One for the PC techies please?

My pc died the other night, totally. I have checked the power supply, not that and every other "trick in the book" that I know. The motherboard has failed previously and been replaced. Looking inside, I think the priocessor may have gone t*ts because it was chocked full of dust and I don't think the fan can have been working very well. This PC had XP installed.

I have been out and bought a new base unit, unfortunately it has Vista on it.

I backed up my data (as every good person should ). Problem is that it was a backup software that requires you to put your cd into your system and basically restores it instead of copying file per file. Hmm, problem as the software won't reinstall using the new system because it is a mirror copy of the old system.

If I were to slave the old hard drive into the new pc, would it be recognised as extra storage in the same way as a usb stick is? Would I then be able to browse the hard drive structure and copy the files over? If that would work, could I use my really old PC (running Win 98) to browse the disk and copy or would it not be recognised? I don't really want to break the new one in a day .

Thanks peeps.

Mark

It will see it as extra storage depending on how the backup software structured the backup you may be able to browse it but I expect not.

If you can browse the files then using files and settings transfer in vista you should be able to select the files you require copying over.

You talk about a cd being required do you mean the xp disk

What was the back up software do you know

Conrad

Sorry to hear of your PC problems.

Providing there are spare connections on the data and power supply cables inside the new base unit, you should be able to install your old hard drive and use it as an additonal drive or just save what you want off it. Remember to change the links on the back of your old hard drive to the slave position, this should be marked by the links.

When you restart your PC, you may get a message telling you that there are multiple operating systems and giving you the chance to choose either Vista or the old OS, it's up to you, not sure if the old OS will work but Vista should.

The PC should automatically give the old drive a drive letter, look in MY COMPUTER to find it.

Good luck

Well good news (sort of). I put the old hard drive into my Win 98 pc with no luck (didn't expect it really!). Opened up my new pc, crikey, haven't they changed? Instead of the ribbon cable from the hard drive to the motherboard, it is some sort of little red cable (same as with the cd drive, was going to add my dvd re- writer, but may second think that one!!). Last cahnce was to break into my Son's pc which is also XP. Luckily the pc recognised the drive and I am in the process of transferring files from hard rive to usb stick to hard drive, and crikey, doesn't it take some time???? I have 5 folders writing to the pen drive at the moment and they say it will take 170 minutes for each folder!!

Just need to know how to copy my address book (used to be the wab file, but vista uses Windows Mail and not outlook express now), plus the archived emails in the folders section of OE.

God I hate pc's sometimes!!!

Mark

P.S. When I meant the disc conrad, I meant the cd i, I meant the backup copy that had been saved. Unfortunately you have to use the software on the hard drive to restore the image (a bit similar to a restore disc really), Without that software, it is basically useless data on a disc. Can't remember the name of it, I (aherm) "borrowed" it from my brother temporarily .

mark here you go

http://www.vista4beginners.com/Migrate-from-Outlook-Express-to-Windows-Mail

but i expect you may not be able to do this

so try this

I have moved mail and addresses from Outlook Express on Windows XP to Windows Mail on several machines. The easiest way is to network the two machines and create a shared folder on your XP system. Or you can copy the files if they fit on a CD.

You can find out where your messages are stored by going to Tools, Options, Maintenance and clicking on Store Folder. Highlight and copy the file name, then click Run and paste the name & click OK. You will now open all of the files which contain your mail. Copy these to a folder (MAIL) in your shared folder that you created above.

Go to search and find your address book by looking for a .wab file. Again, copy this to the shared folder.

Now go to your Vista system and open Windows Mail. Go to File, Import, Messages, Oulook Express and point to the MAIL folder in your shared folder. Click OK and this should import your mail.

Go to File, Import, Contact, Windows Address Book and point to the .wab file. Click OK and this should import your address book.

I hope that the import directions are close enough to follow as I don't have a Vista system available to me right now

I hope no one minds me butting into this thread but I also have a techie question if someone can please help me??

I have adobe acrobat professional 7.0 and I am trying to do documents where I can have words and pictures on the same page.(e.g photos of a property and info on the property on the same page). No matter how many times i try I cannot get them to go on together! I click print on adobe and they go together but on 2 pages,not both on the same page????

Am i even making sense? This is driving me insane!!

Please help!

Marksfish;

You went out and and bought a new computer with Vista on it...Locally? I guess you must have done this in England because had you bought it in Spain it would have been in Spanish and that opens up a whole new can of worms because Vista is so different from XP and transferring files from an English XP to a Spanish Vista machine is a whole load of fun...NOT!

I had a similar problem when my English HP Laptop (XP) gave up the ghost and I wanted to transfer all of its content ot my new Spanish Vista machine. The main problem arose when I realised that all of the data on the laptop was password protected, but because the passwords are held in the basic XP program so that although I could transfer the data to the new machine I couldn't access it.

Hundreds of pictures, video files, CD's the lot; every single file has to be subject to change of ownership, then every single photograph, CD track etc...Six months later and I am still changing ownership; for reasons best known to itself it wont allow me to take ownership of a folder and all the enclosed files; each has to be done independently.

Still not your problem; just one of the joys of Vista.

There is another Vista Gotcha as well..unless you purchase a machine with Vista Ultimate or Vista Enterprise you cannot change the language like you can with XP.  Having said that there is a hack that allows you to do it on the more lowly forms of Vista. If anyone wants the link to the hack let me know and I'll post it.

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Emerald Property Services;

Have never used Adobe Acrobat Pro much to expensive for my lowly tastes but we do make regular use of another pdf program which claims to be as good as Acrobat and its FREE.

Might be worth downloading it and giving it a try to see if it solves your problem.

The link is here. Two versions available one free and one on a 14 day trial...

hope this helps

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Thanks foxbat

I will give it a try and let you know how I get on.....I really really appreciate the help!

Emerald Property Management;

Vicci Hi'

No Problem.

Just occurred to me you will ned the User manual for it as well... the link is here...

Hope it works for you

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Emerald;

Have sent pm and email to you regarding this problem you have with Acrobat.

I think I know what the trouble is!

See email for details. If you try to convert the attached word docs to PDF format, attachment 1 will demonstrate the same problem you have.

If you do the same with attachment 2  I think it will work.

It definitely works with Primo!

The explanation is in the email.

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Arrrgh, i'm tearing my hair out!!

I've just realised my flight details for Sunday's flight are on my old hard drive. Has anyone any ideas in what format emails in the inbox of Outlook Express are stored in and where I might find them in XP? I thought they were *.dbx files and have searched for them with no joy. IIt looks like I may be using the Jet2 50p per minute phone line

Mark

edit: Luckily I joined the Jet2 loyalty programme and my booking references are on that system. Phew!!!