Setup Windows Vista Machine Out of the Box - What to Add, Install, Remove
 

OK, so against my advice (I told him to get a Mac), jsnydcsa Sr. bought the following from Dell.com - I've cut and pasted some of the big details.

Inspiron 530 Intel® Pentium® dual-core processor E5200 (2MB L2, 2.5GHz, 800FSB)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Service Pack
4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz- 4DIMMs
ATI Radeon HD 3450 256MB supporting HDMI
20 inch S2009WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel Monitor
500GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache
Norton Internet Security™ 2009, 15-Month, English

He already has MS Office 2007 (Outlook, Word, Excel) and is using it on an old (5+ years old, I think) Dell. He uses gMail with Outlook via POP. Wired Ethernet connection to a Verizon FIOS connection. According to Dell, he's going to be able to have a dual monitor setup using his old monitor, the new monitor and the ATI Radeon HD card. He's not doing any heavy tech lifting - just email, web browsing, scanning of docs to PDF (for storage/emailing), Skyping.

So, now, of course, he wants me to set the new computer up and move everything over (in particular, ALL Outlook data, as well as approx 20-50 Gig of documents). I have two days this weekend to do it.

Help me get this thing up and running and make it as goof-proof as possible.

A couple of concerns he's raised (1) approx three months ago, he bought (I believe at Costco or Best Buy - possibly a MyBook) a 1 TB external USB-connection hard drive which he could never get to work on the old XP machine, he'd like to use that as a simple off-site or at least, out-of-the-same-room-as, backup solution, (2) he's also considering some sort of backup to DVD solution - so backup software (freeware?) is a need, (3) he has a lot of WordPerfect files that he would like to work with (I've tried over several Thanksgiving Weekends to show him how to open them in Word or Open Office, no dice), (4) he hates, with a passion, the annoying popups on his current machine associated with McAfee (I guess that's why he went with Norton), (5) he doesn't want Outlook Express on this new computer (don't ask, long story).

A couple of things I've thought of already.

Get Firefox or Chrome (he's using Firefox) - can handle moving bookmarks/favorites there.

Get Yuuguu to connect over to his computer and remotely tutor//fix/show him how to do stuff

Get Skype

Get reid of crXpware/crxplets
PC DecrXpifier
http://pcdecrapifier.com/

Get rid of Outlook Express / Vista Mail

I'd be looking for a good free reliable backup software program
Poked around here http://www.backupmill.com/ and here http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...backup-program but am open to ideas.

I'm particularly concerned about transferring all of Outlook (emails, file folder layout, contacts, calendar entries)
Once again, FT to the rescue,
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ew-laptop.html
(if it is that easy, thanks derekmines)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ew-laptop.html
(as always, the tips for the AutoComplete feature are helpful, that would be the first thing Mr. jsnydcsa noticed).
Is it truly that easy?

Couple of things that I'm wondering about
- Any tweaks to Norton (if I keep it at all) to ensure it doesn't become omnipresent/omniproblematic
- Any ideas about utilizing the 1 TB external hard drive (other than as a bookend)? Format?
- Dual monitor setup tips?
- I've seen this NYTimes Gadgetwise Blog Entry - http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/...speed-your-pc/ - any thoughts?
- Any other ideas on how to deal with all the WordPerfect files?

On the old computer, once everything is set up
Eraser program
http://www.heidi.ie/node/6

Any other whiz bang ideas (besides . . . Bring a fifth of Jameson's)?

Cheers!

Why use Norton
 

Why mess with Norton and all sorts of tweaking/set-up. Just use Avast Home(www.avast.com) and spybot (www.spybot.com). Both are free solutions and work very well.
If the external hard drive cannot be connected, there is probably something wrong with it, have it replaced under warranty. There is no reason why XP would not recognize the drive. It could be hardware, i.e. the drive is a USB2.0 connection while the older Dell computer only has USB1.1 ports?

+1 on forget about norton, it is just a headache still. Use avast or avgfree. spybot is good, but I do prefer webroot spysweeper. Low footprint and it is usually FAR or 10$ AR.

moving the outlook files really IS that easy, good time to back up the main .pst file for posterity.

decrapyfier works fine, but I find there are some things it doesn't get still. So, take a walk through the installed apps one last time.

make sure to upgrade to vista sp2, which is now out official like, get it done early.

make a restore point, before you put everything on there. Maybe, do an external backup too.

you're a saint to do it, someone ELSE should supply the booze!

A few thoughts. I switched to mac a few months ago, but was always good on my windows upkeep.

- Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 is what I got for free from school. Don't know the cost, but I have been very pleased. It never pops up with useless crap unless you actually get hit with something via email or a bad website. Even the updating, if set properly, is entirely in the background. Again, don't know the cost associated with it as I had it free, but I recommend it if it is within the budget.

- If Sr. is good with Firefox then keep FF... why mess with a good thing. I only wish I could get my own parents off of IE.

- The external HD is tough. I would NOT format it. The problem is Windows cannot format a drive that large in anything other than NTFS (I think). FAT can't go that big. FAT32 can, and the HD is probably already FAT32. I say this because that leaves the HD compatible with both Mac and Windows in case there is a switch down the road. If you go NTFS and ever want to switch to a Mac you have a major headache. I would just leave it permanently stationed by a desk or whatever and have it periodically plugged in for a backup. Only the higher-end versions of Vista do a full backup with their built-in backup. The lower-to-mid versions of Vista just backup certain files (music, pix, email, etc.) but not the whole system.

- Another backup issue. The only other way I can think of to get "out of the same room backup" is with HD is setup with a router that has a USB port and the router is out of the same room. Other than that, you're looking at some Network based storage device.

- For WordPerfect. Can't you just right-click a .wpd file and choose "Open With" and then when you pull up Word 2007 make sure you check the box that says "Always use this program...." That way .wpd files always open with Word. As for a conversion wizard to address all the files... Word may have such a feature but I have no idea.

- Finally - and Most Important
If you want to do it "right" then you should find the DVD of Vista that came with the computer and do a complete new install. You have to insert the DVD and figure out how to boot from the DVD. Sometimes you have to hit Del or F11 or something to go into BIOS and change the boot order. Sometimes if you restart with the DVD in you will see something like "hit any key to boot from disc" and just hit any key. Once there you want to do the 'advanced' install and get to the parts about partitioning the hard drive. Once there delete the current partition you see (C: drive). Once that's deleted you want to create a new partition and just set the size to the maximum allowable. This is a fresh new partition. Then, tell Vista to install onto the brand new C: drive partition you just made. This gets rid of all the crapware. The only problem with this is if there is anything that was loaded on the Dell you do want, you need to reinstall it with the discs you hopefully got with the computer. If you keep the antivirus you got, that will need a new install. You may also want to install things like the disc burning software that came with the computer, and possibly a DVD-playing program unless you like the Windows-based dvd players. Finally, the Vista disc you have was probably pressed some time ago, so after the full install is complete, expect to spend at least a couple hours just doing Windows Update over and over until it says you're up-to-date. Note that even if you do this first thing, after you install Office and several other programs, new things will pop up in Windows Update and you just have to keep doing it.

That's all I can think of for now.

You can try the windows easy transfer if you're willing to give it a try.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928634

There's really no reason to remove windows mail. (There is no OE on vista, it's called Windows Mail.) You can make outlook his default email program. You should be able to install his MS Office on the new computer. I have office standard (upgrade) installed on several of my own computers, using the same license. The migration tool will tell you what you have to do.

Once you get his settings and data migrated, apps installed, etc, they you can decrapify it, by removing whatever programs you want to remove, and getting rid of task tray programs that start themselves, but don't have to, and turning off unnecessary services. I usually use black vipers web pages to research services and usually go with the "safe" option, for the most part.

You'll have to decide if you want to disable User Access Control or not. Once you disable it, I've found it's nearly impossible to re-enable it if you want everything you installed/updated after you turned it off to continue working. The safest thing to do is to leave UAC enabled.

I turn off all that sidebar stuff in vista (your dad's choice if he wants it or not, I guess), and I think Dell includes their own version of a mac-like application bar interface that you might want to keep or turn off also. It is pretty nice looking, but you really don't need it.

To research startup apps, I use this: http://www.sysinfo.org/startupinfo.html

BV's Vista SP1 services configuration: http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm

It probably goes without saying, but the first thing you should do with the new computer is get it up on the network and do a windows update.

-David

For the easiest way to move bookmarks with Firefox, try foxmarks. You can log into any computer, and it brings up all your bookmarks.

the best thing he can do is remove vista :P

as far as norton goes you should open administrative tools/services and kill some useless norton services.... you dont need the email scanner if you use web based (hotmail, yhoomail, gmail)...

i still say nuking norton is the best thing todo... i use avira antivir....yes it does give me a pop up once a day everytime it updates but for me thats no biggie, its not a hostile popup thats a ..... to close and its always the same one.... you get so many popups these days that putting up with those is no biggie...especially since they provided me with good free antivirus...

I'm a big fan of PC decrapifier.

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

I bought my parents a Vista machine and this was the first thing I did for it.

Another change I'd recommend is to switch from POP3 to IMAP for the gMail access. Having the data saved on the server rather than only on the local machine is quite useful, especially when it comes to labels/folders.

Well, I've been at it for one day (part of Saturday and Sunday) and have one more day (tomorrow, Monday) to go. Progress has been excellent. Jamesons imbibed only for purely social reasons. Frankly, touch wood, I'm stunned at how things have been going.

Still to go:
1) Transfer of Sr.'s documents from old to new computer.
2) Setup of second monitor from old computer to new computer.
3) Setup of printer/fax/scanner from old computer to new computer.

I have to say the process has been quite smooth. Set up of computer went fine. Updates to system and re-installed MS Office 2007 didn't really take all that long. Not a whole lot of garbage software on the new computer. Outlook transfer was painless (finding the darn .pst files was a bit of chore).

One big thing. We ended up staying with Norton. Long story short, Sr. is not too interested in patched together options. After reviewing the install / setup and now using the computer over the past days, I haven't really found it all that intrusive or slowing down the (admitted new) machine. While I know everyone said dump it, I'd appreciate any ideas to make it even less of system hog and less obtrusive day-to-day.

Some people have said that the newest Norton A/V is supposed to be much better and much less obtrusive than the old stuff. Is that what he has?

-David

Sorted. Thanks! And, an apology and a plug.
 

Sorted.

The final steps were relatively easy.

I got the 1 TB external HD working on the old XP machine (just unplugged the power and USB connection, powered it up again, reconnected to old machine via USB and viola... I'd done this in the past and it didn't work). Transfer from the old XP machine to the HD took quite long (maybe 1-2 hours, weehee Jamesons). Connection of the drive to the new machine was simple and painless. Many many restarts and shutdown/restarts of new machine powered up the HD immediately and it was immediately available for access. Notably, transfer of the files off the HD on to the new machine was fast (less than appx. 20 minutes). I recall earlier comments re: USB 1.1 v. 2.0. I don't ask questions as it worked, and that's enough.

Printer fax copier scanner setup went fine. No issues there. Software installed correctly. A number of configuration settings (mostly file format, dpi, save-to-location settings) was a bit of a chore. But, it all worked.

And, finally, the second monitor connection also went flawlessly. Sr. loves that portion of the setup. Comments ranged from "cool" to "this'll really help." He's not a day trader, gamer or anything. He is just floored by the fact that he can have Firefox running on one screen while Outlook is running on the other. It is, after all, the little things that matter.

On the outlook transfer, he was somewhat miffed about the "autofill" email addresses not carrying over. But, he corresponds with a small number of folks. So, I sent a "test" email to all of them so that's all back there without a needed file transfer.

Re-reading my earlier post, I note I used the words "patched together" for some proposed antivirus/antispyware/etc solutions/alternatives to Norton. That's a poor word choice. I realize that all are great solutions (after all, I would not call the Mozilla suite of programs "patched together"). Indeed, if this were my machine, I would have skipped Norton altogether (although Sr. got it for free or nearly nothing with his purchase) and gone with the proposed options The final decision on Norton (perhaps as LIH Prem suggested), is that it just did not seem over intrusive, speed/performance hog, whatever that I had feared. Perhaps others who do more with their systems than Sr. does experience issues that I / he will not.

In the end, it went very well. And, though I think I had a good roadmap when I started this thread, ALL of you were particularly helpful and I truly appreciate it. Without able assistance such as this, I don't think it would have gone so smoothly.

I'd like to separately plug something totally unrelated - Evernote. Before heading off, I had read about it in the Times, WSJ, somewhere... Over the weekend, I gave it a try and loved it. As I set things up, I had my Mac laptop at the side to take notes of new settings, passwords, login info, etc. Nifty feature is the picture-to-note feature. Very helpful. And, it organized everything so I have it at hand wherever (Evernote has web, desktop and handheld access) whenever I get a call about something not working.

+1 on evernote. Been a user since beta 1. Works fabulous for this type of thing, tracking serial numbers, setup instuctions, etc.

Third party XP/Visa Backup software <-- Writes to Tapes and Hard Drives, external or otherwise, cost = $0.00

Best way to back up