Team-BHP - Copying large number of folders from windows XP to windows 7 laptop

I have to transfer large amount of data(contained in numerous folders) from one Windows XP laptop to a windows 7 laptop, both on the same wireless network.
I am aware of shared folders concept but here the number of folders is huge.
One way is to use an external disk, copy to disk, and then copy from disk to the Windows 7 Laptop.

But this seems inefficient. Is there a free ftp server or something which I can run on Windows 7 machine, and then use WinSCP or something like that to transfer the data.
I can either connect both laptops to each other via an ethernet cable, or use 2 ports on the router(which has 4 ethernet ports).
The latter I think will be easier.
One laptop will get 192.168.0.2, other will get 192.168.0.3 and then I can simply transfer the data.
Only problem is what kind of free FTP server I can be running on the windows 7 machine so that I can use windows SCP to transfer data quickly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1890117)

I can either connect both laptops to each other via an ethernet cable, or use 2 ports on the router(which has 4 ethernet ports).
The latter I think will be easier.
One laptop will get 192.168.0.2, other will get 192.168.0.3 and then I can simply transfer the data.

This is your best bet. But you will not need a router. Just use a normal network cable and connect both laptops and give them the IP addresses that you have decided and keep them on the same workgroup. If your laptops are equipped with gigabit network adaptors then the transfer should happen relatively quickly.

Thanks, but any more details? I am a total n00b when it comes to windows networking. So some detailed steps how to practically use it would be great. for example, on the windows 7 laptop there is no password set. Basically the account gets logged in on its own. How do I find whats the username etc., etc.,

If they are both on the same network..

Goto system properties, Under Computer name get the full computer name.
Now in windows explorer address bar right

\\<computer name>\<drive letter>$

example

\\bblost\c$

You will get full access to the C drive. If you are logged in as the same user on the other computer.

@bullinb: Thanks, I did not know the same for this, though I have done it quite a few times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullinb (Post 1890172)

From Win7 laptop map \\<win xp machine>\c$ to say Z:, select "connect using different credentials". Use credentials of an account on XP machine with admin rights to connect. Replace c in 'c$' with other drives letters to access them.

That option is available under
My Computer -> Tools.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1890117)

I would suggest create a zip file of the entire source folder first and then do a single transfer across the network to the other laptop. You will save several hours just by doing this.
You can use any method (such as file sharing or external USB drive or WinSCP/ FileZilla etc) after that.

@TSK - I hope you would've copied the files by now, if not, below is the best bet. I've copied upto 4GB easily through this method & it was faster than copying the data to iPod & transferring from iPod to laptop.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1890117)

Remember, when you connect both the laptops over ethernet, you need to use a cross connect cable. The normal ethernet cable used to connect to your router / modem will not work.

Assign IP address to Laptop # 1 as 192.168.1.1/255.255.255.0
Assign IP address to Laptop # 2 as 192.168.1.2/255.255.255.0
Leave the gateway and DNS blank.
Disable firewall on both the laptops.
From source to destination or vice versa, go to Start --> Run --> type "\\<Ip of destination>\C$ (drive letter followed by $)
Most likely based on your security settings you will get a login prompt for the destination computer. Use an administrative login.
Use a software like Redirecting to codesector.com... to ensure that any single file copy failure doesn't abort the entire process of copying from source to destination.

You could try to use Windows Files and Settings transfer wizard but that could be troublesome too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979 (Post 1890152)

for example, on the windows 7 laptop there is no password set. Basically the account gets logged in on its own. How do I find whats the username etc., etc.,

Control Panel --> User management is where it would be. Right click on "My computer" and click on "Manage". (This is for XP though). Should be similar in Windows 7.