Moving to a New PC

Getting a new PC is exciting and a pain. It's exciting because you get a faster processor, more storage and all the latest stuff even though it's outdated as soon as it hits your desk. The pain comes with re-installing all of your programs, re-customizing your preferences for programs, applications, and Windows, and transferring data to the new PC.

It can be simplified by using a bootable external drive or something similar and letting it load everything on the new PC. However, if you are like me, you probably had a few problems here and there that couldn't be found and fixed. So it's better to start with a clean slate.

I am getting a new PC at the office and my hard drive crashed on my laptop. There's nothing I can do about the laptop, but I kept it simple since it's a supporting computer rather than the main PC. I often used a remote application to connect to my desktop from the laptop. Therefore, the laptop had few loaded programs and data. I did try to make a backup of my user profile before the crash, but it was having too many problems and the backup didn't happen.

As for the work PC, here are the steps I took to prepare for moving to a new computer with the limited resources I had.

• Ensured all my work was on the network server. I kept backups of important files on the hard drive as a safety measure after my past experience.
• Deleted everything that I put on the hard drive.
• Made backups of data files such as the password manager's file.
• Took a screen shot of my Windows desktop, so I can rearrange things on the new PC to closely match the way I had things on the old PC.
• Used Belarc Advisor to create a print out of what's loaded on the machine.
• Changed my password to a temporary one that's nothing like my original so support could get in when I wasn't at my desk.
• Copied the properties of specially-made shortcuts like the one I use to lock the computer with one click.
• If you use Outlook, make notes of your preferences and options. Mine didn't get transferred.
• If you use the Office toolbar (typically on the side or top of the screen), add the programs and folders back in based on the screen shot you took earlier. I could not remember how to change the icons in the toolbar, so here's how: right-click on the icon you wish to change, select Properties, and Change Icon.
• Print the list of fonts loaded on your computer if you've added additional fonts.

Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl's notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.

---

Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:51:23 GMT Palin talks economic worries in Appalachian Ohio - The Associated Press Times Online Palin talks economic worries in Appalachian Ohio The Associated Press - 39 minutes ago ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio (AP) - Sarah Palin told voters in southeastern Ohio on Sunday that she and running mate John McCain would bring jobs back to this economically depressed piece of Appalachia. John McCain and Sarah Palin try new tactics Los Angeles Times US-POLITICS Summary Washington Post Milwaukee Labor Press - Tampa Tribune - guardian.co.uk - FOXNews all 2,032 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:11:58 GMT Mighty Chihuahuas Eclipse DiCaprio and Crowe in Test of Star Power - New York Times Mighty Chihuahuas Eclipse DiCaprio and Crowe in Test of Star Power New York Times - 2 hours ago By BROOKS BARNES LOS ANGELES - This is how far movie stars have fallen in their ability to pull audiences into theaters, at least when the story revolves around Iraq and the messiness of the Middle East: A picture about talking dogs, “Beverly Hills ... Dogs rule: 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua' No. 1 again Los Angeles Times 'Chihuahua' fetches $17.5M, remains top movie dog The Associated Press Reuters - Hollywood.com - Cincinnati.com - Bloomberg all 374 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:18:44 GMT Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cancer survivor shares her story - Naples Daily News ChattahBox Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Cancer survivor shares her story Naples Daily News - 1 hour ago By LIANE SMITH (Contact) She felt pain in her breasts. One of her aunt’s died in February from breast cancer. Another aunt, in her 60s now, has battled it on and off for more than a dozen years. Pink And Purple Join To Help Women eFluxMedia Breast Cancer Awareness Month Should Be Prevention Month! Food Consumer Princeton Times Leader - San Marcos Daily Record - Hudson Reporter - WISC all 136 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:31:44 GMT Falcons' Ryan is not your typical rookie QB - FOXSports.com Boston Globe Falcons' Ryan is not your typical rookie QB FOXSports.com - 36 minutes ago by Alex Marvez Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He's covered the NFL for 14 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America. Falcons missed chances in red zone Atlanta Journal Constitution Bears rally late, fall to Falcons on last-second FG Chicago Sun-Times Sports Network - SI.com - The Associated Press - Rotowire all 607 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:14:27 GMT First Second-Generation Astronaut, Richard Garriott, Launched Into ... - AHN Canada.com First Second-Generation Astronaut, Richard Garriott, Launched Into ... AHN - 2 hours ago Vienna, VA (AHN)-Space Adventures, Ltd, a company that provides space missions to the global community, announced that client Richard Garriott and his crew successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the International Space ... Video: Raw Video: US space tourist begins journey AssociatedPress US game designer blasts into space with DNA cargo The Associated Press VIP Breakdown - Independent - Slashdot - Houston Chronicle all 1,036 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:28:36 GMT Tigers still seeking QB to turn season around - SportingNews.com Seattle Post Intelligencer Tigers still seeking QB to turn season around SportingNews.com - 38 minutes ago AP Sports Wri AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- The Auburn Tigers didn't figure they'd be in this position: Unranked, desperately trying to salvage a once-promising season and still seeking a quarterback solution seven games into the season. Tuberville And Tigers Trying To Regroup Dawg Post A Pig Sooie Shocker in Auburn WTVM BamaMag.com - Sports Network - The Associated Press - International Herald Tribune all 647 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:13:08 GMT UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic - Reuters UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic Reuters - 2 hours ago MIAMI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Nana, the 14th of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Sunday in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean islands, the US National Hurricane Center said. Forecasters: Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic The Associated Press Tropical Storm Nana Forms Central Florida News 13| El Nuevo Herald - Orlando Sentinel - CBS 4 - WFMY News 2 all 175 news articles Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:29:57 GMT Clickbank RSS Feeds Easy Work At Home Opportunity

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

DVD Media

DVD is an optical disc storage media format that can... Read More

How To Save Big Bucks On A Laptop Computer

If you're a bargain shopper looking to get the most... Read More

Nvidia Geforce 7800 GTX Review

Nvidia has done it again, with it's newest video card,... Read More

Your Business versus Mother Nature

Business Consultants earn hundreds of thousands of dollars every year... Read More

Would You Like An Extended Warranty With That?

Should you buy an extended warranty with your laptop? You... Read More

Testing Diode -The Accurate Way on How to Test Semiconductor Diode Using Multimeter

Testing diodes is different from testing a resistor because you... Read More

The Importance Of Current Sense Resistor In Switch Mode Power Supply

Current sense resistor is usually located in the switch mode... Read More

Understanding Transistor Data and Replacement

If, for some reason, you can't get an exact replacement... Read More

Inkjet Printer Tips to Select Proper Printer

If you are tight on budget, go for Inkjet Printer.... Read More

3 Easy Step To Locate A Real Bargain On Laptop Batteries

Looking for a real bargain on laptop batteries? How do... Read More

How To Choose The Best Student Laptop?

How To Choose the Best Student Laptop?Merchants are singing those... Read More

Protecting Your Computer From Power Surges, Data Loss, Viruses, And Spyware

Protecting Against A Power Surge:Your computer is an expensive investment;... Read More

What Everybody Should Know About An Inkjet Printer: The One-Year Cost Of Printing

You can purchase an inkjet printer for as little as... Read More

Laptop Computers and the PVP Effect!

Roll over lumbering desktop computers, the limber laptop is here,... Read More

Digital Cameras, Media, and Card Readers

With the dropping prices on digital cameras and digital media... Read More

What is Over-clocking a Processor?

Q : What is over clocking?Overclocking is when you make... Read More

ABCs Of DVD Drive Abbreviations

The number of different formats available in DVD drives can... Read More

RAM - What is It & Why You Need Plenty

This is the first article in the Understanding Your Computer... Read More

7 Steps to Cleaning the Laser Toner From Your Laser Printer

Cleaning a laser printer, fax, or copier of laser toner... Read More

How To Choose a Computer Mouse

Computer MiceEvery computer user can hopefully identify their mouse and... Read More

Where does technology come from?

Ever wonder where all the cool gadgets come from? Ever... Read More

A Review of HP Laser Toners

Hewlett-Packard is, along with Brother and Samsung, one of the... Read More

An Introduction to Tape Backup

If you run a small business, chances are you're saving... Read More

Used Laptop Computer: Your Quick Purchase Inspection Guide ? Part 1

Used laptop computers are everywhere these days. How can you... Read More

Buying / Selecting Computer Components

This is the step takes the most time and consideration.... Read More