Windows Archives

4 Things That Make Moving To A New PC Simple

November 16, 2022 By Dominick

Do you have an outdated PC? Are you ready to upgrade to new equipment? It may seem daunting. Depending on how many files, photos and data you have on your current computer, it may be. Let’s make this easy. I’m going to share four useful tips to make your transition seamless, take less effort and be foolproof. These tips can be used at home or work.

Let’s break it down. There are the four steps to follow as you move to a new PC:

Use Webmail for your eMail:

You don’t need to make new accounts and ditch your old ones, if you’re using Webmail you simply have to log-in to your accounts on your new PC. You can use webmail with GMAIL, Yahoo, AOL or Outlook). Email clients are desktop software that allows users to access their emails on their computer without having to log in via the web, this is a bit more complex and results in frustration for many people.

Use Services to Save Your Files:

The easiest way to transfer your files to your new PC is to use a cloud storage service. Your files are stored online and are available to all your computers and mobile devices that are signed in. It’s essentially instant transfer! Cloud also saves on storage for your devices since the consumption occurs on the cloud. The most popular cloud storages are Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive. They are free at the base level. Upgrades are available, of course. OneDrive has 1TB of storage if you buy MS-Office (365).

Sign into Your Browser:

Google Chrome is one of the most popular browsers and you can create multiple profiles to make transferring computers that much easier as it saves your browsing data, like bookmarks, cache, history, etc., on the cloud. All you have to do is create a new profile and link it to an existing Google account on your new computer.

Microsoft Edge works the same way as Chrome where you have a profile that stores all your data, to transfer onto your new computer launch Edge on your old computer, go to Settings, and click on Profile in the left-hand pane. Next, click on Sync, and select the items you want to sync. Make sure to include your bookmarks on the list. Then launch Edge on your new PC, log in to your Microsoft account and hit the Sync option again.

Firefox also has profiles that store all your data, the easiest way to transfer your data without having to move everything to a flash drive is to move your profile from the old PC to the new one. Log into your profile on your old PC then copy everything you need, then go to your new computer sign in again and paste it all to your new computer.

Have a Microsoft account:

With a Microsoft account, you can manage everything in one place. Track your subscriptions, organize your family’s digital life, update your privacy and security settings, and mange the health and safety of your devices.

Everything stays with you in the cloud and across devices. Your OneDrive account is linked to your Microsoft account so you can back up your files online. When you’re ready, sync them onto a new PC. Alternatively you can leave them in the cloud without having to download them. This saves space on your new PC’s hard drive and leaves your files and photos easily accessible from any of your devices. If you do not already have an account, you may create one here.

All in all moving to a new computer isn’t as much of a headache than one may believe. With the right accounts, programs and apps moving from your old PC to a new one is as easy as can be. Just be sure to keep track of all your account information such as username and password, have all your files sorted and up-to-date and try to keep all your files in one place to avoid confusion or loss. If you need any help navigating your new or old computer, I’m here to help!

Contact Dominick

A Lesson from Steve Jobs and How It Applies To You

April 23, 2019 By bytesized

Steve Jobs once said:

“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have a faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart, and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them”

Technology can be our best friend and can also be the biggest party pooper of all time. New technology is constantly coming into our lives. Hence, keeping up this change and innovation can be challenging as it comes with no instruction guide or manual.

As the owner of Byte Sized Computing, I provide personal expert IT support for residential as well as the small businesses. I’m a true technology enthusiast and completely aware of the computer industry and carries a full selection of current hardware to provide you on time customized services. I ensures that the client’s need is completely fulfilled with no remaining loopholes by keeping your budget in mind.

Installing a new connection in your house or bringing in different hardware can be risky. Many people are not fully aware of the different technicalities involved in terms of purchasing new computing devices. I am the last stop and the ultimate place for you that will solve all IT related problems. I meet clients and understand their needs fully. This helps us in guiding the customers that which hardware or service is best for them and why.

Understanding that growing a new business can be a challenging task, A busy professional needs the ease of mind, therefore, we at Byte Sized Computing knows that maintaining the optimum IT system at reasonable cost has significance importance to your business. I provide you worry-free, tailored IT services for your business, so that your systems keep on performing well, without any potential disasters.

Help Across A Wide Variety of Systems
Onsite visit
Setting up new devices of connections
Troubleshoot and Solve Issues
Maintenance and Repair
Tailored/Personalized help
Backup and disaster recovery
Managed Support
Training

I have worked with different kinds of IT customers with unique need and has dealt with them on different budgeting levels. I understand client needs and then draft a personalized IT plan along with the required budget for each customer. Through this, the customer gets the best value and can strategically choose their service and products accordingly. Moreover, the on-site visits allow the clients to discuss everything in a friendly, non-intimidating environment. Unlike the repair shops, Dominick Curatola has a strong emphasis on friendly communication, explanation, and training.

Byte Sized Computing Services minimize your expenditure and maximize the performance of your IT equipment. Now keep your business proprietary data safe with remote and automatic backups and never complain about your network again, the right IT service is just a phone call away. You can also reach me through email and twitter as well.

Safely Upgrading to MS Windows 10

November 3, 2015 By bytesized

As most Windows users have learned, Microsoft has an inconsistent record when it comes to releasing operating systems.

Many users, including myself, found Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, to be difficult to use. Microsoft made a poor decision to remove the standard “Start” button in the lower left corner of the screen and replaced it with a crazy dual interface, which made users switch between the “tiles” and regular Windows screens.

It was such a pain that most users and companies did not even bother to upgrade from Windows 7 and those who did upgrade, some wound up going back to Windows 7. Many major PC makers like Dell and Lenovo, provided so-called Windows 7 “downgrades” to get people to buy Windows 8 computers.

Fortunately with Windows 10, Microsoft brought back the “Start” button and made the user interface similar to Windows 7 and XP.

I like Windows 10. If you are comfortable using Windows 7 and Windows XP, you will have no problems with Windows 10. Along with cosmetic changes, and a new browser called Edge, which replaces Internet Explorer, Windows 10 has improved security features and a built-in anti-virus program which is why I can recommend upgrading to Windows 10, especially for those users still using Windows 8.

(Note: If you are still using Windows XP, for security reasons I highly recommend that you get a new computer with Windows 10.)

The other good news is the Windows 10 upgrade is free for those who own computers running Windows 7 or Windows 8. In fact, if your computer is eligible for the free upgrade, you have probably seen the start-up messages asking you to upgrade to Windows 10. Hoping to build up its user base, Microsoft is providing a free upgrade to Windows 10 for owners of Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 until July 29, 2016.

But before you go ahead and start the download, you need to have a plan. It is good idea to back-up all your important data. You might want to do this even if you have an automated back-up system because this way you will know that you have the data and it will be faster to replace.

The easiest way to make a back-up of your important files is use a USB thumb drive, which can be purchased at Staples and other office supply stores. Be sure to buy one large enough to accommodate your music and photo collections as well as your documents. You are probably safe with a 32GB or 64GB thumb drive.

Most Windows users keep their important data in the My Documents folder, which is also the place for music files, like iTunes, and videos. If you keep your data in another folder, you want to make a copy of that too. Just plugin your thumb drive and then drag and drop your files from the computer to the drive.

Once you have backed up your important data, you can safely take advantage of the free Windows 10 upgrade.

The easiest way to install Windows 10 is by clicking on the Windows flag icon in the lower right corner and following the steps. This will upgrade your current operating system to Windows 10. This is big download – 6.07GB so make sure you are using a fast connection.

Although Microsoft says that you can work on your computer while the upgrade is occurring in the background, I suggest that you do not do any work while the upgrade is taking place.

If you are using an older PC, like pre-2011, give extra time. There might be times when the install seems to have stalled, please give it time. Nearly all Windows 10 upgrades are successful, but If nothing happens within 10 minutes, you should check your Internet connection to make sure you are connected.

If there are continued problems, you could contact Microsoft or call me. But DO NOT turn off your computer if it stalls during the upgrade, this could cause more damage.

Once you have finished the upgrade, you can start enjoying the improved security of Windows 10.

If you have questions or run into problems, please feel free to contact me.

If you would like to read more, Microsoft has published a list of Frequently Asked Questions related to the Windows 10 upgrade. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/upgrade-to-windows-10-faq