Would you use PC World?

Clearways

superscaper wrote: »

Even better is if you know anyone techie who can help, family member etc. I've no idea how my friends and family would cope without being able to use the superscaper resource centre.

Another - I know the feeling :rolleyes: Ditto find a local guy if you can get one recommended, ask work colleagues - what about your company IT dept for a little "overtime".. ?

If you have the original CD's that came with the PC you should be good to go if you can backup your data 1st - back in the same loop eh

Nikiya

Hi TOG! well, this is what we arrived to after going through the steps...

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Nikiya

Thanks Clearways... I should have all the original CDs, but still do not know how to back up. As for "my company"... I'm afraid I am an (underpaid) free-lancer ...

Clearways

If you have the original backup CD's then it's typically a case of insert CD1 and boot.. Then the manufacturers software/ drivers etc will be re-installed as you bought the PC

This is a better way than just inserting say a XP CD as you probably will get a better complete re-install.

BUT this will normally wipe your hard disk so you need to backup to say a USB key or the like 1st.. If you can't do this then you will need help from someone else.

Don't panic it should be easy..

If you buy a USB key of a few GB you can literally copy your data, email, etc to it and you are backed up.

Typical things to backup - documents, email, web favs - should not take too long..

If your documents are in say C:\My Documents and you insert a USB key into one of the USB ports - this will automatically pop up and say new hardware found and typically be your E: or F: drive.

Then copy what you need to the new E: or F: drive, data backed up !

Next email ? What do you use as an email prog...

In the end you must know what data you have ?

This is presuming you are using MS Windows (ideally quite a new version)

Nikiya

yeah, I have XP, but don't you need to uninstall first?
I do not use any email program... just keep my emails in my server.
Yes, I want to save my data: docs, pix, etc... so I transfer those to a USB. I was looking at these two in Amazon:
INTEGRAL COURIER 4GB FLASH PEN DRIVE
Sandisk Cruzer Micro U3 4Gb Readyboost
Do you know any? Is that what I need?
Thanks!

Toxteth_OGrady

If you use a flash drive as your only back up whilst you do a fresh install of your OS there's a high risk you'll lose all your data. Don't rely on it. Burn your data to DVD/CD as well.

:cool:

TOG

darich

I would happily use PC World to buy something that i had done my research on if it was a similar price to online.
However, like others, i wouldn't use their healthcheck service if you paid me.
I'm happy enough to fit most components and format, install reinstall windows etc.
for components, PC world are generally reasonably priced but i wouldn't rely on them for technical know how - their sales staff are purely that - sales staff with little or no tech knowledge.

The numerous pc component shops are normally fully staffed by geeks who know computers really well. I say geeks but i mean it in an endearing way because despite my experience i've still needed them to help me out on occasion!!

Clearways

Nikiya wrote: »

yeah, I have XP, but don't you need to uninstall first?
I do not use any email program... just keep my emails in my server.
Yes, I want to save my data: docs, pix, etc... so I transfer those to a USB. I was looking at these two in Amazon:
INTEGRAL COURIER 4GB FLASH PEN DRIVE
Sandisk Cruzer Micro U3 4Gb Readyboost
Do you know any? Is that what I need?
Thanks!

1. Nope no need to Uninstall (typically) What PC restore disks do you have. What make and model PC - is it still under warranty
Normally the PC re-install disks manufacturers supply PC's with do that i.e. re-install from scratch and zap what's there.

2. How much data do you have ?

3. As Tog said - to be safe check that the copy of data to a USB key is OK after copying, maybe copy the data back again to another directory, check it works.

4. Yes the USB keys you have specified seem OK.

Ask yourself these questions though.

1. Am I confident that I have backed everything up ?
- the only way to test a backup is to restore it, i.e. as mentioned above copy the data back from say the USB key to somewhere else and try and open it - in the case of say a Word Document

If the answer to 1. is no - Get someone who you can trust to do it.

Even if you backup and re-install then chances are unless your PC is properly protected - which with a little guidance is easy - you maybe back at the same point in a few weeks/months.

After all that it's not rocket science - Hey guess what I sound like one of the financial experts here

Clearways

Just re-read what you said. Keep your emails on your server ??????

OK at this stage we need some more info. If you have for example a server why not copy all your data to it ? Then re-install your PC ?
Do you have a LAN, what do you mean keep email on your server ?

scheming_gypsy

emails on a server will more than likely mean they use webmail rather than Outlook or another mail program.

Before you go spending money on a memory stick do you have any of the following.
Digital camera that uses memory cards?
mobile phone with a memory card?
MP3 player?

all can be used as storage devices if you have enough space on them.