Buying a New PC

[Want-to-know]

At present we have a computer that contains Windows XP, but as it is 8 years old and I am having all kinds of problems and would like to replace it with the new Windows 7. I am not sure if I have a hardware or memory problem which might not be worthwhile and/or expensive to fix; thus a new computer might be needed.

I know how to copy my documents, but would like other copying advice.

1) Can one copy all my emails and transfer them to a new computer (and how) ?
2) Can one copy software and the icons on the Desktop that I have and transfer them.

Any advice or help you could give would be appreciated. Thanks.

[ChuckFickens]

1) Almost certainly, as for how, as you've not given any information in regards to how you access your mail it's impossible to answer.

2) you can copy the icons easily, but if the program they point to isn't installed they will not work and you can not copy installed programs over.

[Want-to-know]

Thanks for your advice. I have Outlook Express, but no doubt with a new system would have Outlook. Would this cause a problem of accessing old Outlook Express emails if using Outlook.

[rojash]

"but no doubt with a new system would have Outlook"
Only if you are planning to fork out fork a copy of MS Office.

You can use the Transfer Wizard to copy stuff from your old machine to the new. This would include your e-mails, docs, pictures and other data files. As the capon crusader remarked, you can't copy over installed programs - you'll need to install them from the original sources.

Incidentally, unlike previous versions of Windows, 7 does not include a free e-mail client, so you'll need to get Windows Live Mail from MS separately, or choose another client (such as Thunderbird).

[deggers316]

as an xp fan
why not do a new reinstall of your xp,windows 7 has little to offer over it
or do a good clean up of the hard drive, plenty of freebies on web to do that

[Davethedog]

Not a direct answer but if you get a new PC before going off to PC world etc might I suggest you look for a local PC company who would build a better spec pc for the same money. They would also address all of thes problems.

However if you have AOL etc you can save your E-Mails on thier servers and just open them up again as per normal.

I take it you back up all your data on a regular basis.

[Want-to-know]

Thank you all for bringing up various points. I did not realise that an email package is not included with the Windows 7. We use as our ISP Tiscali, now Talk Talk owned and would want to keep using it. Getting a new computer is a big enough hassle, but having to change our email address and recontact everybody makes for even more work.

[Want-to-know]

A further question, if I go for something like Windows Live Mail, can I keep my Tiscali email address and will I still be able to see my old emails from Outlook Express on this. Thanks.

[sarah_louise]

You can keep all your email addresses and provider Talk Talk when you set up Windows 7.
You just need to access your email differently. Dont let this put you off it is fairly easy.
You create a Microsoft Live Account (free) then link it to your POP3 account from Talk Talk (Tiscali). Come back to Answerbank when you are ready if you get stuck

[sarah_louise]

Not Outlook Express but Live is just as easy.

[sarah_louise]

I agree with deggers316.
You have not given the spec of your old PC. But a completere-install back to factory reset (as delivered) works wonders and Windows 7 is not that much better than X.
With XP at least you know your printer, scanner,and old software is going to work.

[sarah_louise]

Open a Live account now and give it a try.

[sarah_louise]

http://www.windowslive.co.uk/mail.aspx

is the link

[sarah_louise]

Just realised you want to keep old emails from OE.
You will need to re-direct these emails to Outlook Live of course.

[Want-to-know]

Thanks for the info. I will need to digest a lot and will get back for further advice no doubt.

[ChuckFickens]

What on earth is sarah-louise on about (and why are people randomly mentioning AOL!)

Outlook express to windows live mail is easy to do, no need to play about opening live accounts or any other rubbish

http://www.pcdon.com/...-WindowsLiveMail.html

[sarah_louise]

I thought that is what I said !
What AOL ?

[sarah_louise]

How do you get a Windows Live Mail user name and password then ChuckFickens if you are not on hotmail then ?

[rojash]

This has turned into another of those numpty threads full of people wittering on without the faintest idea what they're talking about.
As Chuck says, you don't need to change your e-mail provider, you don't need any complex forwarding. Nowt.
You just configure Windows Live Mail exactly as you would Outlook Express. It's an e-mail client. You don't need a Windows Live ID, A Windows Live e-mail account, a Hotmail account or anything else.

[sarah_louise]

MCP

[ChuckFickens]

TCP ?