The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Suddenly Out Of the Blue! Stan Johnstone stanj@melbpc.org.au

A request came from John Morris, one of my co-workers on the Internet team. "For goodness sake, write something about new users - you know, the ones who have just upgraded to a new PC, or are recovering from a crash".

With all these new powerful PC packages appearing on the market at what was previously unbelievably low prices, many of our members are upgrading to these latest you-beaut systems currently available. At the same time, others are suddenly confronted with the drama of re-starting from scratch following a system crash. Both can be terrifying experiences!

Just last week, one of my Melb PC "older couple" friends who live nearby rang me in a bit of a panic. Their daughter had presented them with a brand new, complete Compaq package - 17" monitor, high-end CPU, internal modem, high quality sound system - the works! (Why can't my children who look after me this way?)

First Step

I offered to call around next morning, and in the meantime thought about all that needed to be done - how to get the new PC configured for the Internet, how to reinstall their program software, how to transfer all that essential data, how and when to reinstall the drivers for their printer, scanner and tape drive.

If you stop and think about it, what is the most important material on your machine? The answer must always be the data that has been collected and created, often over a period of years. In this case the couple are genealogy enthusiasts and the results of their research currently included nearly 18,000 names and all the detail they had collected. This data was priceless and every effort had to be made to ensure nothing was lost.

Step Two

After talking it over with them, I returned home with the PC box under my arm - how trusting they are of their new baby? With Windows 98 and the usual package of Microsoft software that is often comes in these packages, I knew I had a good basis to start with. However their preference was for Netscape, so it was a simple exercise to install it. Similarly they used Eudora for their mail, so the latest version was quickly installed also. Then thinking further 1 remembered that they were currently using the Lite version which really met all their needs, so why make things more complex by what could be a confusing upgrade? So out came the latest version of Eudora and it was replaced with Eudora Lite. I could also see a number of advantages in this later when I would be transferring data from their older PC.

Obviously they would need Winzip again, so it and the latest versions a number of other essential popular shareware programs were installed ready for when they would be required. Using the Melb PC post-configuration kit (MPCISM) I was able to quickly set everything up and test it so they would be back online immediately I returned their new PC.

My friends are careful types and they had carefully stored the original disks for programs they had purchased so that these could be installed again. The main genealogy program they used was version 3.4. A quick check of the manufacturer's site listed version 6 as the current version, with version 7 in beta release. But hold on - the old version satisfied their needs, why confuse them or incur extra expense for additional features they may not need. This they can decide later on after everything has settled down and they may need to stretch out. Too many changes at the one tune may only add to the confusion.

Step Three

Returning to them next day and taking advantage of the simplicity of the installation of Eudora Lite and using a handful of diskettes I simply made a copy of their individual mailboxes, address book, and most importantly the Eudora.ini file.

After this simple step, it was time to set up the new PC with all its peripherals for the first time. Then copying the previous Eudora data from the diskettes meant that their mailer program was now configured exactly as it was previously; mailboxes and address files were ready to be used exactly as before in the same familiar manner.

It was then time for that first Internet connect. All went perfectly, their new mail was downloaded and a few messages that had been prepared earlier were then sent. So, as far as e-mail was concerned they were completely up-to-date.

"But what about my carefully collected bookmarks?" "What about my mountain lion - I don't like that deep blue desktop?" They were previously Windows 95 Plus! users who enjoyed that particular graphic. I assured them not to worry, as those bits were yet to come - at about Step five.

All the original software including the drivers for their printer and scanner, were right at hand and these were installed without a hitch. The backup tape drive was some years old and proving expensive so I suggested we might look at some another means of backing up in future.

Step Four

Very satisfied with everything so far, the next step was to recover all the other data from their old PC. So this time I walked out the door with their old PC under my arm - being painfully aware that in my care were the treasured results of many years work, a great responsibility! This had to be protected at all costs.

Arriving home I fired it up and had a quick look around, becoming even more terrified when I found there were at least six data files ranging between 50 MB and 105 MB. To me the next obvious step was to copy everything to CD-ROM, with possibly a duplicate set to bury in the garden for safekeeping! But what a noisy PC - is that the hard disk on its last legs? - if so, double panic! However a screwdriver poked in the back of the power supply to stall the fan proved this to be the source of the noise so I breathed a little easier. I've been caught on that one before!

A parallel cable connection between their PC and my own and everything was copied from their hard disk across to mine, so now I had two copies of the precious data together with any other rubbish and at least I could sleep more peacefully.

The next stage was to copy all this material onto CD-ROMs in their original format so that individual files could be easily recognised and any material that might be required could be easily copied across to their brand new PC.

Step Five

So back I went a third time, carrying all that precious data on a few CD-ROMs and feeling greatly relieved that all was safe and sound. To prove my worth I first installed the "mountain lion" onto their desktop, and immediately everyone felt more at home and relaxed. Everyone's desktop tends to reflect their personality - that could be why mine is the plain flat green of Windows 98!

Next came the bookmarks for Netscape. Aah! now it was possible for them to return to those precious sites that have been discovered over the years. A quick copy from the CD-ROM and they are again ready to be accessed.

Another thought about that genealogy program I reinstalled. After all, the old version was for Windows 3.1 or 95, so with a bit of luck it will be self contained in its own group of folders/directories, and a straight transfer may enable it to work from scratch. If it isn't, no loss, we reinstall it and start to build it up again. However those 18,000 names who have gone before were obviously looking over our shoulders and wishing us well! Luckily I was able to simply copy the group of folders containing the programs and data in their previous form and directories from the CD-ROMs to the new PC. When we fired the program up, it worked. Nothing more to do. What a relief!

After that it was a simple job of sorting out what should be copied and to where, what could be discarded, taking care not to encumber the new PC with temporary backups and other "rubbish".

We finished with a fresh, clean system that was useable in the manner to which they were accustomed, and without any unnecessary additions or complications.

Step Six

What about their old PC? I later cleaned it up in a form so that it can still be used as an alternative for Internet access and other minor jobs they may wish to do. Due to the cost of new tapes the old tape drive was no longer practical. One possibility was to lash and buy a CD-ROM burner to replace the CD-ROM drive in their brand new PC. Hey, why waste the money? I suggested the alternative of a couple of network cards to simply backup their large and valuable data files from their new PC to the older one. Now that genealogy material has the additional benefit as it can be accessed from both PCs.

This was a happy story, and I have enjoyed telling it. Although it may have been a comparatively simple example of the "new user" article John Morris had originally asked me to write, there were many steps involved and there are many lessons that can be learnt from it. In this case my friends kept all copies of the all the material they had purchased and this alone saved a lot of time.

How To Prepare

There are a number of lessons here for those who have been fortunate to upgrade to a new system and for those who have had the misfortune of a system crash.

Strangely the main points are not dissimilar:

• Store and keep safely all original software for programs and hardware.
• Backup (in some shape or form) all data, e-mail boxes, address books, favorites/bookmarks, and other data that is unique to yourself.
• Shareware programs you have purchased - keep that registration information readily to hand ready for when you have to reinstall them.
• Essential Internet and shareware programs are usually readily available from those CD-ROMs you see stuck to the front of commercial computer magazines. It doesn't do any harm to buy one occasionally just to have this material right to hand and that is the fastest way to load them.
  Melb PC Internet subscribers should always keep a copy of the latest post-configuration software on hand - downloadable as MPCKIT from the home page http://hww.melbpc.org.au/motd/
  The kit includes instructions for reloading, and information including the correct form to enter your personal data.
• Usernames and passwords - you may have several of these for various sites, so keep a written record of these as many will be forgotten.
• The computer "name" - some programs and sites recognise you by the name given to your computer - be ready to change this if necessary

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