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Solutions: Move files to a new laptop with ease

Q. I'm ready to buy a new HP Notebook. My HP dv1010us was built in 2003 with a 60 GB hard drive and a 512 MB memory. New HP Notebooks have 2048 MB in memory and a 200 GB hard drive, not to mention integrated Web cam, microphone and dual-core AMD Turion processor. My concern is how do I move the files from my old computer to my new one? I have Windows XP Service Pack 2. There's a "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" installed. Will I be able to transfer the info, including my ISP settings (Verizon DSL) ,that were established on my current HP Notebook?

By John Torro, Times Correspondent
Published October 15, 2007

Q. I'm ready to buy a new HP Notebook. My HP dv1010us was built in 2003 with a 60 GB hard drive and a 512 MB memory. New HP Notebooks have 2048 MB in memory and a 200 GB hard drive, not to mention integrated Web cam, microphone and dual-core AMD Turion processor. My concern is how do I move the files from my old computer to my new one? I have Windows XP Service Pack 2. There's a "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" installed. Will I be able to transfer the info, including my ISP settings Verizon DSL ,that were established on my current HP Notebook?

A. I'm assuming your new laptop will come with Windows Vista. If so, Vista comes with "Windows Easy Transfer" and it will transfer your e-mail, file and Internet settings. There is a beta called "Easy Transfer Companion" that Microsoft says will transfer your installed programs - no small feat. I haven't tried the Companion beta, but I have used the regular Easy Transfer and it did everything it was supposed to do relatively easy. I was going from XP to Vista and my laptops were wireless-capable, so the transfer was over the network. If you are not yet in a full wireless environment, Easy Transfer offers other options such as DVD/CD, external hard drive and a special USB cable called an "Easy Transfer Cable." You can find out more about the transfer process, instructions and information on buying the Easy Transfer Cable (if needed) at www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/easytransfer.mspx. It has a link to the Easy Transfer Companion for program transfers - but I can't recommend using this since it is in beta. If you are adventurous you may consider giving it a try.

Q. How do I switch between multiple users on Vista Windows Mail? I know you have to have separate accounts set up, but how do you switch? Also, is it necessary to have Windows Defender and Norton Antivirus on Windows Vista?

A.E-mail identities in Outlook Express that allowed multiple users sharing the same computer to keep their e-mail separate has been removed in Windows Mail for better security. You will need to create a Windows user account for each person who wants to use e-mail through Windows Mail. If you upgrade to Windows Mail from an Outlook Express account that contains multiple e-mail identities, Windows Mail will launch a wizard to guide you through importing your previous e-mail identities into your user account. Regarding your Defender/Norton question: It is not necessary to have either - but it is strongly recommended to have an antivirus (like Norton or Windows One Care) and an antispyware program such as Windows Defender. Microsoft's Live One Care antivirus contains an antispyware program built-in, so no need to run a separate antispyware program if you are using One Care.

Send questions to personaltech@sptimes.com or Personal Tech, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. Questions are answered only in this column.

[Last modified October 12, 2007, 20:42:38]