We just bought another computer system and need to know what things and how to save from our old computer?

Question

Do we save to a CD and then download to the new computer or what? If so, how?

Answer 1

what your talking about is right but tha takes too long body i suggest you to use the LAN connection it`s faster and easier...........................................try it and tell me .................bye lol

Answer 2

For my customers, the absolutely best thing to do is to:
1/ Setup the new computer the way that you want. This includes preventing various junk that starts on its own through the 'extras' that are worthless such as trial software that you know you will not buy. I totally recommend the following free tools that you can find on the net: Winpatrol, ZoneAlarm, Avast, Superantispyware. Dump Norton if the new computer came with the trial cause its a resource hog.

2/ Do ALL windows updates, including IE7 and set proper defaults in the following control panels: Internet Options, Folder Options, Automatic Updates, Security Center, and Windows Firewall (if not using another firewall)

3/ Setup each of the users on the computer. DO NOT set everyone as admin. You only need one.

4/ Install applications from the original CD's, then update the applications through their own processes. If you dont have an office suite, go to www.openoffice.org and get their free suite that is compatible with Microsoft Office.

5/ If both machines have ethernet, hook both up to a router or switch and turn on file sharing on both. Search the net for how to do this - its easy. Just dont forget that firewalls cause most file sharing issues, so you may want to disconnect from the internet and disable the filewall while you do this. You can then transfer all the individual files from the My Documents folder from the old to the new computer.

If you dont have a router, get an ethernet crossover cable (sold many places) and just cable from one PC directly to the other. Manually set IP addresses on each as 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2 with 255.255.255.0 as the subnet. Nothing else will be important. You can then get the computers talking.

No ethernet on one PC? Get a USB 'back to back' cable (wide connector on both ends) and use the network setup wizard to set up sharing. The wizard can be found in the control panel.

Worst case scenario: Burn CD's on the old as you suggest and read them into the new. You at least have a backup of everything when you are done.

MOST IMPORTANT: Your old computer will contain a lot of personal information on it. Deleting the files is NOT enough to completely erase your old hard drive. If you plan on dumping it, go to www.ubcd4win.com and follow the instructions on how to make their boot CD. Use one of their disk tools to properly erase your hard disk.

I suggest this format because you really dont want to keep old system files that you most likely wont ever need again. If you use the backup settings from the start menu on the old and restore on the new, you are just copying all your old junk.

Answer 3

You really need to start by telling everyone what operating system your old and new computer's are running. Then you need to consider whether you're just looking to transfer files from the old computer, or everything from the old computer (programs and all). If programs and all, Norton Ghost is a program for doing that, but my recommendations for using it are only for intermediate to expert computer users. Typically I only recommend transfering files. If transferring from a Windows XP computer to another Windows XP computer, use the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard located under Start, All Programs, Accessories, and System Tools. If all the files fit onto a CD, then you should have no problem using one, though you'd probably need either an external hard drive or a usb flash memory drive to transfer the files to. Once you see how the program works, you just reverse what you did to transfer the files and settings on the new computer. It's simple to use.

Answer 4

You can burn files to a CD using a program like Nero Burning ROM, but its easier to use a USB Pen Drive/Flash Drive and just drag and drop files and folders to/from it in Windows Explorer.

You probably want to save the whole of your My Documents folder, with all your letters, music and photos, etc. Also your Favorites list. You can export it to a file called Bookmark.htm using File, Import and Export, Export Favorites. Save it to the flash drive.

On the new machine, you can import it into Internet Explorer again using File, Import and Export, Import Favorites.

Other things you tend to lose are account names and passwords. I hope you wrote them down when you signed up to services.

In Windows Explorer, see what programs you have installed under My Computer, C:, Programs. Print or write a list. Do you have the original installation CDs for all of them or know where to download them?

Answer 5

Do you have an additional bay available on your new comp? If so, just put your old hard drive in your new computer. You can have your new hard drive as your master (primary boot) drive, and your old drive as a slave drive. As long as your "old" hard drive is compatible with your new system, everything should be fine.