File transfer has gotten more efficient over the years, owing to better tech and software, particularly in the Wireless space. With many options to choose from, you may be wondering, can you use a USB cable to transfer data from one computer to another?
The simple answer is Yes! You can, but the process is more complicated than it sounds. For starters, you need an exceptional kind of USB cable. A regular USB cable with the same connector on each end won’t do. Instead, it would help if you had a data link cable with special circuits facilitating the transfer.
And while having the correct cable is indeed a step in the right direction, you will still need to install the proper software and drivers before starting using the datalink cable.
Review contents
Can You Use a USB Cable to Transfer Data from One Computer to Another?
Yeah, you should use a special USB cable to transfer data while you’re going from one device to another and transferring the files, or if you’re only copying a few papers.
The cable in question is recognized as a Data Link USB cable or a bridging cable, but it goes by several other names.
Let’s look at how you can move data from one device to another using a USB cable.
Get the Right Cable – DATA Link Cable
Plugable USB 3.0 Transfer Cable, Unlimited Use, Transfer Data Between 2 Windows PC's, Compatible with Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, Bravura Easy Computer Sync Software Included
$44.95 in stock
1 used from $44.95
Before you do something else, double-check if you have the correct USB cable for the work. A data link cable can be purchased from a variety of online retailers.
Unlike standard USB cables, this one has an electrical circuit that allows the laptops to connect via USB. As a result, it could have a bulge where the circuitry is located somewhere along its length.
Power On and Connect the Computers
If you’ve found the correct USB cord, the next reasonable move is to make sure all machines are close by. They’ll need to be turned on and unlocked as well.
Attach both ends of the USB cord to the two machines when you’re ready. You will go to the next level if you get a warning that the USB cable has been found. If that doesn’t function, consider connecting to separate USB ports and waiting a minute for the machines to recognize the latest hardware.
Install the Drivers
Drivers assist USB ports in deciding a good connection technique and how the USB can relay data, taking into account that USB ports will convey both data and power.
The drivers can be included on a disk with a USB cable. Of course, this is dependent on the manufacturer. However, if you did not get a disk with your USB cable, you can uninstall the app.
Go to the manufacturer’s website and see any free program for the USB cable you just purchased. Then proceed to install the software as standard.
Software Configuration
You will also need special software that handles the data transfer for you. It’s handy as it will let you set up how the connection will be taken.
Software configuration will vary depending on the USB cable you have. Furthermore, the software you use, like the drivers, should come from the product manufacturer.
The Plugable USB 3.0 cable shown above, for instance, includes the Bravura Easy Computer Sync software to facilitate data transfer.
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Move the files
Once you’ve got it set upright, you’ll need to transfer the files. Choose the directory you want to copy your files to under setup, and make sure it’s wide enough to contain the files you’re sending.
Depending on the software you’re using, you can start the transfer with a simple drag and drop, and some of them are intuitive.
Enable for the completion of the move. When the switch is complete, and the cable can be withdrawn safely, the app can display a progress indicator or alert you. You can then disable the machines until you’ve got this notification, and voila! You’ve only used a USB cable to pass data from two devices.
Some Precautions to Take Note Off
Once you’ve got it set upright, you’ll need to transfer the files. Choose the directory you want to copy your files to under setup, and make sure it’s wide enough to contain the files you’re sending.
Depending on the software you’re using, you can start the transfer with a simple drag and drop, and some of them are intuitive.
Enable for the completion of the move. When the switch is complete, and the cable can be withdrawn safely, the app can display a progress indicator or alert you. You can then disable the machines until you’ve got this notification, and voila! You’ve only used a USB cable to pass data from two devices.
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Why You Need a Special Cable?
A typical USB cable may not work, and the wiring may cause complications for both computers and can also cause damage. The bulge on the cable shows that there are more than just wires going on. For example, each end has two male USB connectors.
Computers also compromise as primary devices over USB connections, even though USB is designed as a controller/agent architecture.
The two computers connected by a standard USB cord would have no idea what to do in this situation. The circuitry in a data link USB cable simplifies this procedure for all devices, allowing quicker data transfer.
What Other Options Do You Have To Transfer Data?
Although the answer to the question “Can You Use a USB Cable to Transfer Data from One Device to Another?” is yes, why would you want to do so?
Unless you have particular requirements, there are various other options for data transfer. Ethernet and WiFi are the most common and simplest ways to transfer vast volumes of data between two devices, with Ethernet ruling supreme in terms of ease of use, reliability, and transfer speed.
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In terms of data processing speed, all solutions are restricted by the speed of your hard drive. If one has an SSD and the other has an HDD, the slower PC with the HDD would dictate the pace. The transmission rates would be slower if both had HDDs.
If both have SSDs, the transfer speed could be breakneck.
A 10G Ethernet network, on the other hand, will support even higher speeds than a USB 3.0 Data Link cable.
This is especially significant in the case of SSDs on both platforms, as the transfer connection, not the drive, will be the speed bottleneck.
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Final Thoughts
After reading this, you’ll know if you can pass data from one device to another using a USB cable. A special USB cable with male connectors on both ends is used in the process.
A bulge between the two male connectors comprises electrical circuits that allow the two computers to connect successfully. This also stops the USBs from causing harm to one another by providing power via the link.
You’ll need to install the necessary program from the USB cable’s vendor, as well as the appropriate drivers, to get a working connection.
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