So, *I* screwed up my new destop. What can I do?

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Ok, Dan and Dennis, what I'm saying is windows is installed to a specific computer ie. motherboard with it's unique code in one of the layers of the authentication.

So here is the scenario. You have your software programs configured just the way you like them, they're registered with the software manufacturer like Rockit, Virtual DJ, Hoster, MS Office etc. I have one program that remembers all my song settings, all the key changes, all the tempo changes etc. Your computer gets stolen out of the trunk of your car(I know someone who had this happen to him). The computer is two years old and you buy a new one. How do you restore the image of the drive that you made of your old computer to the the new computer? Both are windows Vista or both are XP. In other words, you're using the same operating system, you're not changing generations. The new computer will have or need all new hardware drivers because it will be totally different than the old computer. Different motherboard, different drive controller, different DVD drive, different graphics controller etc.
 
it can be done, if you have an image created for that one system and will work to 90% of the time

but you cant make an image then put it on another new system, without it giving you the big blue screen of death BSOD

thats why if you do one for one system then thats where its for.... nothing more

I have images for all my systems and if I create a new system then I make a new image for that one!!
 
Papa Deuce said:
The computer I complained about in the OP, I am still working on. So, I decided to bring up my computer from my basement to temporarily replace it. It was working fine in the basement.

I swear, this is 100% true.... I powered it up and it is doing the exact same thing as the one in the OP!!!!!! I can't do ANYTHING!

WTH??????????
Click to expand...

PD just for chits and giggles if you know how (PLEASE don't electrocute yourself) check the voltage on the outlet that your using. It's a long shot but it's possible that outlet is funky and frying the inside of your computers. It's very strange that two computers fail at the same time.

Do you have any kind of magnetic interference in that area (speakers, mircowaves, etc)?


The Wizard Of OZ said:
Ok, Dan and Dennis, what I'm saying is windows is installed to a specific computer ie. motherboard with it's unique code in one of the layers of the authentication.

So here is the scenario. You have your software programs configured just the way you like them, they're registered with the software manufacturer like Rockit, Virtual DJ, Hoster, MS Office etc. I have one program that remembers all my song settings, all the key changes, all the tempo changes etc. Your computer gets stolen out of the trunk of your car(I know someone who had this happen to him). The computer is two years old and you buy a new one. How do you restore the image of the drive that you made of your old computer to the the new computer? Both are windows Vista or both are XP. In other words, you're using the same operating system, you're not changing generations. The new computer will have or need all new hardware drivers because it will be totally different than the old computer. Different motherboard, different drive controller, different DVD drive, different graphics controller etc.
Click to expand...

It really depends on the program most play nice and store their data in files rather than in the registry. You get the new computer mount the image on way or another and drag the applications data folder from the backup into your Windows account's app data folder.

In Vista this folder is C:\Users\<Username>\AppData.
In XP it's C:\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Application Data.

For instance with Firefox whenever I reformat and reinstall Vista on one computer. I just copy the C:\Users\Big Dan\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla folder from my running computer to the new install and I have all my bookmarks and extensions in place.

Same thing with backing up my email, I just copy the %AppData%\thunderbird folder to my external pop it an other computer and its just like a I left it.

If I lost ya just ask what you don't understand. :)
 
So every X number of years when you buy a replacement for you now ancient computer you have to start from scratch. Not your music files and documents, photos etc. just the software. Every program needs to be installed onto the new computer-if it is even supported anymore-re registered with the software company, all settings reset etc.

I never cared before because I didn't really do much with my computer. Now that it's my left nut and I rely on it for doing my shows I'm getting paranoid. Anything happens to my computer and I'm screwed. It will take hours and hours to duplicate my setup.

I'm depressed . . .maudlin even. :sqwink:
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
So every X number of years when you buy a replacement for you now ancient computer you have to start from scratch. Not your music files and documents, photos etc. just the software. Every program needs to be installed onto the new computer-if it is even supported anymore-re registered with the software company, all settings reset etc.

I never cared before because I didn't really do much with my computer. Now that it's my left nut and I rely on it for doing my shows I'm getting paranoid. Anything happens to my computer and I'm screwed. It will take hours and hours to duplicate my setup.

I'm depressed . . .maudlin even. :sqwink:
Click to expand...

It's really depends on the program. Like I said most store their data in a folder on your HD, that can be backed up and moved just like any other folder. You will still have to reinstall the program but it's less of a big deal if you can just replace the new settings folder with your old settings folder and go about your business just like you were on your old computer.

Rick maybe able to confirm but I'm pretty sure most apps store their registration/activation data in the registry so you will have to reinstall and reactivate for the most unless your a registry wizard.
 
I've restored images to totally different computers -- works about 80% of the time :)

Windows is fairly intelligent -- it will get the correct drivers and update as it loads, if you are connected. Takes a bit of time, and a few restarts -- but basically you have a new computer, with all yer old stuff. This won't work on OEM versions of Windows -- only retail.

YMMV...


BTW, Rockit doesn't use the registry -- it is portable (at least up until now) :)

That is changing, because there are cheap people in the world... Actually, it's not the cheap bedroom DJs I mind so much (they wouldn't pay for anything anyway) -- it's the ones who pay for it, and give it to their friends... :sqerr:
 
SoftJock Rick said:
I've restored images to totally different computers -- works about 80% of the time :)

Windows is fairly intelligent -- it will get the correct drivers and update as it loads, if you are connected. Takes a bit of time, and a few restarts -- but basically you have a new computer, with all yer old stuff. This won't work on OEM versions of Windows -- only retail.

YMMV...


BTW, Rockit doesn't use the registry -- it is portable (at least up until now) :)

That is changing, because there are cheap people in the world... Actually, it's not the cheap bedroom DJs I mind so much (they wouldn't pay for anything anyway) -- it's the ones who pay for it, and give it to their friends... :sqerr:
Click to expand...

I promise never to do that, Pop.
 
I'm not sure if you're still having an issue with this, but that's a fairly common issue with PC's. It is something in your BIOS that is preventing the bootup process, as it is preventing the computer from performing its own Power On Self Test (POST).

So, when a computer doesn't post... you start from the most obvious, and unplug everything you don't absolutely NEED. So, unplug all USB plugs, and keyboard/mouse as well. See if it will start. If not, plug the keyboard and mouse (if PS2), and reboot.

If that doesn't help, then you're going to get your fingers dirty. Disconnect the power from the wall. Grab a small flashlight and, assuming this is a desktop, open up the side panel, find the little battery that looks like a watch battery, but bigger. Pry it out carefully. Look around the printed areas of the motherboard, and you should see a CMOS clear or reset button. It's usually a small black button about 3/16 of an inch. Hold down the reset button for about 5 seconds.

Reset, and reinstall the CMOS battery, and plug in only the keyboard and mouse. Then press the power button. As soon as you press the power button, look at your keyboard. The little lights (usually) at top of the Num Lock keys should light up momentarily, which should mean that the computer is registering that device (keyboard) as being connected.

If that still doesn't work... let me know and I'll PM you my phone number to offer you more help.

Good luck!

C:>
 
Well if you want to use all 100% portable
you can use it on any system anywhere anytime with any configuration

just ask me what is portable so far and I can let you know (send me a pm)
and these are not freeware stuff either...
 
It took Dan telling me the same thing twice for it to sink in about the individual program folders in the windows directory. I'm going to try and experiment on one of my XP machines to see what happens.
 
The Wizard Of OZ said:
It took Dan telling me the same thing twice for it to sink in about the individual program folders in the windows directory. I'm going to try and experiment on one of my XP machines to see what happens.
Click to expand...

XP and Vista work different in that regard Wiz.

XP allowed xxx program, to store their data in the Program Files folder. Vista does not allow that, unless you trick it -- which is not all that easy to do (but doable).

When I was first testing Rockit 4 on Vista beta, I found that out quickly, so I changed the whole thing around. It doesn't put anything in Program Files, Program Data, etc. It creates a folder on yer root drive, which requires admin access to that root. It won't install or run properly without admin access.

But, it is easy to backup and restore, if you have those privileges (which you should, if you are the only one using the computer).
 
karaoke_carlos said:
I'm not sure if you're still having an issue with this, but that's a fairly common issue with PC's. It is something in your BIOS that is preventing the bootup process, as it is preventing the computer from performing its own Power On Self Test (POST).

So, when a computer doesn't post... you start from the most obvious, and unplug everything you don't absolutely NEED. So, unplug all USB plugs, and keyboard/mouse as well. See if it will start. If not, plug the keyboard and mouse (if PS2), and reboot.

If that doesn't help, then you're going to get your fingers dirty. Disconnect the power from the wall. Grab a small flashlight and, assuming this is a desktop, open up the side panel, find the little battery that looks like a watch battery, but bigger. Pry it out carefully. Look around the printed areas of the motherboard, and you should see a CMOS clear or reset button. It's usually a small black button about 3/16 of an inch. Hold down the reset button for about 5 seconds.

Reset, and reinstall the CMOS battery, and plug in only the keyboard and mouse. Then press the power button. As soon as you press the power button, look at your keyboard. The little lights (usually) at top of the Num Lock keys should light up momentarily, which should mean that the computer is registering that device (keyboard) as being connected.

If that still doesn't work... let me know and I'll PM you my phone number to offer you more help.

Good luck!

C:>
Click to expand...


OK. on the second ( older ) computer, I rearranged what was plugged into which ports, and what was plugged into a hub, and SO FAR it seems like that computer is OK, now, though somehow all of this deleted Firefox, and I had to reinstall it.

The new computer I will get to ASAP.
 
Wiz
just remenber do an image just incase your system stuffs up (it will) if your doing what I think you are attempting!!


just in case
 
Yay! after buying a new keyboard and plugging it directly into the computer, EVERYTHING works! Plus I even installed a wireless USB newtork adapter and I am surfing wirelessly from my basement office.....

Ah, sweet success!

All of my machines are functioning! Woo Hoo!
 
Papa Deuce said:
Yay! after buying a new keyboard and plugging it directly into the computer...
Click to expand...

See, I told ya so Son...

Ya just gotta sacrifice to the computer gods on a regular basis, and everything works just fine :sqbiggrin:
 
SoftJock Rick said:
See, I told ya so Son...

Ya just gotta sacrifice to the computer gods on a regular basis, and everything works just fine :sqbiggrin:
Click to expand...


And it all looks SWEET on my new 23" monitor with 1920 x 1080!
 
lol ya should have used it as a Boat anker! :)
 
So Papa, how did you figure out to get a new keyboard? That would have stumped me and I would have ended up taking the whole computer apart, which I've done before. Good for you!
 
Papa Deuce said:
And it all looks SWEET on my new 23" monitor with 1920 x 1080!
Click to expand...

First Rick with the 24" now you with 23" my 22" is starting to look puny. :sqcool:

I actually get lost on a 22", I miss notifications from the taskbar and all that..Anything bigger would be great for media but not for working in my case IMHO.
 
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