Transferring your files to a new computer

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Overview
Choosing files to transfer
Transferring your files from a Windows PC to a Windows PC
Transferring your files from a Windows PC to a Mac
Transferring your files from a Mac to a Mac
Transferring your files from a Mac to a Windows PC

Overview

This guide walks you through the process for transferring your own files from one computer to another—for instance, if you are getting a new computer and want to retain files from your old computer. We strongly recommend that you use OneDrive (instructions included below) to make this process easy.

Allocating time for the transfer

Just keep in mind that the more files you're trying to transfer, the longer this process will take. We recommend planning in advance and setting aside a day or two to transfer all files and double-check that you haven't omitted anything. If you already have your computer folders backed up to Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, this will considerably speed up the process.

Requesting assistance with file transfers

For assistance with any part of the file transfer process, submit a ticket to our Help Desk.

A note about software and transfers

This guide does not cover software transfer: DTS installs the latest versions of all the standard Dornsife-licensed software on your new computer. You can also directly install Dornsife-licensed software on your new computer at any point using Company Portal.

If you need to transfer software that isn't licensed or managed by DTS, our recommendation is to save the license key and then download the software installation package from the vendor's website. If you are planning to use the software and license key on multiple computers, just make sure that the application's end-user agreement allows this.

Choosing files to transfer

Typically, when switching computers, you'll want to transfer over these following folders within your user account on the computer:

Desktop
Documents
Downloads
Pictures

As well as any other folders or locations where you've been saving your files.

Transferring your files from a Windows PC to a Windows PC

Transferring files using OneDrive (recommended)

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to OneDrive

Automatically back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders on your computer by following our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."
Back up any other folders on your computer by copying them directly into the OneDrive folder.

This step may take several hours, depending on your Internet connection and on the size and quantity of files that you're backing up.

Step 2: On your new computer, set up OneDrive

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Once OneDrive is set up on your new computer, your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders will contain all the files from your old computer, and any new files you add to them will automatically back up to OneDrive. Any other files you copied over can be accessed directly in the OneDrive folder.

Transferring files using Google Drive

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to Google Drive for desktop

Automatically back up any computer folders by following our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 2: On your new computer, set up Google Drive for desktop

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 3: On your new computer, copy over your old computer's files

Once you've backed up your new computer's folders, you can copy over your old computer's folders:

Quick guide

Click the Google Drive icon in your System Tray (bottom right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
File Explorer opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click the Google Drive icon in your System Tray (bottom right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
File Explorer opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Transferring files using an external storage device

Connect your external storage device to the old computer and manually copy over folders onto the new computer.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to automatically back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring your files from a PC to a Mac

Transferring files using OneDrive (recommended)

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to OneDrive

Automatically back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders on your computer by following our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."
Back up any other folders on your computer by copying them directly into the OneDrive folder.

This step may take several hours, depending on your Internet connection and on the size and quantity of files that you're backing up.

Step 2: On your new computer, set up OneDrive

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Once OneDrive is set up on your new computer, your Desktop and Desktop folders will contain all the files from your old computer, and any new files you add to them will automatically back up to OneDrive. Any other files you copied over can be accessed directly in the OneDrive folder.

Note that your old Pictures folder can be accessed through the OneDrive folder but does not sync with the Pictures folder on your new computer: this is due to the Photos Library setup on Macs.

Transferring files using Google Drive

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to Google Drive for desktop

Automatically back up any computer folders by following our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 2: On your new computer, set up Google Drive for desktop

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 3: On your new computer, copy over your old computer's files

Once you've backed up your new computer's folders, you can copy over your old computer's folders:

Quick guide

Click the Google Drive icon in your menu bar (top right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
Finder opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click the Google Drive icon in your menu bar (top right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
Finder opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Transferring files using an external storage device

Connect your external storage device to the old computer and manually copy over folders onto the new computer.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to automatically back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring your files from a Mac to a Mac

Do not use Migration Assistant to transfer files between Macs: Migration Assistant will alter critical settings on Dornsife-managed Macs and will enroll personal Macs in USC IT systems. Instead, use one of the guides below.

Transferring files using OneDrive (recommended)

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to OneDrive

Automatically back up the Desktop and Documents folders on your computer by following our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."
Back up any other folders on your computer by copying them directly into the OneDrive folder.

This step may take several hours, depending on your Internet connection and on the size and quantity of files that you're backing up.

Step 2: On your new computer, set up OneDrive

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring files using Google Drive

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to Google Drive for desktop

Automatically back up any computer folders by following our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 2: On your new computer, set up Google Drive for desktop

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 3: On your new computer, copy over your old computer's files

Once you've backed up your new computer's folders, you can copy over your old computer's folders:

Quick guide

Click the Google Drive icon in your menu bar (top right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
Finder opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click the Google Drive icon in your menu bar (top right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
Finder opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Transferring files using an external storage device (Time Machine)

Connect your external storage device to your new computer. Do not follow Apple's prompts for using Time Machine or Migration Assistant to transfer files.
Open Finder and manually navigate to Time Machine's most recent backup folder.
Manually copy over folders from the backup folder onto your new computer.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to automatically back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring files using an external storage device (no Time Machine)

Connect your external storage device to the old computer and manually copy over folders onto the new computer.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to automatically back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring your files from a Mac to a PC

Transferring files using OneDrive (recommended)

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to OneDrive

Automatically back up the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders on your computer by following our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."
Back up any other folders on your computer by copying them directly into the OneDrive folder.

This step may take several hours, depending on your Internet connection and on the size and quantity of files that you're backing up.

Step 2: On your new computer, set up OneDrive

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring files using Google Drive

Step 1: On your old computer, back up your files to Google Drive for desktop

Automatically back up any computer folders by following our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 2: On your new computer, set up Google Drive for desktop

Now, switch over to your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up Google Drive for desktop."

Step 3: On your new computer, copy over your old computer's files

Once you've backed up your new computer's folders, you can copy over your old computer's folders:

Quick guide

Click the Google Drive icon in your System Tray (bottom right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
File Explorer opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Detailed guide (with screenshots)

Click the Google Drive icon in your System Tray (bottom right on your desktop).
Google Drive for desktop displays. Click the folder icon in the top right corner.
File Explorer opens. Double-click Other computers.
Double-click on your old computer's name.
Your folders from your old computer display and can be copied over to your new computer.

Transferring files using an external storage device (Time Machine)

If you already backed up your old computer's files to an external storage device using Time Machine, your device is formatted for macOS and is unreadable by Windows: you will not be able to transfer files using the external storage device.

If your old computer is still functional, follow our instructions for "Transferring files using OneDrive (recommended)" above.

If your old computer is no longer functional, but the external storage device is all you have

DTS can help you extract your files from the external storage device: to request assistance, submit a ticket to our Help Desk.

If you prefer to do this yourself, and you have access to another, functioning Mac—which we'll call the intermediary Mac—you can transfer the files from the external storage device to the intermediary Mac, upload them to OneDrive, and then download them to the new Windows computer.

Connect the external storage device to the intermediary Mac. Do not follow Apple's prompts for using Time Machine or Migration Assistant software to transfer files. Instead, open Finder and manually navigate to Time Machine's most recent backup folder.
Go to https://usc.edu/onedrive, and sign in using your USC NetID credentials.
Upload the folders from Time Machine's most recent backup folder to your OneDrive account.
On your new Windows computer, go to https://usc.edu/onedrive. Download the folders you just uploaded from the intermediary Mac.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Transferring files using an external storage device (no Time Machine)

Connect your external storage device to the old computer and manually copy over folders onto the new computer.

Once you've completed this transfer, we strongly recommend setting up OneDrive to automatically back up your new computer. Follow our guide, "Setting up OneDrive for computer backups."

Contributor(s): Joshua Paulsen.