[passmeby]

Hello. Can anyone help me with a question about transferring files from one computer to another? What would be the easiest and cheapest way to take the songs from one of my computers and get them all onto my new computer? I have about 400 songs on my old computer that I'd like to pick through and put selected ones (probably about 300) onto my new computer. Thanks for any help.

PS I need this to be easy!

[retsoksirhc]

The most cost effective and easiest way would probably be to take a USB flashdrive and transfer the files to there from one computer, then load them onto the other computer.

It might take a couple trips back and forth to get everything you want, but you'll only have to plug it in, drag and drop, and repeat. Plus it's pretty inexpensive.. if you don't have one already, they cost about $20 or $30.

[ScottGem]

Actually, even cheaper would be to burn the songs to a CD and copying them that way. Assuming the songs are all MP3s or WMAs, you should be able to fit close to 300 songs on one CD.

[donf]

Failing that, setting up a peer to peer network and doing a file transfer would also do the trick.

[NeedKarma]

I'l go with the USB key. They are invaluable these days. Got a tiny 4 GB one for $30. CDRs only hold 700MB, if each mp3 is 4 MB on average then you can only fit 175 files on one CDR.

[passmeby]

I had thought to burn them to CDs but the CDs that I have only fit maybe a max of 15 songs. Is there bigger CDs out there that I would have to buy? I certainly don't want to have to burn 20 CDs to get this done. Will a DVD cd work for this? I have one or two of those laying around. 4.7 Gig is the size.

[passmeby]

Oh, when I say my CDs fit about 15 songs, that's when I'm burning a CD to play in a radio. Is there some other way to burn it so it holds more?

[progunr]

Actually, even cheaper would be to burn the songs to a CD and copying them that way. Assuming the songs are all MP3s or WMAs, you should be able to fit close to 300 songs on one CD.

How can you fit that many songs on one CD?

Seriously, I can never get more than 18 to 20 when I burn to CD?

I agree with the flash drive, they are SO USEFUL! I have several that can interchange between my phone, my digital camera, and my laptop. With a card reader/writer there are so many uses available, it is a wise and inexpensive purchase.

[NeedKarma]

Oh, when I say my CDs fit about 15 songs, that's when I'm burning a CD to play in a radio. Is there some other way to burn it so it holds more?

Yes, you burn a Data CD not a Audio CD.

[passmeby]

I do have this thing that has a USB connection on one end and a slot for a memory card on the other, like an XD or SD card. I used it for one of my old computers to put pics on it, as it didn't have memory card slots. Would this thing work for this purpose or is it only for pictures?

[NeedKarma]

Yes it would work. Digital data is digital data, whether it is a jpeg or an mp3 or a Word doc. Good luck!

[progunr]

I do have this thing that has a USB connection on one end and a slot for a memory card on the other, like an XD or SD card. I used it for one of my old computers to put pics on it, as it didn't have memory card slots. Would this thing work for this purpose or is it only for pictures??

If you can store photos on it, you can store music files as well.

Sounds like you may have already solved your problem!

[ScottGem]

Ok, first, If you are making a CD that will play in ANY CD player, then you will be limited to under 20 songs. This is because the standard format for audio CDs is WAV file, whch are huge. However, MP3s and WMA files are much smaller. If you burn the files as a data disk, you can fit a couple of hundred songs. If you have an CD player that supports MP3 or WMA format you can actually play those songs in your player. I had a CD with just over 200 songs on it.

The memory card reader you have will work. Depends on the size of the memory card as to how many songs you can get on it.