Home | Site Map           
   
     

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 It's exciting because you get a faster processor, more storage and all the latest stuff even though it's outdated as soon as it hits your desk.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.


MORE RESOURCES:

hardware - Yahoo! News Search Results
hardware - Yahoo! News Search Results

New Petworth hardware store adds jobs to local economy
The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs in January ? and 11 of those were at Annie?s Ace Hardware, a new store slated to open in Petworth on Tuesday. The 6,500-square-foot store near Upshur Street and Georgia Avenue NW has long been a dream of owner Anne Stom, a home repair aficionado and former Labor Department project director who went all in to launch her new business, including investing about ...
The Hardware Winners of a Cloud-Computing Boom
Top dogs and fast movers in a growing sector.
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation and Benjamin Moore & Co. Announce ...
Orchard Supply Hardware Stores Corporation , a specialty retailer focused on the consumer segment of the home improvement market, announced that it has entered into a multi-year distribution agreement with Benjamin Moore & Co., a leading premium quality national paint manufacturer.
Research and Markets: 2012 Worldwide Hardware Stores Industry - Industry & Ma...
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "2012 Worldwide Hardware Stores Industry -Industry
Hardware World Selects iService to Power Online Support
Hardware World, and online retailer of hardware products, is powering their online service function with the iService email response management solution.Champaign, IL (PRWEB) January 30, 2012 Customer service is an important differentiator for retail companies. But for retailers that do a significant amount of business online, it's crucial. Hardware World recognized the importance of online ...

 

 

Food     PeoplesChoice | Web Starter | Web Design | Photo Blog | PhotoLog | Web Development | Articles Searches | Daily Blog     MP3

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved PocketWorkStation.net