Computer Help

[bccap]

I know there are some guys around here that are pretty knowledgeable about computers. Sandy and Cipher come to mind but I know there are others ..... First of all though my computer is getting a little long in the tooth I like it . It has a 3.80 ghz processor 8 gigs of ram and a 1 terabyte hard drive { unfortunately not SSD } ..... What I like is that it has a camera SD card reader on the front and a DVD drive built in which most new computers do not have .....However the open close button on the DVD drive no longer works. I can still use it by going into Control Panel and selecting the drive and using the " eject " option to open it ...... It is also crashing every 4 or 5 days with the message " Power supply surges detected during the previous power on " where it reboots into the BIOS settings . I hard reboot using the power button and everything is fine for another 4 or 5 days. I googled it and apparently it is a known issue with Asus motherboards that can be solved by going into the BIOS and turning the message off ..... I just haven't done it yet ...... I also use Classic Shell because my last version of Windows I found difficult to use. Classic Shell makes everything look like Windows 7 { Windows 10 is installed } ......

Plan A is to buy a new computer,monitor, and keyboard . Place it next to my old computer and slowly { because I'm a computer idiot } set up the new one until it has everything my old one has in it functioning .....

What I'd like others opinions on

1} At the end of this post the model computer I am interested in is listed. Would like others opinions on whether I should buy it or another model ? My reasons for choosing this one is that it has Windows 11 { which I will need after October } an SSD hard drive, 32 gigs of ram, and moderately faster cpu than I have now . But if someone has a better recommendation I'm all ears .....

2} I use Firefox for a browser ...How can i get all my bookmarks and saved passwords over to the new computer ?

3 } Likewise how can I get my Thunderbird address book over to the new computer ? .....

4} I also have paid versions of Malware Bytes and Ccleaner . How do I get them over to the new computer .....

5} How do I get all my documents and pictures over to the new computer ?

I'll add any further questions I have once the new computer arrives and I begin the setup process . First job will to put Open Shell in so it looks like Windows 7 . Then the transfers can begin ..... Please address any comments as if you are talking to a computer idiot because you are ....

This is the computer I am thinking of buying. Many thanks to any advice I get .....

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0CKZFP64Z/ref=ox_sc_act_image_4?smid=A3RPI7T9S6G20W&th=1

[Sandy]

Good choice on going with a refurb unit. These are usually commercial grade lease return computers and much more robust in build than the usual consumer grade stuff you find out there. I just upgraded my desktop with an HP ProDesktop with pretty much the same specs as thie Dell you're looking at. Did you on the Staples website at refurhished desktops? On the road right now but for a start install a free utility called Belarc Advisor on your current PC, run it then print out the results. It will give you complete inventory of software with register numbers/keys of everything on yuor PC as well as break down of the hardware configuration. This you can review and only install what really need on the new one.

As for transferring data that would depend on how much you need to move over. Choices are anything from USB sticks to external backup drives or network cable. I would not use automated transfer software for programs and data but do what is called a clean install. Keep us posted and we can walk you through it

[bccap]

Good choice on going with a refurb unit. These are usually commercial grade lease return computers and much more robust in build than the usual consumer grade stuff you find out there. I just upgraded my desktop with an HP ProDesktop with pretty much the same specs as thie Dell you're looking at. Did you on the Staples website at refurhished desktops? On the road right now but for a start install a free utility called Belarc Advisor on your current PC, run it then print out the results. It will give you complete inventory of software with register numbers/keys of everything on yuor PC as well as break down of the hardware configuration. This you can review and only install what really need on the new one.

As for transferring data that would depend on how much you need to move over. Choices are anything from USB sticks to external backup drives or network cable. I would not use automated transfer software for programs and data but do what is called a clean install. Keep us posted and we can walk you through it

Thanks Sandy. I'll go ahead and order it. I downloaded Belarc Advisor and ran it. Here is a scan of the first page. It appears my virus protection needs upgrading as well as a couple of security updates. If I click on those options will Belarc Advisor fix them ?

belarc scan.jpg

[Sandy]

Thanks Sandy. I'll go ahead and order it. I downloaded Belarc Advisor and ran it. Here is a scan of the first page. It appears my virus protection needs upgrading as well as a couple of security updates. If I click on those options will Belarc Advisor fix them

If you're this close to upgrading wouldn't bother updating the virus definitions. I would pull that AMD video card out though unless you are giving your computer to someone else to use and there's no onboard video. If you're still doing Photoshop stuff, particularly if you're using some of the new AI based advance features the onboard Intel 630 graphics won’t handle it. Most of the older basic features will work if you set max RAM usage in the BIOS but the other stuff will choke.

[bccap]

If you're this close to upgrading wouldn't bother updating the virus definitions. I would pull that AMD video card out though unless you are giving your computer to someone else to use and there's no onboard video. If you're still doing Photoshop stuff, particularly if you're using some of the new AI based advance features the onboard Intel 630 graphics won’t handle it. Most of the older basic features will work if you set max RAM usage in the BIOS but the other stuff will choke.

Aargh ! The damn thing just crashed twice with that " Power Surge " message . I'll admit I'm a little intimidated by going into the BIOS even if the instructions I printed out are pretty easy . A couple of more times and I'll have to do it ..... My version of Photoshop is 6 . And it's a cracked version .... I'll see if I can remember how I did it when I set up the new computer . I don't mind paying for Photoshop but I do very much mind " renting " it which is apparently the only way now ..... Photoshop Elements I can buy for { $140 for three years.} I suspect it is better than my old Photoshop 6 version ....I'll have to look into how inferior to Photoshop it is . The new Photoshop is $360 a year ......

[Syd]

Hi bccap

Dell is good computer platform. I worked as an I.T. tech at an Australian science and research organisation that transitioned solely to Dell desktop and server computers. Dell support is pretty good also.

A couple of things to note before transitioning to a new computer.

1 - BACK UP all of your data to an external drive or high capacity USB drive. When it comes to the world of computers, your data is the most valuable item. Computers and software packages can be replaced, lost documents and photographs can't.

2 - Consider freeware programs like Gnu Image Manipulation Program (G.I.M.P.) as a replacement for Photoshop. I used to run Photoshop, but now I only use G.I.M.P. for image manipulation. Yes, the look and feel may be different but the commands within the package are universal and you don't have to pay an annual rental fee.

See https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

If you use any movie editing software, you could also try kdenlive. See https://kdenlive.org/

Same applies to audio editing software. If you have a requirement to edit sound files, Audacity is a simple yet powerful audio editing package.

See https://www.audacityteam.org/

Office suite. If you need an Office Suite, consider LibreOffice. Again the look and feel is a little different, but it's functionality is every bit as good as Microsoft Office and it get regular updates. (Also free)

See https://www.libreoffice.org/

I use all of these software packages and will never pay for software packages again.

3 - Thunderbird should have a directory (Folder) that stores all your Email, Address Book info and Calendar located on you C: drive. You should be able to find the folder on your old computer at C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Prof iles. (UserName being your login name).
You can copy and paste the Thunderbird folder and transfer it to your new computer.

4 - Browser choice. Firefox is good, Brave Browser is better, way more secure and blocks all kinds of useless popups and adverts. Brave browser does not track your online activity and share with third parties.

Cheers

[LAB3]

Here's what I'm hearing. You want an OS upgrade, better long term storage and the ability to use your CD player. Seems to me the easiest way to transition to a new machine would be to use an external SSD or USB flash drive and an external CD player which should be dirt cheap. Transfer everything over to external storage, get your new machine (or upgrade your current one's OS) and you're done!

[bccap]

Hi bccap

Dell is good computer platform. I worked as an I.T. tech at an Australian science and research organisation that transitioned solely to Dell desktop and server computers. Dell support is pretty good also.

A couple of things to note before transitioning to a new computer.

1 - BACK UP all of your data to an external drive or high capacity USB drive. When it comes to the world of computers, your data is the most valuable item. Computers and software packages can be replaced, lost documents and photographs can't.

2 - Consider freeware programs like Gnu Image Manipulation Program (G.I.M.P.) as a replacement for Photoshop. I used to run Photoshop, but now I only use G.I.M.P. for image manipulation. Yes, the look and feel may be different but the commands within the package are universal and you don't have to pay an annual rental fee.

See https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

If you use any movie editing software, you could also try kdenlive. See https://kdenlive.org/

Same applies to audio editing software. If you have a requirement to edit sound files, Audacity is a simple yet powerful audio editing package.

See https://www.audacityteam.org/

Office suite. If you need an Office Suite, consider LibreOffice. Again the look and feel is a little different, but it's functionality is every bit as good as Microsoft Office and it get regular updates. (Also free)

See https://www.libreoffice.org/

I use all of these software packages and will never pay for software packages again.

3 - Thunderbird should have a directory (Folder) that stores all your Email, Address Book info and Calendar located on you C: drive. You should be able to find the folder on your old computer at C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Prof iles. (UserName being your login name).
You can copy and paste the Thunderbird folder and transfer it to your new computer.

4 - Browser choice. Firefox is good, Brave Browser is better, way more secure and blocks all kinds of useless popups and adverts. Brave browser does not track your online activity and share with third parties.

Cheers

Thanks Syd . Both you and Sandy seem to approve of my choice for a computer so I pulled the trigger this morning . Added a monitor with camera for those family Christmas Zoom calls and Facebook calls to my friends in India .... So the 2 computers will sit side by side until everything on the new one is up and running. I thought Microsoft Office was included with windows because the last time my old computer was in the repair shop they installed Windows 10 and Office 2010 magically appeared when I booted up . This is apparently not the case . They must have installed it . I don't know if I can get it over to the new computer without an installation program ..... I'll check out your suggestion libreoffice. I did find a copy of Office 2021 for $69.95 { one time purchase } at Bestbuy NO WAY I'M GOING FOR AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. THEY EITHER SELL IT TO ME OR THEY ARE OUT .....

As for Gimp I did try it last time and the interface was so different from Photoshop I never did figure it out . So if my memory will allow me { I'm old that's a coin toss } I'll either install my pirated version of Photoshop 6 { if I can remember how } or spring for Elements which though I can't get around the subscription feature is reasonbly priced at $140 for three years ..... For me Photoshop is about correcting existing photographs and making funny masking projects .....

I've been typing up a plan of attack.

1} Get Open Shell installed so it looks like Windows 7

2} Get it on line

3} transfer my existing bookmarks to Firefox on the new computer . Which is apparently easy with Mozilla account. I opened a Mozilla account yesterday .

4} Get my existing Thunderbird email addresses over to the new computer which I think I have figured out how . And get my existing 3 email accounts working. This will be a little more difficult because when Telus switched to Google they did something weird in the protocols. I solved it last time but can't remember what I did .....

Once I'm on line with internet and email I can relax and proceed slowly with file transfers and program installations .....

Lab3 .... I have a " My passport 1 Terabyte SSD " I will be using for file transfers...... The new machine has a built in DVD drawer so no problem there ....

[Syd]

Sounds like you have a good migration plan. Hope it goes well

[bccap]

Just transferred my Itunes library onto my 1 terabyte portable drive . Took a couple of hours . Didn't think it was that big but it was 201 gigs . There's an old backup file on my desktop they used last time they replaced my hard drive . I'll transfer that too and go through it when I do the new computer. 190 gigs in that one .....