2BMobile

I am always excited with the arrival of my new notebook computer and seeing all the great new features it has; the promises of being faster, storing more data, and having better graphics. Then reality hits,the anticipation is replaced with  the realization that I need to sort through the files and software applications that I have and decided which need to get moved over and which ones just need to go away. Well for me, a true pack rat, going away means I back up the stuff somewhere else just in case I might need it in the future.

OK this is where you might say to yourself, "when he order the new notebook why didn't he order one of those software/cable products that will transfer your software for you?". A good question and I have a good answer for you - first I hate spending $60 for a one time use product, and secondly I wanted to prune the many programs and files that I have used just some of the time from those that I have used most of the time.

I have spent the last few days trying to get all my computer stuff from the old notebook computer to my new one. It has been time consuming and frustrating. Some programs are still on the old notebook and others are on my new one, and it seems that everything I am trying to do has the programs in the wrong place.

Another problem I have encountered has been some programs do not seem to install well the second time around. My Garmin Training Center fought with me about whether my GPS watch was connected or not. Then there are all those configurations and passwords that have to either be re-entered or hunted out of the various folders from my notebook. A related problem is that not all applications put the user data in easy locations like in 'My Documents' so you have to go hunting for where it is or back up all the user data to a file you can get to.

In the end I decided to use my USB hard drive to move everything over to the new computer. It was pretty easy to copy all the 'My Document' files. I did a little hunting to find other files that I would need. Good places to look are in the specific 'Application' folder in the 'Program' folder and in the 'Document and Setting' folder in the 'All Users' folder ( you may have to select the file extension option to see all the files).