Computer Frustration Update

[jenepherre]

If you upgrade from an older computer to one with WinXP (or just one with newer technology), be sure and get a data migration software package. Dell has one for about $50. I wish I'd gotten it. I still can't get my new computer to assign a drive letter to my external USB hard drive. It recognizes that the drive is there, but won't assign a drive letter and won't make it accessible in My Computer or Windows Explorer. Thus making it useless. I'm actually on my old computer at the moment, because I was burning some of my files to CD-Rom. But I have many gigabytes of data to transfer, and some of it is just too large to make it practical to burn it all to CD-Rom.

I've written to the company who I bought the external USB hard drive enclosure from, and they tried to help, but no luck. I wrote to Dell, and they gave me a bunch of different ways to transfer files from one computer to another, including "Transfer files using an external hard drive." Thanks so much, Dell. So helpful.

XP apparently has this "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard," but it's not clear if you can use it to transfer files from a non-XP computer. Plus, since I only have one monitor, I can't run both systems at the same time. I'll probably have to borrow my Mom's monitor for a while. Luckily I do have an extra keyboard and mouse. ::sigh::

Getting a new computer is supposed to be fun. This is more like a nightmare.

If I owe anyone e-mail, it'll have to wait. I'm checking my mail on Yahoo web mail instead of Outlook Express, so I feel sort of out of my element. I don't have my usual folders to organize everything and don't have my old emails to refer to and for that matter I don't even have my Favorites list. Those are things I've burned to CD, so I should be able to import them to my new system soon, but I'm really just too frustrated to answer any email right now. Of course I have to answer the tech support emails... and that's about all I can do... I'm proud of myself for putting my thoughts together in a semi-rational manner in this post. Wasn't sure I could. Frustration > Depression > Difficulty putting my thoughts together. Heh.

On an unrelated note, much thanks to deslea for getting LJ to add an additional text field with each user icon, so we have an easier way to credit people or whatever without having to include all that stuff in our keywords. You rock, Deslea!!

Also, GIP! Okay, you can't call it a gratuitous icon post when it's added on as an afterthought to a completely unrelated post. But still... cool icon, huh? I did this tutorial by tattood_moon. Way cool, huh?

Comments

[dolpfin220.livejournal.com]

You can pick up that Data Migration kit or Intelimover any place that sells computers such as CompUSA or Best Buy.

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

And my Dad is in Stockton (where the nearest Best Buy is) today, but he forgot to take the cell phone with him. Arrrgghh! I was thinking about having my brother send me his data migration kit if he still has it, but I don't want to wait for it to get here. Getting sick of this, you know?

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't sure they were that readily available.

[jelly-baby23.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I found a product on Amazon.com that looks like it might be useful to you. It's called AlohaBob PC Relocator 2005. It's about $26.00 and ships in 24 hrs.

* Powerful migration tool for transferring info to a new PC
* Moves programs, plus all personal preferences
* Packs up all data files and delivers them to the new PC
* Automatically transfers settings, email, shortcuts, and more
* Intuitive wizard interface with step-by-step instructions

[dolpfin220.livejournal.com]

If you have an Office Depot or similar office supply store that is closer, you might check there as well. They also carry a lot of computer related items and should carry these as well.