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Larry Klassen · Mar 13, 2005, 01:06 PM

I just purchased my first ever Mac, a 12" PB w/ 80g HD (off this forum - I will be getting it in a few days). Very excited to make the switch.

Anyway, I have loads of MP3's, some videos, etc. that are on a Win XP computer, that I want to put onto the PB. Is it as simple as burning them to a CD (or DVD) and loading that into the PB when I get it? The PB has a Superdrive, if that makes any difference. Sorry for a basic question, but I am a complete rookie to these.

Also, it has Office on it. Similarly, can I simply load my Powerpoint and word files onto the PB via CD and expect them to be recognized and run normally?

Thanks for the help, and any advice on starting out with this baby would be appreciated!

Larry

tooki · Mar 13, 2005, 01:17 PM

Absolutely. Of course, you will need the Mac version of Office in order to open the Office files! (But it won't need any conversion or anything.)

tooki

f1000 · Mar 19, 2005, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by Larry Klassen:
Anyway, I have loads of MP3's, some videos, etc. that are on a Win XP computer, that I want to put onto the PB. Is it as simple as burning them to a CD (or DVD) and loading that into the PB when I get it? The PB has a Superdrive, if that makes any difference. Sorry for a basic question, but I am a complete rookie to these.

You can transfer files via Ethernet as well.

Larry Klassen · Mar 19, 2005, 11:16 AM

For some reason I can't get any of my files recognized on the Powerbook. I've put the CD in, and the computer doesn't even acknowledge that there is a CD - I look for the CD when I'm in iTunes (and iPhoto, and Powerpoint) and can't find any files at all (can't find the CD anywhere). When I put in a store-bought CD, it recognizes it and converts it over to iTunes no problem. Is there something I am doing wrong?

f1000 · Mar 19, 2005, 11:48 AM

Did you overburn the CD?

velocipede · Mar 19, 2005, 11:50 AM

CDs use a common format for both Windows and Mac, so there shouldn't be any problem with the Powerbook reading your CD (I do it all the time when tranferring files to/from work and home). The CD should just show up on your desktop, where you can open it like any other drive. One thing to check would be: Click on the desktop (to select the Finder), then go to Finder -->Preferences and make sure that "CDs, DVDs, and iPods" is checked under "Show these items on the desktop. Like so...

When you insert the CD, can you eject it?

Larry Klassen · Mar 19, 2005, 01:52 PM

I tried that, and they are all already checked. It doesn't come up on my desktop when I insert it (it does when I put in a store-bought cd), and I have to open iTunes and use the eject button to eject the cd - don't know how to otherwise.

Thanks for the input, any other thoughts? I don't know what "overburn" means regarding the CD's.

Randman · Mar 19, 2005, 01:57 PM

Instead of burning CDs then reimporting the data, why not get an ethernet cable and connect the two computers and manually transfer all of the files?

olePigeon · Mar 19, 2005, 07:33 PM

By the way, don't worry about what type of ethernet if you're doing a computer-to-computer transfer. The PowerBook's ethernet slot acts as a 1 port switch. You don't need to worry about cross-over cables.

Larry Klassen · Mar 19, 2005, 08:22 PM

Thanks again for the advice, I have to admit that I am not too computer savvy though. I don't know that I'd be able to hook the two up together - I'm assuming there's more to it than just plugging them in together, right?

I also have an external HD (120g) - would that be recognized? If so, I could just transfer that way - I just thought of that. Thanks again,

Larry

romeosc · Mar 19, 2005, 08:45 PM

Which PB did you buy?

Some of the older PBs only read cd-r not cd+r and most pcs are cd+r. You can use a usb thumb drive (1GB about $50), file sharing by ethernet, or even email the files to yourself!

Larry Klassen · Mar 19, 2005, 09:26 PM

I got a 12" 1.33gHz w/ 80g HD, Superdrive, AE, 768Ram, etc.

Are CD's in +/- as well? I thought only DVD was that way.

f1000 · Mar 19, 2005, 10:05 PM

These FAQs should help you to network your Windows machine and your Mac:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=151668
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=19652
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107083

olePigeon · Mar 19, 2005, 11:59 PM

Originally posted by Larry Klassen:
Thanks again for the advice, I have to admit that I am not too computer savvy though. I don't know that I'd be able to hook the two up together - I'm assuming there's more to it than just plugging them in together, right?

I also have an external HD (120g) - would that be recognized? If so, I could just transfer that way - I just thought of that. Thanks again,

Larry

Yep. You could plug HDD right in and that would probably be the easiest.