Transferring your files

There are three sensible ways to do this. Which one suits you depends mostly on whether your old computer still turns on.

Do this first

Make a list of the programs you use, and find the licence keys or logins for anything you paid for. Files copy across easily; software licences are what people get stuck on days later.

If your old computer still works

Option 1: Cloud storage (easiest)

If you already use OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud or Dropbox, sign in on the new computer and your files come down on their own. Nothing else to do.

If you don’t, the free tier of any of them is enough for documents. Photo and video libraries are usually too big to be worth it, so use an external drive instead.

Option 2: An external drive or USB stick

Reliable, and works for any amount of data.

1. Plug the drive into your old computer.
2. Copy across the folders that actually matter. In almost every case that’s everything under C:\Users\[your name]: Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Videos, Music.
3. Safely eject, plug it into the new computer, and copy the folders into the matching places.
4. Open a few files and check they’re really there before you wipe anything.

Option 3: Have us do it

Bring both computers in and we’ll transfer everything across for you. Contact us for pricing and to book it in.

If your old computer won’t turn on

Your files are very likely fine. A computer that won’t boot has usually lost a power supply, a motherboard or a fan. The drive, where your files live, is normally untouched and can simply be read on another machine.

Don’t throw the old computer away. Bring it in and we’ll recover the data off the drive. Talk to us before you do anything else with it.

Don’t forget

These are the ones people miss, and they’re all annoying to lose:

• Browser bookmarks and saved passwords: sign into your browser account on the new machine, or export bookmarks to a file
• Email, if you use a desktop mail program rather than webmail
• Photos and videos: check phone backup folders, not just Pictures
• Software licence keys for anything you paid for
• Two-factor authentication apps, which often need to be deliberately moved before you wipe the old device. Losing an authenticator app can lock you out of accounts entirely, so do this one carefully and first.

Before you get rid of the old computer

Wipe it, or have it wiped. Deleting files does not remove them from the drive; they’re recoverable with free tools.

We’ll do this properly and give you a certificate confirming it. See Data wiping and destruction. If the machine has any value left we may pay you for it, so see Trade in your old computer.