Genealogy Chat

hi all seeing as i have never backed up any files since buying my computer 5 years ago, i am getting slightly worried as my computer is starting to slow down even though i have alot of memory left.&.defragged, disc clean up etc..reading this thread, i realise now that my power might be on its way out and so I think its time to act. My question is, is my computer slowing down due to the PSU? And if i get a new one will it be like new again? eg faster. regards Sylvia if i am slow to appreciate answers its because i am work....naughty;-)

Oh, Brian - just seen your post about the emails - does the program back up them and favourites onto a CD ? Joy

Comet seem to be the cheapest I can find at the moment for memory sticks, IIRC £14.99 for 512 Mb and £22.99 for 1 Gig.

Margaret, I'm not that up on memory sticks as I only got mine a few weeks ago, but you use it in the same way as you would a floppy disc or a CDrom [I haven't used our cd writer yet], only it stores a lot more depending on the size you buy. When you copy something over using the send to, if you have already a file of that name it asks if you want to overwrite it, just like a floppy would. Word of advise on using memory sticks, the person who installed our new pc told us never to just remove the memory stick without double clicking the icon first [see procedure above] and waiting for the safe to remove to come up on the bottom, and also to wait till the light stops flashing. Hope this helps. Reminder, Argos has the 128mb stick at £9.99 and the 256mb for £11.99, can't remember the prices for the higher ones.

My computer ''died'' recently - it kept switching itself on and off again, and nothing else happened. A computer man came out, took away the tower and put in a new hard disc or drive, whatever it is called. I hadn't backed up for several weeks - silly me. However, somehow ''my documents'' that was there did have a letter in it that I had typed only a few days before. So, to be on the safe side, I backed up that ''my documents' using a ''Nero'' program (though I am not totally confident that I know what I am doing with that!). Unfortunately, I found that I had not updated the gedcom on the family tree program for quite a while, and I don't know who I'd put on since …. mmm, don't know why I am still smiling … :-) I have no idea what is a stick that has been mentioned, probably technology way beyond my capability. Apart from all of that … is there any way of saving emails and favourites, please? They had all disappeared. Thanks. (I had hundreds in various folders.) … :-) Joy

My Pictures is usually a sub directory within My Documents so if you back up the My Documents folder your pictures will be included. You can double check where the directories are through Windows Explorer.

E-mails, for some reason only known to Bill Gates, are not stored within My Documents but are buried in the systems folders. If you want the link to the programme (it's a microsoft one but the link runs to about 60 characters) to back up emails to My Documents PM me with an address and I'll forward it. I got it from our computer consultant at work.

nudging till I buy a memory stick

OK 1. Insert memory stick 2. on dialog box that opens click 'open folder to view files' 3. Right click the folder that you want to save 4. Go to send 5. Then to Udisc [f:] and click Once it is saved on memory stick 6. Double click the memory stick [Udisc] icon at the bottom of your pc. 7. Click stop on dialog box 8. Click ok 9. Safe to remove message comes up by icon at the bottom of your screen. 10. Take memory stick out - it won't be flashing anymore. This is how I do it. Josie

to backup on my memory stick I just click the send, hold on a mo and I'll back up something, and tell you what I do exactly.

Thanks for the tip - I headed straight for my 'stick' and now the whole research is safe. That is until I lose the stick!!

Tikal i know someone whose power supply recently failed on a pc about the same age as yours and the data on their hard drive was recoverable. it shouldn't be an expensive job. There are various programs out there to backup your pc. All settings and favourites are built in that should be able to be copied across without having to setup again. i'm not a techie but have personal experience of losing settings. i must backup....! Marion

Thanks Tikal - you reminded me haven't done a back up for a while!!

Smart thinking (for a sheep) Errol. Taking the PSU to a computer shop will ensure you get enough power leads with the correct plugs on. J

Margaret - plug the memory stick into your USB socket and merely drag files across onto it or copy and paste. When you drag, if there is a little plus sign next to the file then you are copying rather than moving. You can do all this from My Computer.

John and Tikal Have you considered just replacing the power supply (often referred to as a PSU)? It is a relatively easy task and means you don't have to transfer your hard drive. Units cost about £25 upwards depending on what type you require. If you feel confident taking the case off, then the unit is easy to identify - it is a metal box with a fan in it and, of course, the socket for the power cable. If you unbolt it you can take it to your local shop for a replacement.

Thankyou Errol.... I may have to shout..lol

Tikal All is not lost if it's only the power supply that's failed. Provided the hard drive is still working you (or someone that knows what they are doing <g>) can install it as a slave drive in another computer. I stress that they need to know what they are doing. Usually the drive has a label with the necessary setup info on it. Otherwise the info. can usually be found on the web. J

Shaz, if you follow the instructions above you should be able to install the back-up utility. If you get stuck give me a shout - I'll be popping in and out this evening.

as a after though, if you are flat broke, why not open up a h*tm*il account, there is an inbox storage of 250 MB, and there in a increased attachment box of 10MB.......Lilly