New Computer, now what? (CD, hard drive, game, email)

[CouponJack]

Ok, I purchased a new computer.

Next step would be to put all of my files from my old computer onto a cd, correct?

[EscapeCalifornia]

If they fit on a CD or two, that's an option. A better option for most people is to copy them to a USB flash drive or hard drive depending on how much data there is. Even if you have to buy a USB drive for the purpose of moving your data to the new computer, you'll have it to use as a backup for your data.

[InfectedMushroom]

First, I'd reformat to a fresh install of you OS of choice. Oftentimes buying computers at stores, they load them up with bloatware which can affect your PCs performance by 25% right out of the box.

[Naptowner]

A less drastic step would be to just uninstall the bloatware. Most PCs don't ship with an install copy of the OS - I'm assuming the OP bought a Windows box. If you restore from the restore disc (if you even have one) that just puts all the bloatware back. And PCs usually come with some useful software that would be lost if you just reformat right off the bat.

If you have both computers up and running, you may be able to set up an ad-hoc network between the two computers using an ethernet cable and transfer files that way. Or if they are both wireless you can get them on a home network and do the same thing. This is a much more efficent way of transferring large files. But if you don't have a lot of photos, movies, and other large files, it's probably just as easy to do the transfer with a usb drive.

[Laura707]

I have a external hard drive that I am shifting everything to, to put on my new computer, even have my favorite internet links and address book (email) on there... That is the simplest way I think.. A 1 TB external is SO cheap now and great to just store things on in case of a computer crash!

[mensaguy]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

Ok, I purchased a new computer.

Next step would be to put all of my files from my old computer onto a cd, correct?

One common sense way to do that is to use the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard that comes with Windows.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Laura707

I have a external hard drive that I am shifting everything to, to put on my new computer, even have my favorite internet links and address book (email) on there... That is the simplest way I think.. A 1 TB external is SO cheap now and great to just store things on in case of a computer crash!

That doesn't really help you if your only copy is on that external drive. Its still a hard drive and it can and will die and take your data with it. Keep your data on your internal drive and make a backup copy on the external.

[motoman]

After you get your personal files transferred over, also be sure you install a good firewall, good antivirus, and also good spyware/malware detector. You can get some very good stuff for free.

I use NOD32 for antivirus, it isn't free, but of all I've used I like it the best by far.
I use Comodo for my firewall. I used to use Zone Alarm, but it was a nightmare when I switched to Vista and never could figure out the conflict, so I scrapped it and switched to Comodo and love it.
Then I run Spybot S&D and Adware on a regular basis.
I also downloaded a great program called Crap Cleaner, CCleaner for short. It goes through and deletes all of the temp and other junk files Windows collects for you. If you don't run it for a while, you can eliminate sometimes up to a gig of worthless data. It also cleans up your registry, like after you uninstall a program that doesn't totally clean itself up.

[InfectedMushroom]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

A less drastic step would be to just uninstall the bloatware.

Alas, it's not always so simple, as the bloatware is all over your PC and simply clicking uninstall will not take away it all. I would think it's easier and probably faster to do a clean install. You press OK a handful of times while you can sit and watch a game or something on tv. Meh seems easier to me, and you are assured of an adware free install.

[st33lcas3]

Originally Posted by Naptowner

A less drastic step would be to just uninstall the bloatware.

That leaves stray registry entries which can slow down boot times. Even utilities like CCleaner won't completly remove them. Formatting then using a clean Windows install disk (not the one from the vendor) is the best way to do it.

To the OP, use a USB drive. They are quicker than burning to a CD and can hold a lot more data.