Advice for switching computers

He has: 688 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

I'm finally switching from my WinMe, 666MHz, 64Mram to a new WinXP, 2.8GHz, 512Mram. Anybody have any tips or advice for the best ways to transfer my stuff over, minus the crap. I know there are applications available that would help me transfer but I don't want to spend unnecessary money, and I want complete control over what to keep and what to ditch.

First I'll burn off my My Documents folder to CD, along with Photos, Music, and other obvious document type files. I'm less certain about how to best move email type content such as emails and preferences. I need to transfer email content for both MS Outlook Express AND Mozilla Thunderbird. And aside from email applications, are there any important items that people typically forget about transferring, that I should remember to grab?

I don't expect this to be a difficult move but I'd rather do it right the first time.

teammatt3's picture

He has: 2,102 posts

Joined: Sep 2003

I don't know if this is included in the My Docs folder but burn your "Favorites" those are always nice to have on your new computer.

He has: 1,380 posts

Joined: Feb 2002

In Outlook, you can export your contacts list AND all of your emails under File > Something (different on different versions).

Maybe if you have passwords stored in cookies that you dont remember, go get them and write them down

Backup you AIM Buddy List just in case (its stored on AOL servers)

Write down all the programs youve downloaded, just so you remember

Before installing, plan out how many users and what privledges they have (i would suggest if its a computer for just you, have two accounts...like Root and User, you know what I'm sayin here?)

Thats all I can think of...

Renegade's picture

He has: 3,022 posts

Joined: Oct 2002

What about putting your old hard drive into your new computer?

Either that or get a USB drive so you don't have to spend so much money on writing to CDs.

He has: 1,380 posts

Joined: Feb 2002

Spend so much money writing CDs? Are you kidding me? I can (and I'm sure everyone else) can find your standard 80min/whatever MB CD's, but I can get a spindle of 50 for 10 bucks or less (US)...that not much at all

He has: 1,758 posts

Joined: Jul 2002

Renegades got the right idea! Switch the jumpers on your HD so you can install it as a slave, plug it in, boot up and copy the files direct from your old harddrive to the new one! (plus it will act as extra space if you need it - I use it to store all my mp3's and downloaded files).

Andy

heebiejeebieclu's picture

They have: 527 posts

Joined: Aug 2004

When I got a new computer there was a program that did it all for me.
But for the other stuff I created a network between old and new and just transferred the files

He has: 688 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

UPDATE:

Since the subject changed from "how do I transfer to my new computer" to "how do I even get this stupid thing to work in the first place", I started a new thread. It's the continuation of my problems but I felt the change in subjects warranted a new thread. If you're interested in helping solve my NEW problems, the new thread is here.

Thanks.

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