Got a new computer?..... Now what?

It might be helpful to ask a few questions:

• Is this your first computer or do you have an old one?
• Is the old one working?
• What software did the new one come with?
• What stuff do you want/need from the old one?

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Sometimes customizing your new machine is last priority, but sometimes with new toys we like to play right away.

• Is the screen the right size (too small, too big?)
• Right handed or left handed mouse?
• Wallpaper / screensaver the way you like?

Down to business

Load your Antivirus Program on to your new machine (if it doesn't come with one already)

Set up your printer

Set up your Internet Connection (dial up settings or DSL/Cable?)

Connecting to the Internet

You may want to get to this AFTER you've moved your other files over - PARTICULARLY your saved email messages and Address book.

Probably the easiest and first priority is backing up the old machine and moving your files to new machine. Sometimes it is as easy as copying the MY DOCUMENTS folder (and all sub folders) to the new machine. THIS ASSUMES that you already have the programs on the new machine to read your Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.

If this is a big assumptions, then you have to load those programs on to your new machine. Remember where you put those original program CDs?

Re-Loading your software onto the new machine SHOULD be straight-forward.

Moving your EMAIL - Outlook Express saved emails and Address book

OE Help web site

or Inside OE web site

Denny's Tutorials

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More customizing.
My Computer - View - Folder Options (view Win98 style?) -

View - Files and Folders - SHOW ALL FILES - uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types these are both for anti-virus purposes