A USB data cable can be used to connect USB-enabled devices to a computer, allowing the two to communicate with each other. Devices connected to a computer using a USB cable include digital cameras, MP3 players and portable hard drives. USB cables connect to USB ports on a computer and allow you to transfer files, documents, music and photos safely and securely at blazing transfer speeds of up to 480Mbps.

A USB data transfer cable is a great way to move data from an older computer onto a newer one. With the advent of Windows Vista, a number of vendors are producing USB cables that allow you to connect two computers simply through USB ports instead of traditional wireless, ethernet, or other Internet-based connections.

Start both computers. Be sure the operating system is running fine on each computer. Attach the USB cable to a USB port on your new computer. The operating system will recognize the type of cable that has been attached. Install the software from the CD when prompted. If your new computer is running Windows Vista, you will not need to install the transfer software on the new machine since it comes prepackaged with data transfer applications. Older versions of Windows, however, will require updates. Install the software from the CD on your old computer if it is running any version of Windows older than Vista. Attach the USB data transfer cable to your old computer. Follow the prompts that appear. They will guide you through the specific details of deciding which data you want to transfer from your old computer to your new computer. Allow time for the transfer to complete.