Hardware Information

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 It's exciting because you get a faster processor, more storage and all the latest stuff even though it's outdated as soon as it hits your desk.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

Ace Hardware closing its doors
ElmLeaves, IL - 9 hours ago
By MARK LAWTON mlawton@pioneerlocal.com Yellow sales banners hung outside River Grove's Ace Hardware, 8345 Belmont Ave., last week as the store prepares to ...
Ace building to come down Waukegan News Sun
all 2 news articles


About the House: A Very Rude Survey of Local Hardware Resources
Berkeley Daily Planet, CA - 11 minutes ago
Part of this dark gnosis was the orally related teaching of hardware—where to obtain and whom to query. This latter point may seen irrelevant, ...


PhysOrg.com

Computer Hardware Sector Posting Gains Wednesday Morning
Trading Markets (press release), CA - Aug 20, 2008
(RTTNews) - Computer hardware stocks have moved to the upside Wednesday morning. The positive sentiment comes after Hewlett-Packard Co. ...
HP Reports 10% Net Revenue Increase In Q3 Twice
Hewlett’s Printing Business Struggles New York Times
Overseas and Notebook Sales Offset Printer Declines for HP in Q3 IT Jungle
Wall Street Journal - InternetNews.com
all 735 news articles


IT hardware development in RP not possible sans research schools
Sun.Star, Philippines - 2 hours ago
Lim, one of the reactors to the talk given by Ouano last Friday about IT hardware development, said a venture into IT hardware development would need a huge ...


IBM and LENTA Hypermarket Chain Sign Three-Year IT Services Contract
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
"The services contract, performed by IBM engineers on site, will help with hardware recovery times and thus facilitate LENTA's objective to reduce risks ...


NotebookReview.com

How It Works: Graphics Hardware
NotebookReview.com, OH - 3 hours ago
by Dustin Sklavos This is the entry to the How it Works series that I'm sure some of the more knowledgable readers have been waiting for: graphics hardware. ...


Spong

Hardware companies 'like' software piracy?
gamezine.co.uk, UK - 8 hours ago
id Software's chief executive, Todd Hollenshead, has today spoken out about how the PC hardware industry might actually 'like' software piracy. ...
PC manufacturers view piracy as "hidden benefit" for consumers ... GamesIndustry.biz
all 6 news articles


Ace Hardware launches project to renovate nonprofit groups
Orlando Sentinel, FL - 3 hours ago
Ace Hardware is seeking nominations for its New Faces for Helpful Places campaign. Ten places chosen from the nominations will receive a renovation. ...


Sydney Morning Herald

Is Apple's iPhone Fix ...
InternetNews.com - 8 hours ago
"When it's a hardware problem, it's very unlikely a patch will completely correct the problem," Enderle, principal analyst with the Enderle Group, ...
Apple Reportedly Plans Another Fix for the iPhone CIO Today
Iphone dropped calls a global problem Inquirer
Apple iPhone 2.0.2 not the fix most users hope for iTWire
Apple Insider - CBS 5
all 534 news articles


Game Guru

Sony Announces New Hardware for PSP and PS3
Seeking Alpha, NY - 3 hours ago
The company’s gaming division used the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany to reveal a number of new hardware offerings. Topping the list was a new SKU for ...
New 160 GB PS3 Heading to Stores in November Home Media Magazine
Sony Announces a 160GB Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune PS3 Bundle EndSights
Sony to sell 160GB PS3 Drake's Fortune Bundle Punch Jump
PSX Extreme
all 47 news articles

Hardware - Google News

Need More Information?
Site Home | Site Map | Return to How To Find Out About Main Index
© How To Find Out About.com 2007