i am going to buy a new pc today. how do i save and re-boot existing info on pc?
What existing info are you wanting to save? Files? Settings?
Good point ^^^^
Also it would be helpful to know what operating system you have now and what the new PC will have (I assume both machine are running Windows). If you have an external hard drive one viable solution would be to use an imaging program to backup all files on your present machine to an external hard drive.http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/ Then install paragon on the new machine and restore any user files (pics, music, docs etc) to the new PC. Of course any programs you use will need to be reinstalled from the original media.
Assuming you have a router, the easiest way to transfer files is to set up a home network. Enable sharing on both computers, then you can just move any data files from the old computer to the new one.
If your new computer is Windows, my guess is that the OS is a newer version than what you currently have. So forget about transferring OS settings and just set the new one up the way you want it. Even if it's the same, this is a great time to do some housecleaning. So I would recommend against trying to transfer system files.
For program files if you have the original CD (or download rights) just reload them.
@walt178 wrote:Assuming you have a router, the easiest way to transfer files is to set up a home network. Enable sharing on both computers, then you can just move any data files from the old computer to the new one.
If your new computer is Windows, my guess is that the OS is a newer version than what you currently have. So forget about transferring OS settings and just set the new one up the way you want it. Even if it's the same, this is a great time to do some housecleaning. So I would recommend against trying to transfer system files.
For program files if you have the original CD (or download rights) just reload them.
This, can't stress it enough. Network the two PCs together using File and Printer Sharing, or Samba if you're getting a Mac and send over all of your documents, videos, music, saved games, etc to the new computer. Re-install ALL programs and configure the system as a new machine. It'll ensure it runs strong and doesn't become broken with trying to import settings, especially if this is a new Windows 8 computer coming from Windows XP where a ton of changes have been made.
Networking is a good solution depending on how much data you need to move. If you have a lot (like 100GB or more), you'll want to ensure you're on a wired, Gigabit Ethernet link to minimize transfer time. If you're using Windows, you may have to struggle with access permissions and account settings.
Another method is to move the hard drive from the old computer to the new computer and then copy everything you want. This does require opening the computer cases to move the drive, however it will give you the fastest transfer. For best results, you'll want to plug the old computer's hard drive into a SATA port on the new computer's motherboard. If you don't want to open the new computer, you can use a USB hard drive adaptor that can be purchased online for a small amount of money. While not as fast as a direct SATA connection to the motherboard, it is still a lot faster than even a Gigabit Ethernet link. Both USB and SATA methods avoid all the network access control issues.
Good Luck!
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