HT204087: Move your data from a Windows PC to a Mac

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Craig Culmback
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: is it faster to use a ethernet cable to transfer files? Or is it fine just dong it over WiFi

I'm transfering files from my old PC to my new Mac over the wifi. And it says it's gonna take 8 hours!!!! Is it worth it to just switch and use an ethernet cable or should I wait it out?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), iOS 6.0.1

Posted on Dec 1, 2012 4:14 PM

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Craig Culmback

Q: is it faster to use a ethernet cable to transfer files? Or is it fine just dong it over WiFi

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  • by Allan Eckert,Helpful

    Allan Eckert Allan Eckert Dec 1, 2012 4:21 PM in response to Craig Culmback
    Level 9 (54,112 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 1, 2012 4:21 PM in response to Craig Culmback

    Cable is faster then wireless.

     

    Even faster is Firewire

     

    Allan

  • by FishingAddict,

    FishingAddict FishingAddict Dec 1, 2012 6:50 PM in response to Craig Culmback
    Level 4 (1,586 points)
    Mac OS X
    Dec 1, 2012 6:50 PM in response to Craig Culmback

    Best bet is to connect the PC and Mac directly with an Ethernet cable.  Within a few seconds of connecting them together they will both auto configure themselves with IPs that are on the same subnet thereby creating a 2 node network.  Depending on the age and speed of the network card in the old PC, you could achieve from 1 to 100 times the throughput of wireless.  Again, it all depends on the speed of the network cards in each but in nearly every case Ethernet is going to be far better.