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General discussion

New Notebook on the way... Now What?

Sep 19, 2004 2:57PM PDT

So, now that I'm anticipating the arrival of my new zt3000 custom, I find myself wondering... What do I need to have at the ready to get going?

Specifically, I'm wondering how I'll transfer my documents, photos, and music from my old laptop to the new one-- is there a built in feature in XP? I'd rather NOT migrate anythinig besides these document files.

Next: What sort of software do I need to invest in to keep it safe? Should I go with the newest versions of NAV or Mcafee? What about spam/spyware ware? I am already a regular adaware user.

Is there a checklist I just haven't found yet?

Sound off, thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Re: New Notebook on the way... Now What?
Sep 19, 2004 3:25PM PDT

Win XP has a tool called File and Settings Transfer Wizard, under System Tools. This will let you transfer all your files and - should you wish to do so - some customized settings from your old machine. To do files alone, place all your stuff in My Documents folder, run Wizard, select old computer/Other (choose location to save your files), then Files Only (custom option, and remove all but My Documents option from the list. Hit next and your files will be saved and ready to be imported to your new machine.

Depending on how much stuff you have, you may go with CD/DVD to burn your created file and do the importing, or - if you have external harddrive - you can do it that way. Alternatively, if both machines have infrared connection you can use that to transfer your file onto a new machine before importing it. But, depending on the size of your file, this may take a while.

Security-wise, use any virus-protection package (Kaspersky is my favorite), plus some protective software to block spyware, adware, trojans, etc. I use Spybot, Qwik-fix, Zero Popup (if you have Win XP SP2 this one is perhaps superfluous) and Registry Cleaner (for registry maintenance) and so far everything's working fine.

Hope this helps.

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Re: New Notebook on the way... Now What?
Sep 19, 2004 3:52PM PDT

Thanks-- so very helpful!

How bout the rest of you?

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Re: New Notebook on the way... Now What?
Sep 20, 2004 6:03AM PDT

If you are mostly saving data, it is extremely easy to invest $20-30 in a USB 2.0 flashdrive (from Sandisk, Kingston, Lexar, etc). These fit in your shirt pocket and use the same flash memory as digital camera cards but have the USB connector on the end.

I would recommend either the 128mb at around #20-25 on sale or the 256mb at around $30-35 on sale. These hold the equivalant of hundreds of 3.5 floppy disks (256mb has double the capacity of the 128mb).

I got one of these to save all my bios and driver updates for my Compaq X1360US so if something goes wrong I have them all in one place off the hard drive.

The HPZT3000 comes with a free 90 day trial of Norton Antivirus installed. As soon as you get it and go online activate this (you do not have to pay anything or enter any credit card). Then, you have up to 90 days to decide to stick with Norton or move to something else. Fry's Electronics and others have Norton 2005 just out with a $20 upgrade rebate -- your preinstalled copy counts as an upgrade and the rebate tells you what page you need to print out online to use.

In fact, I was able to get Norton 2004 Professional Antivirus (2 licenses) for free after a $35 mail in rebate and the $35 upgrade rebate so I have 2 machines running it for free for 1 year.

Also, of course, you need to download Windows Service Pack 2 and the other Windows update critical updates from Windows Update immediately once you get onto the internet.

Since I have a D-link wi-fi router which has a built in hardware firewall I have not found it necessary to have anything else except the Norton Antivirus.

Also, Windows Service Pack 2 will automatically activate a built in software firewall when you download that.

If you don't have a high speed connection (DSL or Cable Modem) you would be better off ordering a copy of Windows XP SP2 from Microsoft and loading it from a CD later (it is free to order one but takes 4-6 weeks).

Perhaps your notebook was preloaded with Windows Service Pack 2 so check that. But I read that most computers would not be preloaded until October 1st.

Finally, you want to look on the HP website for bios and driver updates (free) for the notebook hardware itself. As some models don't seem to post all the drivers (like mine) I have been successful looking for updates under the X1370US model (Compaq but it is the same as the HPZT3000 series). Or try different HP models until you find one that has all the updates.

I assume your machine should have the new F42 bios for the notebook bios itself.

Note that updating Windows SP2 can mess up your wi-fi software a bit so I have not done it yet.

So, try to do that right away since it is new and then try to set up your wi-fi connection if applicable. Look for the recent driver updates for the Intel 2200b/g minipci wi-fi card (built in) and the Intel Proset utility (at the HP website)