How to transfer files from DOS to Win XP with USB flash drive?

[Jim Bailey]

Using DOS commands, I saved some old CAD drawings from an old computer onto a USB memory stick, to be able to transfer the CAD files onto another computer running Win XP Pro SP3 etc.

Problem: the old DOS based CAD files on the USB memory stick were not recognised by Windows Explorer.

Why would that be so, when the old HD connected via USB to the Win XP computer happily allows files to be transferred.

The memory stick has lots of files on it saved under Win XP - most of it not reconised on the DOS machine, but none of the directories created or files saved on the memory stick from the DOS machine are recognised by the Win XP machine. Mystified.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Jim B

 

[buwish]

This topic has been moved from the section Computer Peripherals to section Windows XP by Buwish

 

[hellwig]

When you say DOS commands, is the old computer still running DOS, or you just used the command line to initiate the copy (and the old machine was running some version of windows)? I just wonder how you have DOS drivers for USB and USB memory sticks.

As for the files themselves, can you successfully re-copy the files off the usb stick BACK to the old comptuer? (IF you try this, don't over-write any files on your old computer, you don't know what you might be copying off the USB stick). This would tell you if the files are actually being copied to the USB stick or if there are other problems.

When you say the Win XP files are "not recognized" by the "DOS machine", does this simply mean the DOS machine doesn't know what the extensions are, or that it cannot read the files off the USB stick?

I guess the OS of the "DOS Machine" would also help the discussion.

 

[Jim Bailey]

When you say DOS commands, is the old computer still running DOS, or you just used the command line to initiate the copy (and the old machine was running some version of windows)? I just wonder how you have DOS drivers for USB and USB memory sticks.

As for the files themselves, can you successfully re-copy the files off the usb stick BACK to the old comptuer? (IF you try this, don't over-write any files on your old computer, you don't know what you might be copying off the USB stick). This would tell you if the files are actually being copied to the USB stick or if there are other problems.

When you say the Win XP files are "not recognized" by the "DOS machine", does this simply mean the DOS machine doesn't know what the extensions are, or that it cannot read the files off the USB stick?

I guess the OS of the "DOS Machine" would also help the discussion.

****************
Thanks for your interest. Sorry I have taken so long to respond. Busy life.

One computer, Pentium 3, running DOS 6.3 and a hotrod version of the DOS based Autocad 11 with lots of shortcut LISP routines for highly specialised use.

To be able to print and convert to *.pdf for emailing, I have been using floppies to transfer *.dwg files from the DOS machine to a Windows machine to do so.

The DOS based P3 machine will write and read files saved to a USB memory stick - but if the memory stick is transferred to a Windows machine(XP Pro SP3 regularly updated, in this case), the DOS files cannot be seen. Presumably, the Windows does not recognise the files saved from the DOS machine.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards
Jim B

 

[tigsounds]

I only have 2 cents, so I'm tossing them in.

Have the windows machine format the USB flash drive, make sure the drive isn't too big for the DOS machine to read, and make the format FAT (not FAT32). Copy a test file from the DOS machine to the mem stick, see if windows machine can now read it.

I have an old networking program for DOS to DOS computers. I haven't ever tried to see if a DOS machine could connect to a windows machine using it. It runs on the serial ports. It's a grand total of 77KB. If you want it to play with, say the word and I'll post it someplace you can get it.

Well, that's what 2 cents will get you.

 

[hellwig]

So Windows can't see any files written by DOS, does DOS see the files it wrote itself?

Using DOS, copy files to the USB stick. Remove and reinsert the stick, then attempt to copy them back off (this would verify DOS is actually writing the files in a format it understands).

Second, repeat the process using windows, make sure it can write to the drive, then copy back from it. This is just a sanity check to make sure everything is working.

If either DOS or Windows has a problem with the stick (i.e. either one cannot see the files IT wrote), try reformatting in regular FAT like Tigsounds suggests. If the drive is larger than 2GB you might have problems.

Otherwise, you can try a serial transfer program like Tigsounds suggests. I used Laplink many years ago before every computer came with ethernet.

 

[tigsounds]

If you install the little DOS networking program I have posted at 4shared.com, you could use hyperterminal or a new network connection to transfer files from the DOS machine to the Windows machine. Just an offer..

Get it HERE

 

[wghayden]

If you install the little DOS networking program I have posted at 4shared.com, you could use hyperterminal or a new network connection to transfer files from the DOS machine to the Windows machine. Just an offer..

Get it HERE

This might be dum but is the 4shared.com down load what lets you trans fer or have you place a program with 4shared.com that dose the transfer. wghayden@netscape.com