I may have to seriously curtail book buying for this month, which is definitely cause for mourning.
I had a computer diagnostic done on my computer last Friday. The guy running it said I need a back-up drive, especially since my computer is over five years old. I nodded.
I also need an Ethernet extender, since my computer is on the other side of the house from the cable source. "Your Internet speed will nearly double," he said. I nodded vigorously.
"And," he said with a sigh, "you'll probably need a new computer soon."
I didn't nod. I was too terrified.
Anyway, I've decided to go ahead and order this Ethernet extender kit, which looks pretty easy to install.
I'm thinking about ordering this external hard drive. I have so many questions about just what an external hard drive can (and can't) do that I may delay this purchase (dangerous as that may be) until I can get some of my bonehead questions answered:
Do I need back-up software? (I don't think this particular product comes with it.)
If I get a new computer, can I back up (and use) information/applications from both hard drives? (Will I have to re-install stuff like Zone Alarm, etc. on the new computer or can I transfer it from the external hard drive?)
I'm so confused...
And a new computer? I break into a cold sweat just thinking about it. Can you even get a new computer with Windows XP and not Vista?
So many decisions....
Maybe I was born in the wrong century. Paper and ink are suddenly starting to look real good again.
6 comments:
I use Wi-Fi in the house, but the powerline Ethernet extenders can be an easy way that doesn't involve stringing CAT-6 cable. (grin) And I own a lot of Netgear boxes of various kinds.
Big external backup drives are cheap enough and reliable. You can easy just manually copy whole folders or even drives into folders on the new drive. Or use the Backup program which comes with Windows. Or it may even come with its own backup programs, which may be already on the hard drive, rather than having to give you a CD-ROM to install.
The new computer. Yes, you can still get XP Pro, especially if you buy from a local computer builder. Microsoft wants you to buy Vista (ga-ack) and so will try to make it difficult.
Installing Zone Alarm is the least of your problems with a new computer. First decision -- is this a second computer or a replacement? If it's a replacement, you might be able to "clone" the first and dump it onto the second. If it's a second computer, there are legal restrictions on the licenses of some of your software -- sometimes you're allowed to use them on a second machine (often they think of home and office, or desktop and laptop) and sometimes not.
It all is frustrating -- even for those of us who know what the hell we're doing. Salesmen in big box stores may not be so helpful. If you had a really good local shop, you might find someone who can give you straight answers -- I'm sorry I'm too far away to swoop in and help. A few comments on one blog entry ain't gonna quite cut it.
But... you need backup. And buy a flash drive with a couple of GB and copy all your writing on it. You're not really backed up unless you have things on two different types of media -- and stored in two locations.
Dr. Phil
Thanks, Dr. Phil, as always! Yeah, this would be a replacement computer, I'm sorry to say. :(
I appreciate the advice!
I bought a Maxtor III One-Touch a couple years ago, as an external USB backup drive. It had good reviews on Newegg. (BTW, consider buying all your computer stuff from Newegg.) Came with backup software; touch a button on the drive, and you're backed up automatically. Does't help me, I'm on Linux, but it should be nice for Win users. However, checking Newegg, the current version of the Maxtor isn't getting all that great reviews. I've been happy with my Maxtor; I use Linux backup software.
If your PC is five years old, strongly consider replacing it entirely. For me, that's the point where things start slowing down to the point where replacing it makes sense. Yes, you can still get XP. Or buy without an OS, buy the XP disks, and install yourself.
Consider Linux? I've been using Linux for two years, Ubuntu for six months, and I'm perfectly happy. It's not glitch-free, but neither was Windows. Download and burn the Ubuntu live CD and try it out without having to install.
Thanks for the info, John. I'll definitely check out Newegg. Yes, I'm afraid I'll be looking at entirely new computer within the next six months. I still haven't ruled out Linux, just need to research it more.
Hi Andy,
Imagine the external hard drive as a gigantic floppy disk--you can just drag files in Windows to copy them over.
I have a Maxtor that I've been reasonably happy with, even though I never got the one-touch backup thingy working right. I use a very simple freeware program called Syncback that's really easy to use, especially if you just set it up to backup data instead of synchronizing it. I use this software with my flash drive to synchronize my writing between a number of computers and it only gets confused when I create or delete folders.
Also, you may want to add up how much stuff you actually need to back up. Many computer files are damn small, so you might be able to do a sufficient backup on a 2 GB flash drive. Music and pictures are too big for this, though.
And I also agree with John: five years is a good run for a computer. Start from scratch.
And I also agree with everyone on the planet: stay the hell away from Vista whatever you do! I am tempted to go John's route and get off Windows altogether. Buying the computer without an operating system and installing it yourself is really quite simple.
Thanks, Trent. I'm so used to XP that I'm going to insist on having on my new computer, even if that means installing it myself. No Vista for me. (I wonder if Vista will be remembered in the same category as the truly awful Windows ME? Cindy's mom had ME and it gave her fits.)
As for the other items, I ordered the Seagate 120 and the Ethernet extender yesterday.
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