Need expert advice on how to transfer files from a Windows laptop.

[IMANUT46]

I have a problem that I hope one of you experts can offer a solution.
My wife has my 15 year laptop old windows laptop. On that laptop is a written diary of our 14 years of travel in a motorhome. I haven't personally used it for over 10 years and since I now have been using my pixel 3 for everything.
I'd like to recover all of my old diary that is in Microsoft Word. I know there are ways to accomplish that, with additional hardware, but I'm looking for a easy way.
I was thinking if I could move the files to a cloud file that would be read by my android smartphone and then moved into the smartphone, my problem would be solved. Am I looking for PIE IN THE SKY? I'm open for suggestions. Thanks.

 

[eric002]

Well, actually that is exactly what you would do. as long as you're able to open up that diary file in word on your older laptop, then you could either upload it to Google drive or any other cloud service of your choice.

 

[B. Diddy]

First off -- is the laptop in working order, and the Word documents fully accessible? They way you worded it, it sounded like maybe the files had been lost, or that the laptop wasn't working any more.

If the computer is in working order, then on your browser, go to drive.google.com. Then open Windows File Explorer to the directory where those Word documents are, and then drag and drop the files to the Google Drive screen -- it should prompt you if you want to upload those files to Google Drive. Once they're uploaded, you should be able to open or edit them in Google Drive.

Another option would be to use Microsoft's OneDrive, but I'm guessing that you'd rather just stick with Google services.

 

[blackhawkhot]

First off -- is the laptop in working order, and the Word documents fully accessible? They way you worded it, it sounded like maybe the files had been lost, or that the laptop wasn't working any more.

If the computer is in working order, then on your browser, go to drive.google.com. Then open Windows File Explorer to the directory where those Word documents are, and then drag and drop the files to the Google Drive screen -- it should prompt you if you want to upload those files to Google Drive. Once they're uploaded, you should be able to open or edit them in Google Drive.

Another option would be to use Microsoft's OneDrive, but I'm guessing that you'd rather just stick with Google services.

Hard drive memory has a self life. Although I have data drives that weren't spun up for 7 years with all data intact... I was sweating bullets.
Get it now because you will lose the data eventually. The magnetic memory lasts reliably no more than 5 years, but can persist much longer. High temperatures degrade it faster. To be safe refreshing it every 2 years is best.

If the laptop is unusable or unbootable, pull the hard drive and using the correct adapter plug and power supply download directly from it to another computer. Or have a computer shop do it for you to a flash drive.
Even with a corrupted hard drive, most data may be salvageable like this especially with an expert in the field.

 

[IMANUT46]

First off -- is the laptop in working order, and the Word documents fully accessible? They way you worded it, it sounded like maybe the files had been lost, or that the laptop wasn't working any more.

If the computer is in working order, then on your browser, go to drive.google.com. Then open Windows File Explorer to the directory where those Word documents are, and then drag and drop the files to the Google Drive screen -- it should prompt you if you want to upload those files to Google Drive. Once they're uploaded, you should be able to open or edit them in Google Drive.

Another option would be to use Microsoft's OneDrive, but I'm guessing that you'd rather just stick with Google services.

Thanks. The Windows laptop is still fully functional. It's now my wife's PC. I actually saw one of the Word files. Now I will just have to find time to locate all of the documents folders, and follow your directions to move them to Google Drive.
Your instructions are what I was looking for. Because I haven't worked with Windows and the laptop for more than 10 years and I have have use of only my left hand, it will take me more time to make the move than it should.
I can't thank you enough for the method of accomplishing my goal. Those diaries represent a very important part of my life before my stroke. You are the greatest. Please be safe.