Transferring data to another computer

[v8man]

I appologise in advance if this is a really simple problem, but there is only one way to learn...ask

I am selling my business very soon and included in the sale is the computer containing all of the customer/vehicle details & service histories etc.
I also run Sage accounts on this computer.

I will need to keep the Sage accounts information somehow, so that I can eventually finalise my accounts. I have a laptop which I can do this on, but is it possible to transfer all of the accounts information currently held on the work p.c. The work computer is running on Windows 95 and has a read only CD. My laptop has Windows XP with CD r-w/dvd.

What options (if any)do I have. I will need to do this on the very last day of business so I have about 4 weeks to find a solution.

You may have noticed from the above that my computer knowledge is non-existent so please try to keep the language simple if possible.

My other option could be to get someone in to do this. I don't want to risk loosing this vital information due to my own lack of knowledge.

Many thanks

Andy

[alunr]

Simply go into sage and do a backup to a diskette/diskettes and restore to your new PC from there.

You'll need a copy of sage to put on your Laptop too.

[v8man]

And here was me worrying that it would be very complicated.


I guess 3 years worth of accounts data will take up quite a few floppy disks.

I already have a copy of Sage installed on the laptop so I can do a trail run beforehand to make sure I can't mess it up.

[alunr]

You'll be suprised how small the files can be sometimes - we;ve been running 3 years odd and its still only 1 diskette...

One of my bigger customers has about 3 diskettes but it depends what kind of business it was/is and how much data you give Sage.

[pdV6]

If you're selling the computer and don't want anyone else to access your records, best bet is to take the hard disk out and keep it. (Might need to replace it, but they're cheap as chips these days).

[v8man]

Good point, I didn't think of that.

If I delete the sage program will it also automatically delete the data.

I will worry about this tomorrow, I am going home now, I can hear the call of cold beer.

[rico]

Couldn't you just link the two computers up via a network cable then transfer the data like that?

It's what im planning to do once my laptop gets here.

[AJLintern]

You can very cheaply link two PCs using cheap (£5) 10/100 Ethernet cards and a cross over cable (a few quid)- it's also a very quick connection. That's what I've just done to transfer all files from my old computer to this one and it also allows me to share the printer

[v8man]

I think when we installed the computer it was set up to link with the laptop. So I should have the ethernet cards & cable. Haven't got a clue how to go about it

I think this may be getting a bit complicated for me so I think I will get someone in who knows what they are doing. I have too many other things to think about at the moment.

Thanks for the information.

[davidd]

Andy

Where about in Herts are you? If you are near Cambridge I could pop over and do it for you for a beer or two

D.

[pdV6]

v8man said:

If I delete the sage program will it also automatically delete the data.

Might do, might not.

Either way, the data would still be accessible to somebody who knew what they were doing. Best to take it with you if its sensitive.