Ok, computer experts? Here goes.

[Smitty]

I just bought a new computer. My old one got fried, somehow, I never figured it out. Anyhow, the one I'm using now has alot of stuff I need to keep. So I've been looking at these programs on how to copy stuff from one hard drive to another. The new one doesn't have an operating system yet, so I wanna copy everything from here to there. Unfortunately, all the technical mumbo jumbo has me lost.

Can anyone give me instructions in plain english?

[Spirit At Choice]

Hopefully you can find some help here... Your new computer did not come with an OS? Once you get that remedied you can move files and upload programs pretty simply. I'm a pretty savvy user, but without the OS I don't know how you'd do anything.

Programs: As long as you have the CD, you should be able to just insert that sucker and a Wizard will guide you through

Files: You need to put your files on a disk or flash drive, then you can put the flash drive or disk in the new 'puter and save them there. Though, I would actually recommend just keeping most of your files on your flash drive, period.

Good luck!

[Sohan]

Depending on what it was that "fried" your computer, I would be wary of transferring data from your old PC to the new. If you had a virus in the old that ruined your machine, you might transfer the virus to your new one.

Respectfully,

Sohan

[Smitty]

Hopefully you can find some help here... Your new computer did not come with an OS?

It's actually parts I picked out from an online store. Everything's here, just minus an operating system. I have misplaced the Windows xp install disk that came with my first computer. I know someone with the Cd, but he won't be available for several days.

Depending on what it was that "fried" your computer, I would be wary of transferring data from your old PC to the new.

I don't have that hard drive anymore. Despite my efforts, it couldn't get it to boot at all. The hard drive I'm referring to is the one in the computer I'm using now. It's slightly outdated, but I don't do much besides email and research martial arts, so it wasn't a big deal.

But anyway, I've read about those clone programs that copy hard drives and it seemed like much less of a hassle then waiting for the disk, reinstalling xp, and transferring the files over on a flash drive.

[lordtariel]

Most people don't need to completely back up their hard drive. It's much quicker and easier just to back up the saved files that you use as opposed to grabbing everything. I recommend you get a DVD burner or CD burner depending on the amount of data you want to back up. Shouldn't be much if you primarily use it for email and web. Once a month or so, grab the files you want to keep and put them on a cd. If your computer goes down, you will have to reinstall the software, but all your saves will be backed up. By the way, if that hard drive is still laying around somewhere, you can set it up as a secondary hard drive and directly copy the files off of it unless it's really messed up. It doesn't hurt every year or so to wipe your system clean and reinstall everything. Also, with a CD Burner, you can make backups of your software CD's so you don't have to wait to get ahold of them. Just my thoughts on it.

[AndrewGreen]

Cloning doesn't always work well between differetn computers, you could try, but even if the OS on your existing one is in good shape it might not transfer due to different hardware. Windows doesn't like getting transplanted...

Besides, if the system fried there is usually a reason, and it is usually software related. Windows is a bit of a pig, the longer it stays the bigger mess it makes. Best reinstall once and a while.

Make sure the disk you are getting is the same edition as what your registration key is for, or it won't work. If you have a Win xp Home edition on a OEM license, that is the disk you need, any others won't work.

Install Windows, update windows, update windows, update windows, update windows... it usually takes a few runs before it gets everything.

Install Anti-virus, update, scan. (Yes, it is possible to get a virus that quick. If it is a pre-sp2 disk and you aren't behind a router you probably will)

Spyware scanner

Alternate Browser (Firefox or Opera, never ever use Explorer unless there is no choice)

Any other software you might need.

This would be where a clonning program would come in, clone your disk to cd/dvd and if you need to reinstall do it from that. It is also good if you need to install a lot of identical computers, you do one and clone to the rest. Or if you upgrade a harddrive but leave most of the other insides.

Ok, now open your case, connect the old drive. reboot, scan the old drive. If everything checks out copy what you need, or just leave it there and read stuff off it as you need too.

Or, copy what you need off it, format it, and you got a second drive. Could even set your my documents folder up on it