These services are often free for a small amount of storage, and then charge a monthly subscription as your storage needs increase. Again, just drop and drag your files from your old computer to the cloud service, and then drag-and-drop the files onto your new computer. If you don't want to purchase an external hard drive, you can also move and store your files into the cloud-using an Internet-based storage service such as Microsoft OneDrive*, Google Drive*, or Dropbox*.
Tip: Some computers have eSATA ports that are specifically designed for external hard drives and move data even faster than USB ports. Simply copy your files onto the external drive, eject the storage device, plug the storage device into the new computer, and then reverse the process to load the files onto it. There are a couple of ways to do this.įor starters, plug your old computer into a USB flash drive or external hard drive, which typically can cost from $30 to several hundred dollars depending on the storage amount, speed, and functionality you need. If you're a hands-on sort, one of the simplest ways to get your new computer loaded with all your files is to manually move them.
