Tips, tricks, hints on Win7

[ParaDiddle]

I don't actually have any, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn express last night. I did, however just snag a brand new laptop with the latest OpSys from the nerds in Seattle. If anyone knows some cool info, feel free to share.

So, my first question is, what's the best way to backup/transfer files and settings from the old machine?

I'm in the middle of backing up MP3 files from my old machine to an outboard HD. 210 minutes later, I'll start on the pics and documents. The last time I tried to use XP to back up the system, it tried to back up the backup drive. I'm doing everything manually to avoid filling the thing up with itself.

- P

[Casey]

Originally Posted by ParaDiddle

I don't actually have any, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn express last night. I did, however just snag a brand new laptop with the latest OpSys from the nerds in Seattle. If anyone knows some cool info, feel free to share.

So, my first question is, what's the best way to backup/transfer files and settings from the old machine?

I'm in the middle of backing up MP3 files from my old machine to an outboard HD. 210 minutes later, I'll start on the pics and documents. The last time I tried to use XP to back up the system, it tried to back up the backup drive. I'm doing everything manually to avoid filling the thing up with itself.

- P

Easy as pie. You even have what you need- an external HD. Grab Windows Easy Transfer, install on old computer, run. Tell it what to transfer, could be everything. Plug HD into new computer. Run Easy Transfer on new computer, and wait. Should have everything swapped in about an hour, all told.

[Casey]

Get it to work?

[Silas Sparkhammer]

Originally Posted by Casey

Easy as pie. You even have what you need- an external HD. Grab Windows Easy Transfer, install on old computer, run. Tell it what to transfer, could be everything. Plug HD into new computer. Run Easy Transfer on new computer, and wait. Should have everything swapped in about an hour, all told.

Great for data...what about apps?

I'm terrified of the day I have to initialize my computer. There's "The Tech Guy" on the radio, and he advises re-formatting the hard disk once every six months or so. Alas, I foolishly haven't kept the installation drives for many of my apps. (And, even if I had 'em all, sheesh, it'd take a month to re-install everything, given that I'd also have to update everything too!)

My local computer shop told me that you can't just transfer apps from one pc to another; they have to be installed via install shield or other installer. Bummer...

Silas

[Casey]

You'd have to reinstall, but all your data from the app is still there- my family tree program is unscathed after reinstalling.

[ParaDiddle]

Originally Posted by Casey

Get it to work?

Kind of.

In the middle of all this, the AC adapter for my old machine took a crap. I'm trying to conserve battery power until the replacement arrives. Today, I'm installing iTunes, but I'm going from 32bit on the old machine to 64bit on the new one. I don't think my playlists will be transferable, but I can't even mount the project for a couple of days.

Stay tuned for more developments.

- P

[Casey]

Originally Posted by ParaDiddle

Kind of.

In the middle of all this, the AC adapter for my old machine took a crap. I'm trying to conserve battery power until the replacement arrives. Today, I'm installing iTunes, but I'm going from 32bit on the old machine to 64bit on the new one. I don't think my playlists will be transferable, but I can't even mount the project for a couple of days.

Stay tuned for more developments.

- P

It transferred my Napster playlists, so it may do so.

[ParaDiddle]

The iPod library transferred quite well, so I'm satisfied with that. I spent a full day trying to got my Mozilla bookmarks to import, but I could have used less time recreating the list manually.

The next task on the list is make gmail my default client. Y'know what I mean? When I click on a contact link I want to open the pane for composing a new gmail message. Also, I've been fiddling with my cookies (snicker) and privacy settings. Most times lately, I get logged off my favorite sites (including this one) whenever I close the browser. I haven't shut down for several hours, so I'm not sure if I've figured it out yet.

- P

[ParaDiddle]

I may have spoken too soon. My iPod won't synch. The error message says,

The iPod "ParaDiddle's iPod" Cannot be synched. The required disk cannot be found.

Also on the iPod subject, the 64bit software requres somme digging around on the Apple website in order to locate it. You'll not know if you have the correct version at least until it's partially installed. I actually had to uninstall the 32bit version then retrieve and install the 64bit.

Also, internet is running really slow, like dialup. I just bought a new D-link router and the software seems incompatible. I can't even password protect it. Same incompatibility problem with my Lexmark network printer. At this point, I'm emailing documents to myself and opening/printing from the XP machine. I'll likely do the same with the D-link software so I can secure the wireless network. The true PITA is that I need to email all my new music files to the old machine, then synch the iPod from there as well.

So far, my advice on Win7 is wait at least a couple months before pulling the trigger.

- P

[Not_Done_Living]

Routers are for the most part, agnostic, and do NOT require "software" .. just use your browser to log into it.

if it is a d-link dir-825, you should probably also disable the advanced DNS festure, as it is hosing the router.

[ParaDiddle]

Originally Posted by Not_Done_Living

Routers are for the most part, agnostic, and do NOT require "software" .. just use your browser to log into it.

Tried that, didn't work. I can log onto the internet, I just can't activate security protocols. I'm sure my neighbors appreciate the always open connection. I better get a Xmas card or something.

if it is a d-link dir-825, you should probably also disable the advanced DNS festure, as it is hosing the router.

It's a DIR-615, but I'll look to see if there is something I can manipulate. So far, I'm getting nowhere.

- P

[Alchemy]

Last weekend I went ahead and replaced my Windows XP 64-bit partition with Windows 7 64-bit. The only problem I had was that the onboard wireless driver didn't work immediately (and I have no Ethernet connection) so I had to switch to Vista 32-bit to download a handful of not-well-labeled OEM drivers. First one was no good, but the second one worked. Also looks like HP wrote a proper printer driver for this OS, which they didn't for XP 64-bit.

Originally Posted by ParaDiddle

I actually had to uninstall the 32bit version then retrieve and install the 64bit.

Device drivers and other software that interfaces between hardware and the OS - such as firewalls - can't be emulated and *must* be for that specific architecture. If you can't get a Win 7 64-bit version for something, you can very likely use the Vista 64-bit version. (Most of my system monitoring software, which predates Windows 7, identifies the OS as either Vista or Server 2008 and works just fine.)

I just bought a new D-link router and the software seems incompatible. I can't even password protect it.

The software to administer routers are usually pretty crap. Type the router IP (usually 192.168.0.1 for D-link) into your web browser address bar and use the web interface.

Same incompatibility problem with my Lexmark network printer.

That one's more tricky, yeah.

The true PITA is that I need to email all my new music files to the old machine, then synch the iPod from there as well.

I'd probably use the external drive for this.