How do I transfer files between two laptops, one with no screen?


  1. Posts : 55
    Windows 10
       #1

    How do I transfer files between two laptops, one with no screen?


    I have two laptops and one has no working screen and I need to connect them together so I can download a lot of files to my new laptop. I do have a cross-over ethernet cable and am running windows 10 on both laptops.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 579
    Windows 10
       #2

    1) Try connect the 2 with LAN and see if you can do the job.
    2) Attaching an external Monitor , could be a nice idea.
    3) Other possibility is removing the HDD and put it in an external enclosure.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #3

    Depending upon your area and availability, you could get an Ethernet Cross-over cable and connect the 2 computers. Personally, I frequently use one of the adapters available for installing the drive and plug into a USB port. I also keep on hand a couple of the External USB cases for installing a drive, works just like a WDC Passport drive but with drives I have to work with, different cases for the PATA and SATA type drives.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    If the files were not previously shared on the old laptop, then you are going to have to connect a monitor to it in order to set up the sharing. In addition in order to connect the two laptops together with just an ethernet cable between them and no router you will have to manually setup the IP addresses.

    So, unless you already had all the required networking setup on the old laptop:

    So your best bets at success are:
    1. Attach an external monitor to the old laptop and hope it picks it up automatically when you boot it so you can setup peer to peer networking.

    2. Remove the hard drive from the old laptop, connect it to the new computer with a USB adapter/enclosure.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 55
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for all the help! I ended up connecting the screen-less laptop to my TV using a HDMI cable and a cross-over cable between the two laptops. No problem getting the files off my old laptop.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #6

    Glad you got it.
      My Computers


 

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