1.) Click here for information regarding how to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, which comes with Windows XP.
2.) Look through My Documents, the desktop, etc and copy-and-paste any files you need/want to a flash drive, burn them to CD, etc.
Both methods are free and should encompass everything you need. Make sure you backup your Outlook express/Outlook e-mail and such while you are at it.
After you are sure you have backed up everything you need download DBAN, burn it to a CD, and run it to completely wipe your hard drive...perform multiple passes. It takes several hours to run but it will wipe the hard drive clean, pretty much ensuring that your personal data is not recoverable. And, of course, it's completely free of charge.
Hope this helps,
John
I recently bought a Gateway desktop from Costco(no questions asked return policy). I give up trying to solve problems with this machine. I've religiously kept anti virus updated, spyware under control, firewall going full blast, pop-up blocking enabled. I've also have done routine maintenance, defrag, etc.. I'm going to return it and buy a replacement. This machine has a 200GB hard drive with about 180GB free space. Win 2005 Media Center OS. My problem is that I have to return this machine so that I have the cash to buy a new one. What is a good way to save my files/data so that I can transfer to the new machine considering that I will no longer have the old one in my posession. Cost is important(less is better) but time is not--don't care how long it takes. help please and aloha.
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