Al Roller wrote about a couple of devices that allow him to manipulate files on two computers, using a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse:

"Wanting to operate my old XP & my new Vista computer side-by-side with one monitor, I went to the PC Club store (2216 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA) to buy a video A-B switch. However, the salesman came up with a better solution to what I had in mind. A company named IOGear (Irvine, CA) markets a cable harness called the Micro PS/2 KVM Switch ($34.95) that plugs into the backs of two PCs, then connects to each PC's video output and into a single video monitor. It then connects to each PC's mouse and keyboard connector."

"With this setup you can control both PCs with one mouse and one keyboard. Switching back and forth is accomplished by pressing your keyboard's Scroll Lock key twice."

The Tornado

"Next, to transfer data back and forth between the two PCs I bought another very clever gadget called the Tornado File Transfer Tool for about $60. It's about the size of a CD disc case with two retractable USB cables that plug into a USB port on each PC. The device has built-in software that displays two side-by-side panels, showing the contents of each PC's hard drive and allowing easy copying of files back and forth between the computers."

So why did Al buy both devices? Well, the KVM Switch is strictly for viewing and using files on two PCs simultaneously, while the Tornado can copy files from one computer to another. However, the files are copied, not moved. If you want files deleted from the older PC you must remove them manually. However, simply deleting files to the recycle bin and then emptying the bin does not necessarily kill the data. A program such as KillDisk (free from www.KillDisk.com) should be used to wipe a hard disk clean.

Furthermore, the Tornado is not a storage device for backing up data. This is why I prefer copying files to an external hard drive -- or to a USB flash memory drive -- and then copying them to a new PC. In either case, you cannot normally copy applications (programs such as Word or Excel) from one computer to another. This requires reinstalling the programs from their original CDs, unless you buy special software such as Norton Ghost from Symantec for about $70.

More information about the Tornado can be found at www.theTornado.com.

Speaking of flash memory drives, I've seen 16-gigabyte units advertised recently for under $100. This boggles the minds of many of us who remember when 720-kilobyte floppy disks seemed like a major breakthrough, and 5-megabyte internal hard drives costing thousands of dollars were beyond the reach of most computer users.

Al and I also discussed getting Outlook Express files from an old PC into Windows Live Mail on a new computer. I'll explain this next time.

© - Donald Ray Edrington - All Rights Reserved

---

Don's Tips on How To Avoid Receiving Spam

© — Donald Ray Edrington — All Rights Reserved

Top of Page

---

Downloadable Music — Mostly 20th Century Big Band Swing Songs Instrumentalists & Big Bands Floyd Cramer Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey Benny Goodman Harry James Wayne King Guy Lombardo Glenn Miller Artie Shaw Billy Vaughn Bob Wills Texas Playboys Groups Andrews Sisters Ames Brothers Brothers Four Four Aces Ink Spots Mills Brothers Singalong with Mitch Miller Platters Statler Brothers Gals Teresa Brewer Karen Carpenter Patsy Cline Skeeter Davis Deanna Durbin Rosemary Clooney Doris Day Ella Fitzgerald Helen Forrest Connie Francis Judy Garland Lena Horne Brenda Lee Peggy Lee Julie London Loretta Lynn Jo Stafford Vera Lynn Dinah Shore Patti Page Kate Smith Jo Stafford Kitty Wells Tammy Wynette DonEdrington@gmail.com Guys Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante Eddy Arnold Tony Bennett Pat Boone, Sonny James Johnny Cash Ray Charles Buddy Clark Nat King Cole Jerry Colonna Perry Como Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby Vic Damone Billy Eckstine Eddie Fisher John Gary Engelbert Humperdinck Dick Haymes Frankie Laine Jerry Lee Lewis Dean Martin Johnny Mathis Elvis Presley Ray Price Jim Reeves Frank Sinatra Hank Snow, Hank Thompson Jerry Vale Slim Whitman Hank Williams Latin American CeliaCruz, Ernesto Lecuona, Bienvenido Granda Placido Domingo y Amigos Eydie Gorme, Trio Los Panchos Ana Gabriel, Rocío Dúrcal y Juan Gabriel Luís Miguel y Lucho Gatica Julio Iglesias Nana Mouskouri, Vikki Carr, Joan Baez Musical Comparisons Teach Me Tonight You Belong to My Heart You Are Always in My Heart Amapola, La Paloma Plus Many, Many, Many Others... Top of Page