Computer question - the boob strikes again

[Mudcat]

I am methodically - although perhaps clumsily - switching over computers, moving all my important crap away from this godawful Acer to another. The next step is e-mail.

My current situation has Outlook Express. The computer I am moving to also has Outlook Express. So that seems promising.

Can anyone tell me how to proceed? I have a flash drive memory stick thingy.

[AMBlai01]

I will say this...I do not know how to do this but I do know you are not looking at an easy process. From what everyone has told me, it is pretty complicated.

Good Luck.

[MonkeyF0cker]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/270670

[MonkeyF0cker]

1. Run all of the backup instructions on the computer you are transitioning from.

2. Copy the mail backup folder to your flash drive.

3. Run the restore instructions on your new computer.

[Mudcat]

Thanks.

[Mudcat]

I have done all that. It seemed simple enough - almost idiot proof (although I shouldn't speak too soon.)

So now I have basically duplicate looking Outlook Express set ups on both computers. Same messages, same address book. Good.

When I send a test e-mail though, it just goes to the old one. Any idea what is up with that?

[betplom]

I have done all that. It seemed simple enough - almost idiot proof (although I shouldn't speak too soon.)

So now I have basically duplicate looking Outlook Express set ups on both computers. Same messages, same address book. Good.

When I send a test e-mail though, it just goes to the old one. Any idea what is up with that?

From the old computer
Step 3: Export the mail account to a file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click the mail account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, select the Mail Backup folder, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.

======================================== ====================
On the new computer
Step 3: Import the mail account file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, select the Mail Backup folder.
4. Click the mail account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

[Mudcat]

Oh my frickin gawd, it worked.

I thought I had already done all that but I guess I missed something or whatever. Anyway I sent a test e-mail and it went to the right place. This is great. Thanks a lot.

I think all that is left for me to do now is connect the new computer to the printer/scanner - which I'm sure I can handle.



So I have moved all the Word/Excel files, all the e-mail, all my pics/vids. Now I'm going to do the printer. Off the top of anyone's head, does it seem like there are obvious steps I am overlooking in completing a proper computer switcheroo?

[fiveteamer]

Always use web based e-mail.

[betplom]

I agree web-based email is better (I much prefer it) some still like using an email program.

Mudder you probably will need to reinstall any of the programs you used that haven't been installed on a new computer.

I'd strongly recommend you look at using Mozilla Thunderbird as your email client, Thunderbird is MUCH easier to backup/restore as everything is located in a single folder on the hard drive. It's also open source and any security flaws that are discovered are patched very quickly, much more so than a Microsoft product, plus since Vista was launched the use "Windows Mail" instead of OE.

The look/feel of Thunderbird takes a bit of getting used to, once you use it regularly you'll likely not want to use OE.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/

Running the Thunderbird installer will import all your OE settings/mail etc.

[Data]

Can anyone tell me how to proceed? I have a flash drive memory stick thingy.

I already gave you the only professional advise you received. You would have finished by now. You still can do it to fix this and many other things you have not thought of yet.

[fiveteamer]

Mudder I'm starting to think you didn't make it now.

[VegasDave]

Mudcat, if you don't have the CD that you used to install the printer, just go to your printer's website. It will have a "downloads" section and you can download the installation file onto your new computer.

[Mudcat]

I have set up the printer/scanner and run tests and produced printouts and scans so magnificent they literally brought tears to my eyes. Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.



Thanks everyone. This has all been so helpful, I will probably have more miscellaneous type questions to follow. There are a lot of computer-related things I do as a matter of routine that could probably use some scrutiny.

Boob questions could become a regular feature.



I don't really know what you guys mean about web-based e-mail. You mean like Hotmail? I use that too.



One of the advantages of being a computer boob is I don't really have any other programs I am using and concerned about importing. I really think I am good to go.

I am so happy to be away from that Acer. When I type something, the letters and spaces and punctuation actually all appear on the screen. It's extraordinary.

I think my feelings can be best summed up in song:


Now shine on me sunshine,
Walk with me world
It's a skip-a-dee-doo-dah day
I'm the happiest girl in the whole U.S.A.

[betplom]

I don't really know what you guys mean about web-based e-mail. You mean like Hotmail? I use that too.

The big service providers in Canada- Rogers, Sympatico (Bell), Shaw etc all offer web based email for customers, as a Rogers customer here in Ontario I use rogers partner Yahoo mail and use my rogers login to access my email.

[fiveteamer]

gmail is the best.

[BouncedCheck]

Always use web based e-mail.

I second that, and don't just use the web-based version of the e-mail provided by your ISP. Get a free web-based e-mail that will be unaffected if you switch service providers.

I can see why businesses use outlook, but for personal use it's a complete pain in the ass and waste of time. There's absolutely no reason to cause yourself all the aggravation, especially since yahoo mail now offers unlimited storage for free.

[Mudcat]

Well okay, maybe I need to get web-based e-mail then. What's the advantage? That you can access it anywhere, I assume (?)

Is there a down-side? Security maybe?

Can I set it up to make loon calls reminiscent of Lake Muskoka when a new message comes in?

[Mudcat]

I have a follow-up issue. I now have some e-mails going to the new computer set-up and some still going to the old.

Is it as simple as turning off the old one?

Looking at these steps, am I supposed to do something involving the flash drive in between those series of steps?

From the old computer
Step 3: Export the mail account to a file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click the mail account that you want to export, and then click Export.
3. In the Save In box, select the Mail Backup folder, and then click Save.
4. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to export.
5. Click Close.

======================================== ====================
On the new computer
Step 3: Import the mail account file

1. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
2. On the Mail tab, click Import.
3. In the Look In box, select the Mail Backup folder.
4. Click the mail account that you want to import, and then click Open.
5. Repeat these steps for each mail account that you want to import.
6. Click Close.

[MonkeyF0cker]

Yeah. Just close Outlook Express on your old machine. It will continue to check for mail if you have it open. What happens is your computer pulls the message off of the server so the other one can't retrieve it. They are set to automatically check the server at a set interval. The intervals are staggered between your two PC's currently. So depending on when the message arrives, only one PC will receive it.

[Mudcat]

10-4. Possibly a dumb question but do I close Outlook Express simply by closing the window, or is there some internal box that needs to be unchecked or something.

[MonkeyF0cker]

Nope. Just close the window.

[Mudcat]

Muchos gracias amigo.