuff from my old computer to my new machine. The problem is that the old computer only has a 1.44 mb floppy drive and a CD-ROM drive...i.e. nothing particularly useful.

My camera (Sony PC-35) has a 256 mb memory stick, and when it's plugged into the computer via USB, the computer seems to treat it just like any other drive. So what I'm wondering is whether I could just copy the relevant files to my camera/memory stick and move them over to the new computer that way. Will the camera freak out trying to write a *.doc file to the stick? Or will it not realize that the 1's and 0's are somewhat organized somewhat differently than in a .jpg?

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[shunkka 0]

u can transfer anything via ur memory stick...
why u dont transfer with ur HDD?

-------------------------
"jump, have fun, pull"

[Buried 0]

just remove the old HD and hook it up as a slave in the new computer.

Where is my fizzy-lifting drink?

[gemini 0]

I do it all the time with no problem. Camera will not recognize or display any files except image files. If you forget to delete them from the memory stick or card however, the camera could report the memory is full even though you haven't taken any pics.

Blue skies,

Jim

[skycat 0]

It will definately work, Derek and I do it all the time because my work computer is set up to be on a different network than his (my office network) so they can't be connected directly to eachother. If you have a way to network them together or make the old HD a slave it would save you a lot of time.

Thinking of that I need to connect my old HD to my new PC so I have a place to put my MP3s and pictures in order to free up more of my regular HD.

Fly it like you stole it!

[livendive 8]

Quote

just remove the old HD and hook it up as a slave in the new computer.

Well that would make sense. Presumably there are no compatibility issues using the HD from a 6 year old computer (i.e. the connection should be the same, just plug it in and read it)?

Next question, this time software figures in as well (XP Media Center) - Is it possible to have two different user profiles that use different hardware configurations?

I'd like to have profile for user "workstation" send video through the monitor out and (2.1) sound through the regular (stereo) speaker jack, for when I'm sitting at my workstation.

I'd like to also have a profile for user "couchpotato" that will send video through the DVI-out to my hi-def TV and also route the (5.1) sound through the S/PDIF (optical) to my surround sound system.

I'm thinking this will require a bluetooth keyboard & mouse, since I can't do line of site to two different places, plus an adaptor to make the computer's DVI port connect to the TV's HDMI port, but it seems like it ought to work. If I can do it this way, I can work at the computer when I want, but easily switch to wireless w/ premium audio/video for gaming or web surfing.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[kelpdiver 2]

if your files will fit on a 256, go for it. Might want to reformat it using the camera buttons at the end to reclaim all the space.

If the computer has a network card, easiest method is just to share the drive and copy it all over to the new one.

Least fun is yanking the drive. It can probably be arranged, but you have to cripple the old one and temporarily modify the new one, and it assumes the drive is a valid type (very like true, but). If you're not used to mucking with the inards, skip this route unless you're transferring many gigs of data.

[wartload 0]

"just remove the old HD and hook it up as a slave in the new computer."

I agree with this approach--have done it several times and it only takes about 15 minutes. Unless the old machine is really worth saving, I just leave the slave drive in as extra storage for backup, etc. If you need to save the old machine, copy the files that you need and then swap it back out.

[livendive 8]

Quote

I'd like to have profile for user "workstation" send video through the monitor out and (2.1) sound through the regular (stereo) speaker jack, for when I'm sitting at my workstation.

I'd like to also have a profile for user "couchpotato" that will send video through the DVI-out to my hi-def TV and also route the (5.1) sound through the S/PDIF (optical) to my surround sound system.

I'm thinking this will require a bluetooth keyboard & mouse, since I can't do line of site to two different places, plus an adaptor to make the computer's DVI port connect to the TV's HDMI port, but it seems like it ought to work. If I can do it this way, I can work at the computer when I want, but easily switch to wireless w/ premium audio/video for gaming or web surfing.

Well, I haven't got it *completely* figured out yet, but I am writing this from my couch, using my TV as my display. I was able to force it into 720p resolution which got rid of the flickering due to an interlaced signal, now I just need to figure out how to resize the screen so everything fits within the viewable area without taking it ouf of progressive mode. So far it's tougher than I'd imagined it would be, but I'm getting close.
Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)