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Tech Help Needed

carls10carls10
in Community Forum 🏠

So I finally upgraded my dinosaur of a desktop.  For a variety of reasons I got a PC instead of a Mac.  I obviously have a lot of information on the old computer.  I have an external hard drive and was thinking that I could move the programs/files from the old computer to the external drive and then onto the new hard drive.  My only hesitation is that I have tried this before with pics and music and it did not go well and I lost some stuff.

Any WSM techies out there with suggestions?

Comments

  • Spokane_AlSpokane_Al
    This is well beyond my capability so I hire a local techbert to do that stuff for me. The guy comes to my house, does his magic, and it usually costs a hundred bucks or so and keeps me from loosing sleep over these kinds of things.
  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    A lot of times it depends on how organized you are. Do you keep most or all of your documents in the My Documents folder or do you have stuff everywhere? Do you have a lot of old stuff you'll never look at again - if so, why bring it accross? For program files it's usually easier to reinstall the programs; just download them again if you can, otherwise go looking for the disks.

    I'd take a weekend or two to get rid of the old stuff, move items and get your My Documents folder organized. If that goes well, copying the folder to the external and then to the new should be easy. Otherwise, look up tech services in your area and pay someone to do it for you.
  • zipburnzipburn

    You can't just move the programs over, they will not work.  Find the files that you "saved" and add them to the external drive.  If you don't know where they are, open the program on the old computer and hit save as under the file menu. It will show you where you last saved the files. They can be transfered over with out a problem. It would be best to make a folder or something on the external drive so you can easily find these files later. As for the programs you will need to find the setup file(s) or disk and then install them on your new machine.  I am guessing the previous computer was a PC as well?  If you run into trouble finding the setup files or disk and have run into a last resort type situation, you can connect the monitor to both computers by using a switch. They are only about $20 dollars at a best buy and you can switch between the two computers until you can find a new disk or downloadable setup.  PS.  Don't feel sorry for getting a PC, I refuse to buy a Mac, sort of the same reason I refuse to buy Cervelo even if they fit me the best.

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