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I need to transfer a backup that I have on windows 10 PC to a PC with Ubuntu MATE.

I read online that it is possible to do this with a LAN cable. I tried connecting the 2 PCs directly with the LAN cable, but I don't know how to check if they are really connected. And I don't know how to access the windows files from Linux.

Can somebody please explain me step by step how to do it?

Eliah Kagan
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Cicciopasticcio
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3 Answers3

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A reliable solution

  • get two ethernet cables and a router
  • connect the computers via the router
  • make the Ubuntu computer into an ssh server by installing openssh-server
  • make the Windows computer into an ssh client by installing WinSCP or Filezilla (in Windows)
  • connect via WinSCP or Filezilla and transfer the files. You can transfer a whole directory tree.

A direct connection with one single ethernet cable

The Windows end

You can find tutorials via the internet using a search string (without quotes) like "tutorial direct file transfer between two computers via ethernet", for example

https://techwiser.com/how-to-connect-pc-to-pc-lan-cable/

which describes what to do at the Windows end.

The Ubuntu end

You can find tutorials via the internet using a search string (without quotes) like "tutorial direct file transfer between two computers via ethernet linux" to find for example

https://www.softprayog.in/troubleshooting/connecting-two-computers-with-ethernet-lan-cable

which describes what to do at the Ubuntu end.

This is rather complicated, but on the other hand, you will learn a lot about networks.

Community
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sudodus
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  • I only have one Ethernet cable. I wanted to know if it was possible to transfer files between the 2 pcs connecting them directly with one cable, and if yes how to do it. – Cicciopasticcio Nov 16 '19 at 23:00
  • @Cicciopasticcio, Yes it is possible but rather complicated. (A router is doing a good job to make things easier.) I added a couple of links, and you may find links to better tutorials. – sudodus Nov 16 '19 at 23:31
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Step one

I would not recommend to connect the both PCs directly, but rather put a router or a switch in between.

Step two

There are several ways to exchange data between a Linux and a Windows PC, such as Samba or others, but there is one which is really easy.

There is a Python package called magic-wormhole - https://magic-wormhole.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

Install it on both PCs and just do a wormhole send file on the one PC, and wormhole receive and the other one.

Jürgen Gmach
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Rather than a wire (blue Ethernet cable) you can connect all devices over WiFi including Mac, Windows and Ubuntu. Here is one article on SSHFS:

Then you can use Nautilus to access the other computer. In my case I did this with my phone and from Nautilus (or the terminal) I can access my phone's files from Ubuntu.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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