How to Transfer Files from Windows to Linux

If you frequently switch between different operating systems, transferring data is a common occurrence. When working simultaneously on two systems and needing to test files on both, moving files from Windows to Linux is often crucial. While it's a straightforward process, you might still find it confusing or risk losing data during the transfer.

If you're switching between Windows and Linux and need a quick and easy solution, the tool is just the right place for you. Here are some straightforward methods to transfer files from Windows to Linux.

How to Transfer Files from Windows to Linux

Transferring files from Windows to Linux no longer has to be a daunting task. Here are some quick methods you can try to transfer your files. Choose the one that suits you best for the optimal solution.

Personal recommendation:

Learn more about the Todo PCTrans tool and try any of these methods to transfer files between Windows and Linux. Don't forget to share this tutorial with others!

1. Using a Cross-System Transfer Tool

One of the simplest ways to transfer files from Windows to Linux is by using a web-based tool or an application shared between the two systems. Tools like Todo PCTrans provide a reliable platform to help you move your files quickly.

Please download and install the tool on your device from the official website. Next, run the Todo PCTrans tool on your device and select the PC to PC transfer mode. Here is a detailed step-by-step guide: 1. First, ensure that your device is connected to the internet and visit the official Todo PCTrans website to download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows or Mac). 2. Once the download is complete, locate the installation file and double-click to run the installer. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation process, then launch the Todo PCTrans application. 4. Upon opening the software, you will see the main interface. On the main screen, choose the "PC to PC" transfer option. 5. Next, connect the two computers. You can use a USB cable or connect them via the network. If you choose a network connection, make sure both devices are on the same local network. 6. On the source computer (the one from which you're transferring data), click the "As Source Computer" button, and on the target computer (the one receiving the data), click the "As Target Computer" button. 7. The program will automatically detect both computers. After verifying that the displayed information is correct, click "Next." 8. In the following screen, you'll see all transferable items from the source computer, such as files, programs, user settings, etc. Check the items you wish to transfer. 9. Review your selected items, then click "Start Transfer" to initiate the transfer process. This may take some time, depending on the amount of data you've chosen. 10. During the transfer, do not turn off either computer. Wait until the process is complete. Todo PCTrans will display a notification when finished. 11. Lastly, follow the prompts to close the program and then check on the target computer to verify that the transferred data is complete and accurate. By following these steps, you should successfully transfer data from one computer to another.

Note: You can connect the two systems via a network connection, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wi-Fi. The transfer is fast and doesn't consume many system resources.

Step 1: Launch Todo PCTrans on both computers. Choose the “PC to PC” mode to proceed.

Step 2. Make sure the transfer direction is correct.

"New" - Transfer data from an old computer to the current new one.

"Old" - Transfer data from your current old computer to a new one remotely.

Step 3: Enter the password or verification code of the target computer to link the two computers via the network. Also, make sure you've selected the correct transfer direction, then click “Connect” to proceed.

The code is located in the upper-right corner of the “Computer to Computer” main screen on the controlled computer.

Transfer Files from PC to PC - Step 2

Step 4: Next, click on "Files" to select the files you want to transfer. Choose specific files as per your need. Additionally, you can click on the edit icon to customize the storage path for the transferred data.

Transfer Files from PC to PC - Step 1

Step 5: Now, click on “Transfer” to start the file transfer from computer to computer. The time it takes will depend on the size of your files, so be patient.

2. Copying Files Between Windows and Linux Using SSH

Secure Shell (SSH), implemented by the OpenSSH package, is another good option for securely transferring files between operating systems. Once SSH is enabled on a system, you can control the server, and even take advantage of network services over an insecure network.

Here's how you can transfer files between Windows and Linux using the command line: 1. **Windows to Linux:** - Install an SFTP client on Windows, such as WinSCP or PuTTY. - Launch the SFTP client and enter the Linux server's IP address, username, and password. - Navigate to the local file on your Windows system that you want to transfer. - Upload the file by dragging it from the local window to the remote Linux directory. 2. **Linux to Windows:** - On the Linux machine, open a terminal. - Install an SFTP client if not already installed, like `filezilla` or `gsftp`. - Use the `sftp` command to connect to the Windows machine: ``` sftp user@windows_ip_address ``` Replace `user` with your Windows username and `windows_ip_address` with the actual IP. - Enter your Windows login credentials when prompted. - Navigate to the remote directory containing the file you want to download. - Download the file using the `get` command: ``` get filename ``` Replace `filename` with the actual name of the file. 3. **Using SCP (Secure Copy):** SCP is another option for secure file transfer. It requires both machines to have SSH access enabled. - To copy from Windows to Linux using an SFTP client with SCP capabilities (like PuTTY's PSCP): ``` pscp C:\path\to\local\file user@linux_ip_address:/path/to/remote/directory ``` - To copy from Linux to Windows: ``` scp user@windows_ip_address:/path/to/remote/file /path/to/local/directory ``` In a Linux terminal, replace `scp` with `scp -i path/to/private/key` if using a private key for authentication. Remember to adjust the paths and credentials according to your specific setup.

Step 1: Open a terminal window on your Linux device. You can do this by pressing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Alt + F2. Once the window is open, use the following command to update your operating system:

Update the list of available system software packages: ``` sudo apt-get update ```

Step 2. Next, install the SSH server by running the following command:

• Install the OpenSSH server using the command sudo apt install openssh-server.

Wait for the installation to complete. You can now also run the following command to verify that the installation was successful:

This command checks the status of the SSH service. When entered in the terminal, if the SSH service is running, it will display "active (running)". If the SSH service is not running, it will show "inactive (dead)". "sudo" is a command for superuser privileges, which allows you to perform actions that require administrator permissions.

Step 3. To copy files from Windows to Linux, you need to install an SSH client on Windows, such as PuTTY. You also need to download the PSCP (Secure Copy client) tool, which runs alongside PuTTY. Download the version that is compatible with your edition of Windows.

Step 4: Click “Next” in the dialog box, then save the pscp.exe file in the root directory of your Windows C: drive. Click “Next” again and then “Install” to begin installing PuTTY on your computer.

Step 5: Finally, check your Linux device's IP address. You can do this by running the command "hostname -I" in the terminal window. Once you've confirmed the connection, you can transfer files using the following code:

• Source_File - This is the location path of the source file on your Windows system.
• Linux_Username @ Destination_Address: This is your username on the Linux system and the IP address of the Linux system.
• Destination_Directory is the target directory path on the Linux system where the file needs to be transferred.

Note: You will be asked for the Linux computer's password before the transfer begins.

3. Transferring Files to Linux Using FTP

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a way to easily transfer files between Windows and Linux without using any commands. You should also have an SSH server running on your Linux machine, and an FTP client application like FileZilla installed on your Windows computer.

Step 1. In your FileZilla app, click “File” and select “Site Manager.” Create a new site in the folder and change the protocol to SFTP.

Step 2: In the Host field, enter the target IP address of your Linux server. Add your username and password.

Step 3. Set the login type to “Normal,” and click “Connect.” You can now use drag-and-drop to migrate files from one system to another.

Transferring files with FileZilla

4. Transfer Files Using VirtualBox

If you run Linux or Windows in a virtual machine, this can be useful: you can set up a shared folder between the host and the guest system to synchronize data.

Step 1: Install a virtual machine application, such as VirtualBox, on your device. Open the app and select “Headless Start” from the “Start” option. Once it's running, right-click on the VM and select Settings. Choose Shared Folders and Machine Folders.

Step 2. In the top right corner, select the "+" icon. Choose "Add shared folder." In the "Folder Path," select the directory you want to transfer.

Step 3: Type the name of the folder, and click “OK.” Check the box next to “Automount” so the shared folder will be accessible when you run the virtual machine. Click “OK” again.

Confirm the shared folder transfer

After restarting the virtual machine, the shared folder will be ready for you to exchange data between the two operating systems. You can then transfer files quickly between the two systems.

5. Sharing Files with Linux Using Synchronization Software

Another option is to use synchronization apps, such as Resilio Sync or Syncthing, to transfer files from Windows to Linux. These tools typically manage the connection between devices or operating systems with encryption keys.

Step one: Install one of these apps on your device, choose a folder to sync, and create an encryption key. I use Syncthing.

Step two: Install the app on another computer, and your data syncs between Windows and Linux.

Conclusions

Transferring files or data from Windows to Linux is easy with the right methods and steps. Using any of the above methods, you can switch seamlessly between Windows and Linux.

Using a simple tool like Todo PCTrans is both time-efficient and convenient for all your transfer needs. It's also perfect for beginners or users who frequently switch between systems.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Transfer Files from Windows to Linux

Here are some related questions on the same topic, common queries. You can refer to them for a clearer understanding or to address any further doubts.

**1. How do I use a shell script to copy files from Windows to Linux?** To copy files from a Windows system to Linux using a shell script, you need to connect to the Linux server via SSH (Secure Shell) and utilize the `scp` (secure copy) command. Here's how: First, ensure that you have an SSH client installed on Windows, such as PuTTY or Git Bash. 1. Open a command-line tool (like PuTTY or Git Bash). 2. Use the `scp` command with the following format to copy a file from Windows to Linux: ```bash scp -r [source file path] [username]@[Linux server IP]:[target directory] ``` For instance, if you want to copy `file.txt` from `C:\Users\YourName\Documents\` on Windows to the `/home/yourusername/Documents/` directory on the Linux server, where your username is `yourusername` and the Linux server's IP address is `192.168.1.100`, the command would be: ```bash scp -r C:\Users\YourName\Documents\file.txt yourusername@192.168.1.100:/home/yourusername/Documents/ ``` 3. Enter your Linux server password and press `Enter`. The file transfer will begin. Keep in mind that SSH communication between Windows and Linux must be enabled through the firewall (default port is 22). If using PuTTY, you might consider using PSCP, which is part of the PuTTY suite and specifically designed for SCP file transfers.

You can use shell scripts through the command line to copy or transfer the required files from Windows to Linux.

Step 1: First, install an SCP client, such as the PSCP (PuTTY Secure Copy) tool. After installation, you can transfer files using the following command:

• c:\scp 文件路径
• username@remote_IP:/home/destination_path

When the transfer is complete, the files you need will appear in a directory on your Linux system.

< strong > 2. How do I transfer files from Windows to Linux?

Transferring files from Windows to Linux is easy and can be done in several ways. Try one of the following methods to accomplish this task.

1. Utilize a Cross-System Transfer Tool 2. Copy Files Between Windows and Linux Using SSH 3. Transfer Files to Linux Using FTP 4. Use VirtualBox for File Transfer 5. Share Files with Linux Using Synchronization Software

3. How can I use SSH to transfer files from Windows to Linux?

SSH (Secure Shell) enables you to transfer files from Windows to Linux via the command line.

Step 1: You need to update your Linux operating system using the following commands:

Update the package list: ```bash sudo apt-get update ```

Step 2: Set up the SSH server by running the following command to install the OpenSSH server:

• Install the OpenSSH server using the command `sudo apt install openssh-server`.

Step 3. Next, install an SSH app like PuTTY for Windows. Download the compatible version from the download dialog and save the pscp.exe file in the root of your C: drive on Windows.

Step 4. Run the command `hostname -I` to find your Linux machine's IP address. Once connected, enter your Linux computer's password. You can then transfer files with this command:

• c:\scp 文件路径
• user@remote_IP:/home/destination_path