Transferring data to new computer.

[LwnmwnMan2]

I have an older Compaq that's getting completely bogged down with many different application.s.

The other night, during one of the storms that blew through, we had a VERY quick power outage, and now the monitor won't turn on.

I can access the computer and all of the data through LogMeIn dot Com. There's no power at the monitor, so I believe it's the monitor and not the video card.

Anyways, I'd like to get a new low end computer / monitor, just because the one I'm using now is about 10? years old, and I feel it's time to speed things up a bit.

I have an external hard drive that saves the backups of the Quickbooks info for the business, as well as copies of my Microsoft Publisher files I have.

If I reinstall the operating programs on the new computer, can I just then hook the external hard drive to the new computer and take the backed up data off of the external?

Or am I going to run into issues since I'd be going from Windows XP to probably Windows 8?

[Jim Almquist]

I think that your biggest problem/worry is going to be a needed upgrade to Quickbooks if you upgrade your software.

No matter what software you should be able to access your external hard drives and pull off that info.

You might want to consider a bare bones system and toss in the existing XP hard drive but just get a faster processor and more Ram along with a new monitor unless the Quickbook upgrade is cheap enough.

[CJH]

I recently just went through kind of the same thing. Upgraded from a 6 year old desktop (XP) to a new laptop (W7). I purchased a transfer cable from Best Buy, which included some copying software, and was able to copy over pretty much everything. I think it was $30-40 for the cable and software. It did take a while, as the old hard drive isn't nearly as fast as the new one!!!! No problems to report yet. I believe Windows has a specific software utility to do this as well.

[spearchucker]

By an external USB enclosure and put your old hard drive in it. Transfer the data you need and then use it for backup on your new PC when everything is copied. If you have the right connections you can just install your old HD in the new PC as a second drive. This will depend on whether the new PC supports the older IDE HD.

[upnorth]

If you can access the machine using log me in, it tells me it is still on the network. If it is still on the network you can share the entire hard drive and copy any and all data you will need to the new PC. Easy and cheap. No need to buy anything.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Quick fix, I bought a new monitor.

It's quite funny though, as all of the text is big choppy DOS type letters on the 20" screen.

We had the laptop break down from the kids using it, not paying attention to their surroundings, and had to replace that before I get a new "server" desktop.