Electronics

[glb613]

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@Desert Lily wrote:

I bought a new HP Envy with Windows 10 online from HP around Black Friday in November. My significant other bought a new laptop at the same time, as we were purchasing while texting to each other. Well, he died suddenly of a massive stroke that Thanksgiving weekend. I also lost my mom last summer and just haven't had the wherewithall to even open the box the laptop was shipped in until yesterday. It came with PCmover so I installed it on both computers, and I waited 3 hours for the Windows 10 updates on the new computer. I updated my old laptop from Windows 7 to Windows 10 last year.

When I was ready to transfer files and programs with Pcmover, the message came up that I needed a linking cable, which did not come in the box. The message brought up a screen with the Laplink PCmover phone number...I tried it 3 times and got the same message, "That phone number is not assigned." I copied (Control A) all documents and pictures from my old laptop onto a flash drive and pasted (Control V) them into my new laptop after installing MicroSoft Office (an old "7" version I found with a required ID#, but later found an Office 10 one) and installing the HP printer software. I don't understand several things in setting up my new computer.

Those things include:

1. How do I set up my email? I have Microsoft Outlook on my old laptop. I also have a 2 or 3 gmail accounts. One is for work, and I might not bother with that one. But, I don't remember my password for the other one. I use the other one on my phone mostly and for when I upload the books I write to Amazon. It stresses me out that I don't remember that password and I don't know how to get it. 

Did you have the Outlook program installed on your old computer or did you have the online version of Outlook mail?  If you can't remember your password for the Gmail accounts, you'll need to contact Google mail and have the passwords reset.  You can do that through Google mail online. 

2.What about my list of Favorites that I have Bookmarked on my old laptop where I have used Firefox? I do a lot of research and also save special sites where my child has made accomplishments. I am clueless as to how to save any of that. A message had popped up on the screen when I first tried the new laptop last night asking if I'd like to import my bookmarked favorites, but I didn't know what I might need to do that so I skipped it. I still don't know what I need and I don't know how to get back to that message on my new computer. 

Get on your old laptop, open Firefox, 

1. Click the Bookmarks button and select Show All Bookmarks to open the Library window.

2. From the toolbar on the Library window, click Import and Backup and choose Export Bookmarks to HTML....
3. In the Export Bookmarks File window that opens, choose a location to save the file, which is named bookmarks.html by default. The desktop is usually a good spot, but any place that is easy to remember will work.
4. Click the Save button. The Export Bookmarks File window will close.
5. Close the Library window.

I'd save the bookmarks on a flash drive, insert the flash drive into the new computer get into the Bookmarks (as above) and import them. 

3.What about my list of email contacts? I know there was a message on the new computer that popped up about importing that, but again I skipped it. I didn't know how to set up my email, and still don't, so I didn't think I had the necessary foundation to import it. Plus, I'd like to have contacts from Microsoft Outlook (is that still current?) and my personal gmail account.

You have to save them on the old computer and import them on the new computer.  It's a similar process as exporting/saving bookmarks. 

4. There are items on my desktop on the old laptop that I'd like to transfer but they didn't transfer when I tried.

What items? 

5.I have several shortcut icons to work websites, and of course in Firefox I had the computer remember all of my logins and passwords but I don't know them and foolishly didn't write them down. I don't know what to do.

Go to old computer, open Firefox, click on the word Firefox at the top left corner, select preferences, click on security, saved logins, show passwords and it will show you all of the user names and passwords for the sites you saved.  

6. And what's with that Cortana (spelling?) thing? Is it obnoxious or helpful? Either way, I'm clueless about how to use it.

Yikes.

I have no idea.

This is Day 2 of trying to setup my new laptop. It's like a can of worms for me. I'm so stressed out and don't know how to do the items I listed above along with many more I probably omitted. At work I use Chrome and the Google Apps. At home, I'm a mess and feel like I'm falling apart with my new laptop.

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 I honestly believe it would be easier to use PC mover.  Do what is needed to get the cable and connect the 2 computers.  If that means going to a online site to find one, do it.  You can transfer all of your informatioin without it but, you need patience and a willingness to learn.  Good luck. 

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[Shawnie]

I agree get PCMover completed.  Go to your public library, use a computer, order it.  Or like someone else said go to Best Buy and use their Geek Squad.  It will cost some money but they will do it all.  I used them once and it was money well spent!  I just plopped my equipment on the counter and told them what i needed, and, presto chango in a couple of days they called me that it was ready!  You sound pretty frustrated so the Geek Squad may be the better option.  Good Luck.