Don’t Do As I Do
You know that I have a new desk top computer, right? Well, it took about a month before I started moving everything from my laptop over to the new desktop. I was getting by with some of my files and programs on one, and some on the other. And a lot of files spread between two external hard drives. It was really dumb and took too much mental energy to keep up with it all. For some reason, in the back of my head, I kept hoping that I would wake up and the computer fairy would have done it in the middle of the night. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I took a morning and dedicated myself to the big job. And of course it didn’t take as long as I feared.
I can’t lie to you. It’s not all moved. And I haven’t changed over my Carbonite subscription or my security software. After waiting on hold for about 10 minutes and leaving a call back number to my security software company, I still haven’t heard back. Now I’ll have to call again. curses. I’m still using the 60 day free trial that was installed on the computer so that gives me some sense of security. no pun intended. And I keep discovering other little programs that need to be re-downloaded and installed, too. This could go on indefinitely at this rate!
So my post today is about documenting your computer programs and files. Keep a record of everything you add to your system, put all the receipts, logins, passwords, software keys, etc. in one place. Then you won’t have to go running around without a checklist like I appear to be doing right now. [As my Dad always said when we were growing up, "Don't do as I do, do as I say."] Ideally you would have a folder with all of the software information in it, and keep your software CD’s together for quick retrieval. I have a folder on my computer labeled “Downloaded Programs” and it contains all the programs I download rather than having actual CD’s.
My next big to-do will be to document my new system and file it away for the next time I have to “rebuild” a computer. Do you have any good ideas to share about this?
Comments
It’s nice to be able to have both computers going at the same time. I have transitioned 8 or 10 times. It’s always a struggle and takes me a month or so. But having a newer faster machine is always fun. Norton has a program called ghost that can take all the stuff on one computer and put it on another. But if the computers are not exactly the same it will cause some issues. But if you are tech savy it is worth a shot if you get a brand new machine. Of course it doesn’t go from PC to MAC.
If you connect the computers on a network and use synergy (free software) you can share drives and use the same mouse and keyboard to connect computers and move files from one to the other.
Good luck
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October 8th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I had to laugh when I read this post. I’d love to get a new Mac so I don’t have to have a Mac AND a PC – I can just combine them into one machine. But, that would mean moving my software (from 2 computers) onto it. And finding all the software keys, etc.
Aren’t there people who do that kind of thing for a living? Might be worth it