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Archive through March 31, 2007

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Jan. 2007 ~ Mar. 2007: All Things Technical: The Help Desk: Computer Problems? Ask Here (ARCHIVES): Archive through March 31, 2007 users admin

Author Message
Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 4:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I haven't used Netscape in years so I can't comment on that one.

(LOL - You're right about Outlook Express though I think the vast majority of people use it)

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 9:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
I have used Thunderbird for years. It will allow you to import your addresses, if you need to. Won't netscape allow you to open it to refer back or to export your stuff? If so, you'll still have all your old mail that you want to save available to refer to. I'm just not sure what to tell you about Netscape mail working with Firefox, I've never tried it.

Jan
Moderator

08-01-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 12:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jan a private message Print Post    
Voila !! I uninstalled firefox and thunderbird, then reinsatalled the latest editions of both. They automatically picked up my bookmarks and mail stuff (although for some reason they picked up an older version of the bookmarks??)

I allowed both to be defaults - and now the mail link works just fine!!

Thanks Ladytex and Jimmer and Cnd :-):-):-)

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
New Question. I need to do a backup on my system before Geek Squad comes, is there someplace on the internet I can save my system instead of having to make a bunch of disks. Like some sort of backup data system storage place? Or is this a new business idea I have just created?

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 1:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I think there are places on the Internet that do this but the practicality of doing it hinges on the speed of your Internet connection and the volume of data that you need to back-up. If you have a large amount of data it will take a long time, even with a high-speed connection.

My suggestion, if you have USB 2.0, is buy an external hard drive. You can basically plug it in and it will work and all you have to do is copy your data over to it. They are pretty reasonably priced these days and your data will copy very quickly (much faster than to an Internet site).

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 1:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
There he goes again

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 2:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Definitely get an external drive for backing up your data. The Web sites that allow you to back up data are best used when you don't have a lot of volume to back up.

And you don't necessarily need USB 2.0 -- you can use 2.0 devices with a USB 1.x port (it'll just run slower).

One thing... back up EVERYTHING!!!!! Geek Squad peeps don't always know what they are doing. So be sure to back up your email, address books, settings, and so on. If you have Win XP or Vista, you can use the tools to backup your settings and then restore them later on if you have to reformat your disk (yes, Geek Squad completely hosed a system of mine once and his response? reformat your drive! a**h**e!).

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 2:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Well crap, I thought I just needed to backup for the operating systems and such, not all this other stuff. Will my manual tell me how to backup the email and all the other stuff? I was going to go to Best Buy and pick up some writable disks but now you say I need an external hard drive, LOL. Is this easy to do?

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
What version of operating system are you using? Is it WinXP? If so, choose Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. As you go thruy the wizard, you can select what settings and files you want to save. (Although it's used primarily to transfer settings from an older computer to another, if you have to reformat your drive, it'll allow you to set things back up a lot quicker.) Note that you can also specify to backup the data in some folders (user specific folders, such as My Documents) by default, but that if you choose the option to select the stuff you want to back up, you can add other folders manually within the wizard.

Also be SURE to set a restore point (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore) right before the Geek Squad person shows. And do NOT allow him to remove the ability to create restore points!

You should not need to back up the operating system. Assuming, of course, that you've got a valid install and you have the installation or "restore" disks from the computer manufacturer (usually called "System Restore" from folks like Dell or Gateway).

I dunno what mail client you are using. Take a look at your email program and see if you can tell where email is being stored, and where your personal address book are being stored. (Once you figure out the file names for your email, you can add the file type to the File And Settings Transfer Wizard.) Most often, it'll be a single file that you need to back up (like a .pst or something). Look in the online help for your email client to see if it gives you any info. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, let me know and I'll tell you where to look to backup all your email folders and address books.

You don't actually have to have an external drive; it depends on how much data you need to back up. But it's a good idea, since dependencies on discs of various types can be a bad idea (especially if they become unreadable for whatever reason). Using an external drive allows you to do full backups, incremental backups, or even just drag-n-drop backups.

ETA: Definitely use the File and Settings Transfer wizard to back up your settings. Seriously, if you have to reformat your drive, this will make restoring a lot easier. You can save all sorts of things including your window colors, display settings, and so on.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 3:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
WOW! costa, thanks for all that information. I have windows XP and I don't remember recieving any disks or cds with my laptop, it is an HP, and it did keep asking me about doing backup disks when I first got it. But I haven't had that pop up in a while and never pursued it.

I am having geek squad out to try and solve my startup problem and some other little things that bug me. I didn't think they could break my computer, they are supposed to be experts!!!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 4:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
They can, and do, break computers. It's always best to be sure you can get back to where you were if they mess things up.

I had a worm that I couldn't get rid of on one of my laptops. And I didn't have the time to really try and troubleshoot the issue, so I thought it'd be easier to just pay a coupla hundred bucks to have them come out and deal with it for me. Unfortunately, the idiot who came out deleted all sorts of sys files and my computer was completely unusable after he left (before he came, it just ran slowly). The guy who came out was less than impressive, took four hours to "clean" my system, and then instead just broke it. He also came out four hours earlier than scheduled (although that was OK), so I didn't have a chance to completely back up all my data. The one thing I didn't get backed up was my address book(s). It's a damned good thing I know how to use DOS commands to copy, otherwise they would've had one seriously IRATE customer. That Geek Squad guy also told me I should reformat my disk once a year, and reinstall the OS then. Um, you're serious? No, I don't think so. It took me two days to get the OS reinstalled, all apps, reinstalled, and all data restored. I was seriously P-O'd!!!!

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 5:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I have no personal experience with Geek Squad, but from your description, I wouldn't consider using them.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 5:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Holy crap, Costa, now you are just scarring me! I hope I get someone good, is there anything I can ask them before they start messing with my system to ensure I don't end up broken? So was yours an advanced or regular service?

I went and got some disks and will back up my system this weekend. I don't have much on it, no photos, no music, no movies, just some excel and word docs, plus my taxes from turbotax. I think the disks will work fine instead of the external hard drive.

I mainly use my computer for email and to watch big brother, so hopefully they can solve my one little problem. I do plan on sitting with them while they work as well.

Suz
Member

10-13-2005

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 6:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Suz a private message Print Post    
Has anyone heard anything about this program? If so how good is it?
Registry Power Cleaner by Winferno software.
It is supposed to find errors and other junk on your computer and fix them.
Thanks

Retired
Member

07-11-2001

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 6:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Retired a private message Print Post    
Suz, I know nothing about registry cleaners but found this. Hope it helps.

LINK

Winferno

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 7:31 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
My pc has been less than stellar lately. I read that adding memory should go a long way to perking it up. I'm not technically inclined. Has anyone here added memory to their computers? How hard was it? Could you do it yourself?

I do a disk check every day in addition to running anti-virus,registry cleaners,& spyware/adware removers and my pc still runs relatively slow.

Ladytex
Member

09-27-2001

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ladytex a private message Print Post    
Adding memory is usually a very easy thing to do. Once you have the case opened, it takes a few moments to snap the memory in.

Merrysea
Member

08-13-2004

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 8:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Merrysea a private message Print Post    
My son recently added memory to my computer, and it has made a HUGE difference in speed! It only took him a few minutes (and most of that was spent unplugging everything so he could open it up!

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, March 30, 2007 - 9:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
KL, you can do it.

First you go to crucial.com and put in the model number of your computer so you will know what kind of memory to buy. Or you may already know that.

Then you go buy a stick of memory.

Then you open up your computer case. You might have to undo a couple screws on the back, or the side might just slide out without undoing any screws.

At this point, if there is a lot of dust inside, you might want to either vacuum out the dust or blow it out.

Then get your flashlight and look around in there for a piece that looks just like the piece you bought. Notice how it is oriented and how it sticks into a slot. Notice how there is an identical empty slot right next to where the one is now. Stick the new piece of memory into the empty slot.

Put the back of side of the machine back on. You are in business.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 5:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
If you were needing a new desktop, would you get a new desktop or replace it with a laptop?

I realize that price is a determining factor, but what are important must haves with a laptop, minimum speed, memory ect?

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 8:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
KL, have you defragged lately? My desktop was running slow, and I defragged it, and it seems to have cured the problem. Or it may be coincidental.

Before you defrag, you should turn off some programs that might interfere with the defrag.

Turn off your screensaver. Right click on the desktop and select Properties, then click the screensaver tab, then select None from the choices. You will need to reverse this to turn the screensaver back on after the defrag.

Turn off all the stuff in the System tray down at the bottom right corner of your screen. Right click each icon and select Exit or whatever seems to be the equivalent. Some of them will ask you if you really mean to do it. Say yes.

You will find the Defrag tool under Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools

Once you start it, find something else to do. It could take a long time to run.

After it is done, restart your computer. That will turn all the System tray stuff back on. You have to manually turn the screensaver back on if you have one.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 8:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
Texannie, I might replace it with a laptop if I thought I were going to travel with the computer. Otherwise, I would probably stick with a replacement desktop.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 11:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
It totally depends on your needs Texannie. Generally though, the three factors that most influence laptop design are size & weight (including screen size), battery life and power (how fast, how much memory, how big the hard drive). You generally have to give a little on one of these factors to get more of another.

For example, higher power generally means lower battery life. Bigger screen means bigger size and heavier. And so on.

Laptops are great, even if you don't travel as it allows you to move the computer from room to room. The downside is they are more expensive.

Ketchuplover
Member

08-30-2000

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 12:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ketchuplover a private message Print Post    
Thanks for answers everybody. I just looked at the back of my "tower" and I can't make transistor or diode out of it. This isn't a life or death issue for me...yet.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Saturday, March 31, 2007 - 8:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
KL, try looking at the side of your tower. The side may pop or slide out if your computer is newer. If your computer is older, you undo a few screws on the back, and the whole case slides off.

Try the defrag.

Jimmer, in the U.S. anymore laptops are pretty darn cheap. You can get a low end one as cheap as $500, and one with 1 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive, AND a DVD writer for $800 if you watch the sales.