moving files from Windows 98 to Vista

[Dave007inVegas]

My old computer just about died. Bought a new Gateway with Vista. What's the easiest way to transfer from Windows98 to Vista. Files are MP3's. WMV's. Word Doc's ect. Bought a UBS Flash drive but can't figure out how the hell to use it. Any help would be greatly appeciated. PS. I'm not completely illiterate when it comes to this sort of thing. I usally figure thinks out by trial and error, but this time I'm at a complete loss.
Thanks in advance help. - Dave

 

[Dr.Pepper]

If you have a dead computer that might slow you down. You need to see if the HD is still functional. Many times, new computers have the ability to have 2 hard drives inside the system as a C: and D: drive. If you know how to add one, or know how to use Google to find a good tutorial -- add the old one to your computer as a "slave". If it is not dead, you should have it load into My Computer and you should be able to access and then copy files from it to your new system. You will see the old Windows 98 directory but it will not attempt to load it as the operating system because of its "slave" status and the fact that the original HD for vista is where it is looking to load from.

 

[honkee]

Your computer should automatically detect the flash drive as a hard drive on your pc, its as simple as dragging over your files to the flash drive.

Also if you think your hdd is dead and need a lil pep in the step for transferring the files.
Try taking your hdd out, placing it in the freezer for about half an hour, shaking the shit out of it and than reinstall back in your pc.
Works most of the time for me when i had a dying hdd.
And no im not bsing about that freezer trick

 

[Dr.Pepper]

A Windows 98 will not recognize a flash drive as simple as XP does. Keep that in mind. You will have to install drivers for it. That being said, your Windows 98 system will need USB ports, and many original Windows 98 machines did not have them.

No, don't put your HD in the freezer. That's a LAST RESORT STEP, that should not be used unless you have exhausted all options. I can't stress that enough. Do not shake the "shit" out of it. Honkee, it may have worked for you and a select few others -- but that is not anywhere on the list of safe, productive steps to take in order to retrieve files. There is a lot more that goes into it than freezing and shaking. Again, definitely something you want to consider after ALL other options have failed. And based on the original post , we haven't determined if it's FAILING or FAILED.

 

[Dave007inVegas]

Dr Pepper and Honkee,
Gentlemen thanks for replying. I should have been a little less vague when I posted. The old computer is still funcional, just slow and needed rebooting often. The flash drive was not recognized by the old windows 98. So I went to the UBS web site an got instructions for uninstalling and reinstalling the Cruzer Micro. I reinstalled the Micro, but the system still didn't reconize it.
The Micro package says it requires Windows 2000 XP, when I questioned the tech, he said it would work with 98. Did he lie? This may sound stupid but does it matter which port I use, there are two. - Dave

 

[Dr.Pepper]

The port does not matter. Use Google to find similar people with your issues. Something along the lines of, using flash drives with windows 98...just use specifics.

You can always try both ports if you are worried that one works and the other does not.