Copy Files, Not Programs, to New Machine
Q: I am purchasing a new computer. What is the best way to copy all of the files and programs from the old computer to the new one?
A: We’re assuming you’re talking about duplicating the data on your disk drive from the old computer to the new computer. We’d recommend against that. Your box never runs any faster than the first day you plug it in. After that, the registry gets cluttered with junk, and things get progressively slower. It’s the electronic equivalent of atherosclerosis.
What you should do is install every piece of software you want to use on the new box, using the standard installation process. Do not under any circumstances try to copy a program from one Windows computer to another as it will surely result in disaster. You can copy data files, such as five years of e-mail messages or spreadsheets, but don’t copy the program itself. That must be installed.
If you want to skip all that and run the same clogged registry you’ve been using, you can indeed clone your existing drive. You can use an old DOS command called XCOPY, but this involves cracking the case, setting jumpers to the slave position and whatnot. We’re guessing that somebody writing to the friendly geeks at Q&A; labs for help is probably looking for something a bit cleaner.
There are a number of software products on the market to clone drives for you. We’re extremely fond of a product made by Symantec called Norton Ghost 2001, which also will let you make backups of big chunks of your hard drive.
Q: A few months back, I was given the procedure to shut off the infernal screeching coming from my modem during dial-up. I recently had to reinstall the modem, and now I cannot remember the procedure or find my notes on it. Can you advise how to silence this monster before it drives me and my cats around the bend? I have tried turning down the sound, but it still is exceptionally loud. I know there is a better way to do it.
A: The following procedure usually works, but some modems don’t support it.
Go to the Start menu and click on Settings and then Control Panel. Double-click on Modems. Select your modem, then click the Properties button. Move the slider under the Volume setting all the way down to “Off” if you want to shut the noise off entirely. And then click OK.
The friendly geeks at Q&A; labs urge you not to turn off the sound entirely, however. That sound--or a lack thereof--can alert you to problems with your dial-up connection.
Q: I have completed a list of contacts on Outlook. I would like to be able to send my contact list to others at work. Can you help me with this? I really like the contacts address list and would hate to redo it.
A: You also should make backups of those data so they don’t disappear when--not if, when--your hard drive crashes. There are a couple of ways to do this. Recent versions of Outlook store data in files that end in “.pst” and are kept in what’s normally labeled a Personal Folders file.
Go to the File menu and click on the Import and Export item. Hit “Export to file” and click the “Next” button. Choose “Personal Folder File (.pst)” and then click Next. Then choose the folder you want to export--in this case, your contacts--and click Next. Save the exported file as a .pst, and click Finish. Put that file on a floppy or e-mail it for import into other copies of Outlook.
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Dave Wilson is The Times’ personal technology columnist. Submit questions to Tech Q&A; at techtimes@latimes.com.
